Wild hunter chicken

[5chickenmutts]

So our 3 month old Barred Rock/Brahma mix hunted down and ate a grown mouse out in the yard this morning. Is that normal?
I've read they'll eat "pinkies" but a fully haired mouse?
I've also seen them try to eat a garden snake, about 6 inches or so, but that one fought back and slithered away!
A fellow chicken raising friend of mine jokingly says I'm not feeding them enough. They free range 2-6 hours a day. Could this be true? I also feed them (5 of them) a cup of finisher feed a day too, but they don't finish it.
They seem to eat ANYTHING!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas and

! I think there are few things chicken will NOT eat! I read on BYC somewhere last year, "If it doesn't eat chickens, chickens will eat it." Good luck to you!

 

[kidcody]

from washington state glad you joined us!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. Chickens love mice. Mine will fight over them. I even lost a chicken to a mouse. She tried to swallow a large mouse and choked to death on it. I keep traps set all the time now to keep the numbers of them down.

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

My chickens ate 2 small snakes so far and a few mice. And I feed them enough!

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

chickens love mice - I think that they see them as big bugs.

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[5chickenmutts]

Thanks so much for all the great feedback and replies! I'm excited to be able to let them hunt for themselves. Friends who don't free range are telling me I should get them to eat more traditional feed, but they're looking mighty healthy!

You guys rock! Anybody from up my way? Vermont.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Editing to add:

Our chickens run wild looking for toad frogs! They love them.

Greetings from Kentucky! Glad you joined us.

 

[gickelvolk]

Greetings from Nebraska!

Our hens will definitely eat ANYTHING that won't eat them!

A mouse or mole is a wonderful excuse to play chicken-tag! With treats!