Unusual foods

[rebeccandsomers]

So. I had heard chickens would eat rodents but never gave it much thought until my husband was cleaning out the garage last weekend and some mice ran out and our red sexlink grabbed them big and wolfed them down - one at a time - so now I have some pretty big eggs she laid and I’m staring at them thinking those eggs are made of mouse. I haven’t been able to eat one. ‍ Is it safe to eat?

 

[Melky]

So. I had heard chickens would eat rodents but never gave it much thought until my husband was cleaning out the garage last weekend and some mice ran out and our red sexlink grabbed them big and wolfed them down - one at a time - so now I have some pretty big eggs she laid and I’m staring at them thinking those eggs are made of mouse. I haven’t been able to eat one. ‍ Is it safe to eat?

Yes. But I understand your concern after viewing the food source. Could make one a little squeamish. Try to get the image out of your mind. This too shall pass, if not sell the eggs. Don’t let go bad.

 

[DobieLover]

Just think "Free Protein".
Mine have eaten many a garter snake, a fledgling English sparrow, countless spiders and other bugs.
Once those mousies got processed through the digestive tract, they were nothing more than good protein... and fat and minerals. Great meal!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Regardless of what it is, when it's dead, it's food.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Just think "Free Protein".
Mine have eaten many a garter snake, a fledgling English sparrow, countless spiders and other bugs.
Once those mousies got processed through the digestive tract, they were nothing more than good protein... and fat and minerals. Great meal!

Not to mention that mice bones are a great source of calcium needed for strong eggshells.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Mine ate a baby bird in front of me. Ugh. Honestly, I didn't even think about the eggs afterwards. Mine also eat spiders, snakes and lizards, though.

 

[aart]

Regardless of what it is, when it's dead, it's food.

Just like chickens, eh!?

 

[Hardknockshomestead]

One of my hens ate a toad last summer, and she acted lethargic for a couple days. I was worried. She recovered though, and had been fine since.
I have read that toads can have toxins in their skin.
My hens eat mice if they can catch them. Lol they won't eat garter snakes though. The silly things are afraid of even the smallest snakes.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What goes into the crop gets digested and reformulated, so what comes out of the ovary doesn't resemble the input in any way.