but apparently my hens don't think so. They'll tear a mouse to shreds and devour it in seconds but then these are the same hens that I witnessed swallowing a foot long garden snake, blech
I always let mine help themselves to the critters they catch/kill. I think they get proteins/vitamins/minerels, etc from things in nature that, no matter how hard we try, we just can not mimic. Let that beautiful boy eat his next mouse. With his gorgeous feathering, he can use the animal protein. I have watched a silkie hen swallow a snake, it takes a bit of time, but they have no problem with it. Made her (and my) day.
He is a beauty, too.