Uh...my girls just killed a toad :(

[Grace11]

Theres an old Irish saying that goes "dont fall down drunk in a chicken coop, theyll have your carcase picked clean by nightfall".

 

[IAmLtlRedHen]

I tell everyone, they are “tiny terra-dactyls”!

 

[Ebony Rose]

Mine used to kill and eat scorpions and mice. Sadly, they've overhunted and neither critter lives here now.

 

[Ericapd]

I’ve heard some toads have hallucinagenic toxins! Your chickens might be trippin’!!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

"The Trippin' Chicken." Hmm. Sounds like a name for a restaurant.... one that specializes in.... THC Barbecue Sauce.... or something. Maybe. Lol.

 

[BreanneRN]

I can't argue with that. Happily, they have many acres to free range and find all kinds of other goodies like grasses and bugs to eat, along with whatever else they may catch. I've only ever seen them catch and eat mice - but an occasional frog, toad or small snake wouldn't surprise me. They're happy and healthy. That's what counts.

Absolutely, and, since toads are nocturnal and chickens are not, they probably don't cross each others paths that often... Just when a chicken disturbs one under a pot someplace during the day, and probably only if it is small enough will they eat it. I'm happy that my toad population explosion is mostly confining itself to the potted garden area, where the chickens don't go... I actually like toads, a large part of what they eat around here seem to be roaches, which are also nocturnal.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I like toads too, they seem a friendly, industrious folk to me. We once had a bright light outside our door out in the country above a rank juniper bush that shaded a sidewalk along the house. This light naturally drew flying insects and a toad a little smaller than my fist sat there every evening, catching his fill. I took to scratching his head and he learned to like it, though other toads hopped away in fear. He would close first one eye, then the other, turning his head this way and that, pushing his head against my finger as if to say, aaaah, yes, that's the spot! Now a little to the left, yes! Just like a cat or dog. I really liked him.

 

[BreanneRN]

I’ve heard some toads have hallucinagenic toxins! Your chickens might be trippin’!!

Yeah, there for awhile, I heard tales of adventurous (and stupid) teen boys daring each other to lick them to get high... Eeeeeewwwwww! Enough of that!

 

[Claires Poultry]

So...yuck! I don't know if it is more intriguing, disgusting, sad or barbaric but...poor toady! They are playing keepaway now. Should I let them play or are toads not ok in their lil food chain? I guess this time my GIRLS are the predators. Ugh

That's ok. It's nothing to worry about. Toads are good protein for them. My poultry eat frogs, toads, mice, minnows, small snakes and anything else they can get a hold of. It's never hurt them. Birds were made to eat those kinds of things.

 

[Shepherdesscmh]

Here in Florida, we have an increasing number of invasive cane toads, also known as marine toads. Most escaped from the pet trade and like everything else in the world seem to thrive and breed in the warm climate. Some areas are quite overrun with them, and they are so toxic they will kill a cat or dog within minutes of the animal biting or licking the toad. They grow MUCH larger than the average native toad, but when they are young they are not that easy to tell apart. Florida chicken owners need to be vigilant and keep toads out of the coop.