Predatory chicken

[Don Merriman]

Hi all,
This is so strange and was wondering if anyone else has had this happen. One of my hens, Teri (she’s a Delaware), has started attacking and killing small birds and mice. Now I’ve had chickens kill mice before, but Teri will jump and pull sparrows right out of the air. She’s caught 3 in 2 days. She just learned to do this a couple days ago. We’ve been taking the dead or injured birds from her. Not sure if it would be a good idea to let her eat them.

 

[Folly's place]

WOW! I wish one of my birds wanted to kill the wrens and sparrows who visit my coop every day! The eat some feed, but also bring in mites. She's showing her velociraptor ancestors, just look for mites and lice.
Mary

 

[Kessel23]

That's interesting. I have had a chicken kill a bat before but never had one hunt down birds as they flew past. I am surprised she is able to catch them mid air! Not a lot of diseases are transferable between song birds and poultry so you should mainly be worried about mites and other external bird parasites.

 

[lazy gardener]

My birds chase robins if they get a chance. I believe they learned this behavior from the crows. Of 3 broods of robin chicks raised last summer in my yard, the crows killed every single baby that fledged the nest. I also saw the chickens chasing those fledgelings.

 

[Kessel23]

I had a rooster that would chase robins too, I think he learned it from the Blue Jays, I had the same thing happen last year accept it was with Jays instead of crows. He never caught any though.

 

[Folly's place]

Mycoplasma is a big one! MG is possible in songbirds; it causes respiratory illness and death, and will transfer to the chickens. This is a disaster, and only depopulation and three or more weeks without birds will eliminate it. including any birds in the house!
I'm vigilant.
Mary

 

[MROO]

I had a rooster that would chase robins too, I think he learned it from the Blue Jays, I had the same thing happen last year accept it was with Jays instead of crows. He never caught any though.

I wish I could train a few to chase the Blue Jays ... I'd rather have Robins than Jays any day!

 

[llombardo]

I have a net over the run and I thought for sure they would land on the net, but they haven't. They are everywhere around it but not on top and I have a lot of birds.

How close does contact have to be for mites, lice and any other diseases?

 

[MROO]

I have a net over the run and I thought for sure they would land on the net, but they haven't. They are everywhere around it but not on top and I have a lot of birds.

How close does contact have to be for mites, lice and any other diseases?

If she's close enough to eat them, she's close enough to get mites and lice. Eating any part of her prize lets her share anything else the tidbit may carry.

 

[lazy gardener]

I don't believe there has to be any kind of contact for a flock to pick up mites. Mice, rats, and birds are carriers, simply having a mouse travel through your coop/run can, in theory start an infestation. IMO, unless you keep your flock in a bubble, it's inevitable that they will be exposed to both external and internal parasites. IMO, best practice is to keep DL and good dust bathing opportunities around, as well as ensuring that the bird has a healthy gut and immune system.