Buckeyes really catch mice?

[Chickhick]

Is it just an exaggeration, or are Buckeyes really good mousers? I'd rather a few more chickens instead of a cat in the barn.

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
Yes they are! PM cgmccary he will tell you!

 

[punky rooster]

Here is a post by him
Quote:

 

[WallTenters]

Yes they do. Our Dominiques do this as well - they are evil about it, tearing the rodents limb by limb, fighting over the body. I have also seen our cockerel call over his hens after he's broke the neck of a mouse.

We don't have much of a mouse problem, but it seems like this could be unhealthy if there were a large number of mice - wouldn't the chickens then get sick with anything the mouse was carrying? Anyone read any info on the transmission of disease to poultry through eating small rodents?

 

[mychookschick]

I have seen all of my chickens do this... I have Golden Comets (red sexlinks) and Buff Orps.

 

[punky rooster]

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I bet that could happen, but I have yet to hear of it. anyone have this happen to them?

 

[wood&feathers]

Worms are the main risk. They can be in the gut of the rodent, or the eggs might be inside fleas on the mouse. I know I have to worm my country dogs more often than dogs in the city because they catch and eat rabbits, chipmunks, moles, mice etc. I'm sure this would apply to chickens too.

 

[happyhens44]

Mine kill mice also. Im the summer I saw my Game hen cross, With the mouse in her mouth. And I found one of my hens with a full grown chipmunk dead in her mouth.

 

[phasianidae]

I have observed many of my chickens catch and eat mice and snakes.

 

[gootziecat]

I had a young showgirl roo that would take field mice from the cats, dispatch them, and literally choke them down whole. What a sight!