Chickens ate dead rat

[Michelle_R]

I saw similar posts, but it wasn't exactly like my situation and I'm not sure what to do. I have free range chickens. I found a dead rat in one of my flower areas, and forgot about it. Went back the next day to get it and something ate the insides (as far as I could tell for sure the upper body). ewwwwwww. I'm assuming it was all my chickens, but I really don't know. I do have pest control around my house. I don't know if it was poisoned, or just died of old age The chickens seem totally fine, but now I'm worried about the eggs. Do I toss them? If so, for how long? Should I toss them just in case, because I really don't even have real details of what happened.

 

[The Phantom]

Maybe toss they for 4-5 days to be safe.

 

[Chickassan]

If your girls are fine no need to toss the eggs they aren't going to taste ratty.if it was poisoning you would know by now chickens are very sensitive.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I don't wave that dead rat around, Your chickens will try to eat the rest of it.
Now perhaps folks will believe me when I tell them that their chickens need 100% real animal protein in their diet. BTW, a dead rat is likely the least yucky thing that free range chickens ate.... TODAY!

 

[Diannastarr]

I saw similar posts, but it wasn't exactly like my situation and I'm not sure what to do. I have free range chickens. I found a dead rat in one of my flower areas, and forgot about it. Went back the next day to get it and something ate the insides (as far as I could tell for sure the upper body). ewwwwwww. I'm assuming it was all my chickens, but I really don't know. I do have pest control around my house. I don't know if it was poisoned, or just died of old age The chickens seem totally fine, but now I'm worried about the eggs. Do I toss them? If so, for how long? Should I toss them just in case, because I really don't even have real details of what happened.

o golly im sorry , i would worry to but good thing your chickens seem ok thats good..!! i own an egg business so that's not a good thing at all gosh , & why i have all electric traps , they kill instantly, i cant stand any thing suffering, so this electric trap is great , they are dead in a second & that makes me feel better they dont suffer one bit, and i even toss the dead mice out to the chickens, they hunt their own mice so as long as they do , i think its ok to toss them the fried ones Ha , they seem happy for the treat..! you can find those electric mouse traps at tractor supply & on amazon , amazon is cheaper ..!& with free shipping..!!! some work with batteries for using out in the hen house so no chance of a fire with batteries & some you can plug in to use in the house, i got the kind that works on either batteries or electric plug, so using those electric traps you have no worries about chickens & poison , i would toss the eggs for a week from the time finding the rat that looked eaten ,just to be safe..!