I think my bantam rooster ate a small mouse whole. Is that normal?

[Roseynose]

I found a small field mouse in the chicken run. I tried to catch it and my rooster went after it. It was cornered and my rooster was in the way to see it and it was gone. I think he must have eaten it whole. Is that safe for him? Can they digest a whole mouse? So disgusting

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I found a small field mouse in the chicken run. I tried to catch it and my rooster went after it. It was cornered and my rooster was in the way to see it and it was gone. I think he must have eaten it whole. Is that safe for him? Can they digest a whole mouse? So disgusting

Pretty sure it is quite common for chickens to eat mice, frogs and other small creatures they are able to catch. They are small dinosaurs after all! As long as your chickens have access to grit I’m sure digestion should be fine. You should see some of the huge cockroaches my chickens love to eat!

 

[RoyalChick]

Totally normal.


Just don’t watch if he ever finds a nest with babies. It can be quite disturbing to see!

 

[Callender Girl]

I agree with @RoyalChick. It's also incredibly disturbing when they find baby robins that have fallen out of nests and eat those. Repulsive to me, tasty to them.

 

[Roseynose]

Totally normal.


Just don’t watch if he ever finds a nest with babies. It can be quite disturbing to see!

Lol ewwww!

 

[Roseynose]

I agree with @RoyalChick. It's also incredibly disturbing when they find baby robins that have fallen out of nests and eat those. Repulsive to me, tasty to them.

Oh my goodness bleh. Ok so I guess there crops can take it.

 

[janiedoe]

My cat killed a mole. Some of the chickens stood over her while she consumed most of it, and then they played chase with the head.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Mine suck at getting rodents, but they loooooooove to play "clever girl" with a frog or toad.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

My chickens are better at catching mice than cats, they eat baby frogs like they're candy, slurp up snakes like spaghetti and just yesterday one stole a chicken nugget out of my 4 year olds hand. I tried to take nugget from the chicken, but she was running like she had just robbed a bank. Chickens are some seriously metal little carnivores.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Last night one of my little pullets ate a HUGE spider! He was bigger than a quarter…. It freaked me out