Chickens eat mice?

[cap1717]

I just watched my not quite 5 m.o. Barred Rock pullet catch and eat a mouse! I heard what I thought was the "egg song"(she has not yet laid) and went out to investigate. . . she had a nice sized mouse (thankfully deceased) in her beak and was running around shaking it, then, like a snake, she manouvered it into a "head first" position, and "down the hatch it went. Please enlighten me. . . is this common, or a real fluke? Thanks, Carol

 

[fasbendera]

Same story but a live leopard frog. Wish I had a camera for that one.

 

[cluckincrazy]

I read on here somewhere about a rat/mouse nest under a nest box. The chickens devoured the babies.

 

[miss_jayne]

heck yes they do. and snakes, lizards, toads, frogs etc. moles oh and whatever else isn't fast enough to get away.

it's the best when everyone gets an extremity and tries to run....

 

[cap1717]

Thanks everyone. . . I was expecting some "bug control" as a fringe benefit. .. I had no idea that rodent control was also on the agenda. . . gosh, I love these chickens!

 

[miss_jayne]

yes, it is. this is what is known as 'grass feeding'. if you were to feed only the grass and what chickens could find on their own (bugs, rodents, reptiles etc.) they would be solely 'Grass Fed'. it can be done if you have enough space and is quite economical.

unfortunately, most Americans don't have enough pasture do try this with enough flock to lose to predators and enough space to raise their flock.

 

[cap1717]

Thanks for the comments, Jayne. . . I have a townhouse with a very small urban backyard, but planted heavily with native plant materials, a small flower and veggie garden (which will need to be fenced if it is to survive the chooks) and a tiny lawn that I am planning on expanding this autumn. So far, predators have not been a problem, my biggest worry was hawks, but the chooks have LOTS of good cover, and my collie dog is chicken protector par excellence! Keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to continue to let them free range in the yard during the day.

 

[Farmer Brown]

We went over a year without a loss to predators and then about 1 month ago lost our favorite OEG bantam hen, most likely to a hawk. Hope your dog will help to deter any losses. It is amazing what they will eat. Good luck.

 

[CityChook]

My chickens like frogs. Gross.

 

[txchickie]

My silkies are some mouse killing machines

They even stalk the barn kitties and steal the mice from them that they catch!