Ummm... my chicken is the predator!

[chikadeedoodah]

So, I was coming inside and found a baby bat and tried to put him in a box to release him at dusk (he couldn't fly and appeared to be a baby)... well he got out and scooted under the house (I wonder if that is where he lived - lived being past tense). Well Pippi was waiting for him and as soon as he was out of our reach she struck like a cobra. Poor bat. Don't suppose my chicken can get rabies or anything, right? Should I be watching for her to "foam" at the mouth or something?

 

[Roy]

Seems to me that any animal can get rabies, maybe keep an eye on her and get the bat (if any is left) tested...

 

[Godsgrl]

Poor bat. Don't worry, chickens can't get rabies, only warm blooded mammals can. Not birds. I had a similar situation happen sometime ago. Not involving chickens though. We had gone outside to check our pool, and there was a mouse swimming for his life in there. We fished him out, only to have the cat pounce in and catch him. Sometimes, it seems it's just time for that critter to go, no matter how hard we try to save them.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Poor little bat, but Pippi was doing her job.

Your cobra chicken is safe from rabies. Only mammals can be infected.

 

[MagsC]

I could be wrong but I do not believe birds can get rabies?

 

[chikadeedoodah]

Ok, so I checked the CDC website and it looks like our feathery friends cannot get rabies. Good deal. Although I feel bad for the little bat...

 

[danischi24]

Only mammals can get rabies-don't worry. I've lost a few bats & baby wild birds to the silkies.

 

[chikadeedoodah]

Seriously I never, ever, ever want to fall down in the coop. I'd be a goner for sure!

 

[cluckcluck42]

Darn the circle of life, why does it have to apply to cute little babies?

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
I know what you mean!!!!

During this past winter, I slipped in the mud several times and fell at least twice. I'm a "mature" and "big-boned" woman of 56 years, and it took a while to get back up again.

Curious chickens rushed to see what I was doing. Did I have treats? Oh, look, glasses! And hair to pull (just checking it). Bernadette, who jumps to my lap all the time when I sit in a chair in the run, or sometimes jumps to my shoulder, got right on my chest to peer into my face. I was afraid she'd peck me, but she didn't. She DID peck lightly at my cattywumpas glasses frames, though. And my hair.


The others milled about, talking amongst themselves about the event(s).

Good thing I'm BIG. I coulda been lunch.