BO caught & ate mouse!

[Zenbirder]

My BO pullet Emily at 13 weeks just caught and ate a deer mouse

! I had no idea the chicks would do that. It was right after a thunderstorm came over, I am guessing that was why the mouse was out and about. She had to take it apart to eat it even though these mice are fairly small. I have seen the girls give good chase to lizards, would they eat them if they catch one? Emily's behavior really reminded me of one of our local road runners who catch and eat all kinds of birds, reptiles and mammals. Is this common?

 

[Frozen Feathers]

I've seen mine carry around mice that cats/dogs have killed....they peck at it for a while but have never seen them eat the whole thing. Of course these are pretty big field mice. I imagine if you chickens ever caught a lizard they would eat it...they are omnivores.

 

[Whirlwind]

I bet they would eat a lizzard. I've seen mine fighting over a garter snake and one of them finally ate it. Yuck!!!

 

[MayberrySaint]

It's nice when the tables are turned and the prey becomes the predator...

 

[mamaboyd]

Oh wow!! I never knew chickens ate snakes. Know I have another reason for keeping a few of our chicks around and not process them.

Since my hubby doesn't like snakes, I have one up on him and he can't possibly refuse my request for keeping some, LOL, especially after today when I saw our first garter snake of the season. Yuck!!

 

[justusnak]

You just saw your FIRST snake? Wow....my gals LOVE garden snakes. Eat em like spaghetti! LOL They eat frogs.....snakes, mice...pretty much whatever extra protien they can catch! GOOD GIRLS! LOL

 

[bayouchica]

Hey yall, my girls just love frogs & lizards. I had a pullet eat a small baby copperhead once & another eat a newborn possum.

I couldn't believe it.
One thing I have noticed is my chickens won't eat a toad.

Miriam

 

[featherfooted]

My girls love mice! Our dogs are great at killing the mice, but they don't eat them. We throw them to the girls and it's like flag football in there. Once one picks it up all the rest are after it. It can be pretty funny watching them. Just about as funny as watching them with spaghetti.

Georgia

 

[FluffyChickenMama]

I am perfectly ok with you guys thinking this is an absolutely stupid question.. lol.. But do you still eat the eggs after they eat the mice?? Im not sure I could if I knew it.. Id be happy they were on rodent patrol but not sure about the eggs..

 

[bayouchica]

FluffyChickenMama, there are alot of things chickens eat that most folks don't want to know LOL!!

We had a horse here for a short time & my chickens would just run over when the horse did his business... gag!! oh yeah and the silly dogs too

Miriam