Cannibals?

[Woodyheight]

I have 30 Speckled Sussex pullets. When I let them out to range they follow me through the field catching the bugs I scare up in the grass. The other day I picked up a small piece of plywood and there was a small momma field mouse and her 6 babies under it. The momma ran for cover but one of the larger pullets grabbed her and swallow her whole! The 6 babies didn't stand much of a chance against the other pullets. Is it normal for a chicken to eat mice or do I have chickens with cannibal tendencies?

 

[outsageous]

...”cannibals?” chickens are not mice, so that’s not considered a cannibal. if your chickens are eating other chickens, then that is a cannibal. but eating mice is common.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

cannibal means they eat their own (which they will, mine will pick a rotisserie chicken to the bone).

Yes, chickens are omnivores and will eat meat, including live baby and adult mice.

 

[chrissynemetz]

It's normal for chickens to eat mice, snakes, and any other small animal they can catch

 

[pennyJo1960]

Chickens are prehistoric creatures they are cannibals I even cook burger and sausage or chicken torn up they love it and every now and then a great meal for them

 

[ronott1]

I have 30 Speckled Sussex pullets. When I let them out to range they follow me through the field catching the bugs I scare up in the grass. The other day I picked up a small piece of plywood and there was a small momma field mouse and her 6 babies under it. The momma ran for cover but one of the larger pullets grabbed her and swallow her whole! The 6 babies didn't stand much of a chance against the other pullets. Is it normal for a chicken to eat mice or do I have chickens with cannibal tendencies?

As was posted above, chickens are omnivores. They are also opportunistic eaters so when you gave them the opportunity to eat mice, they ate them!

The same thing would happen if an egg broke in the pen. They would take the opportunity to eat it but would not become egg eaters-- only would eat broken eggs

 

[Shadrach]

Don't lie on the ground for long!

 

[ronott1]

Don't lie on the ground for long!

That would be quite and opportunity!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Don't lie on the ground for long!

Heaven help you if you ever pass out in the chicken run...

 

[aart]

Heaven help you if you ever pass out in the chicken run...

Or drop dead....at least the chickens would stay fed until they found you.