Shrew attack!

[Charlieamanda]

This afternoon I heard squealing from my coop and ran over to find a shrew dangling from my chickens waddle! After she was able to knock it off I was able to get the shrew, who died moments later.
I know shrews have venomous bites and their comb and waddle are very vascular, but I didn't see and blood or bite marks....Thankfully!
She seems fine and clearly got the better if the shrew, but I'm still concerned if a shrews toxin could harm my girls?
I currently have 2 full grown,1.5yr old leg horns.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanx

 

[eHuman]

Shrews use their venom to subdue and paralyze their prey. Since they prey on small insects, earthworms and in some cases small mice, the potency of their bite is sufficient to render their prey immobile, but is ineffective on larger animals. They do not use the venom as a means of defense.

 

[Charlieamanda]

Thanks eHuman
Since it's already happened clearly it may be an issue in the future, so I'm thankful I know that their toxins are for hunting and not a threat to my girls...I'm also happy my girls can defend themselves from small mammals lol

 

[eHuman]

Do you know who attacked who? It could be that it wandered in the coop/run and was seen as a tasty treat by your hen and the shrew got a lucky defensive counter-attack. I can't for the life of me see a shrew attacking a chicken but weirder things have happened.

 

[Charlieamanda]

Petunia, the chicken, was digging a hole having a dust bath the last I saw, I then heard the squealing and saw the shrew dangling from her waddles.
I can only assume the shrew either found a nice spot to burrow/ rest over night or wandered in, given their eyesight isn't great, and the chicken found it and started pecking at it. The shrew probably went on the defense and just bit down on what it could.
During the winter I had them in my garage and Daisy, the other hen, went after another shrew running through the garage and I was able to catch it and cared for it to spring, I released it a block or so away.
Probably will never know who went after who, I'm voting towards the chickens, I do feel for the shrew, but happy the girls can take on a formidable lil creature