will mice hurt my chicks??

[gameboygal12]

I walked in my basement and saw that one of my chicks had escaped their box. and it was peeping really loudly. and on the other side of the box, I saw a peeping mouse. it wasn't very fast and it actually sniffed my foot. and just stared at me. I think the chick might have pecked it and made it slow. didn't see any injuries on the chick though. but will mice actually attack baby chicks? I don't think they eat meat, but will it bite a chick if it gets scared??

 

[dchickenman]

A mouse will bite another animal in self-defense, but in the ordinary course of things mice are not predators. Rats are a different matter!

The mice are probably there for the chicken feed.

On the bright side, if you've got mice you probably don't have rats. The two species don't get along.

 

[gameboygal12]

Quote:
It was in our basement so I'm pretty sure we don't have rats. I'm glad the little mice won't hurt them! I think the mice are cute and I set it free outside

 

[terri9630]

Are you sure it was a mouse? There are species of rat that are as small as mice but have the appitite/diet of the larger rats. We had them in our old place in S. Tx and I thought they were mice until the exterminator caught a few and showed me the difference.

 

[highcountrychickens]

Sounds like a mouse with an identity crisis

He just was just practicing so maybe you wouldn't notice, hoping you'd thing TWO chicks had escaped so he could move in to warm-lamp deep-bedding - chick starter crumble snuggleville. Can you blame him? Pooor liitttllleee guyy...

 

[ParrotsNPullets]

Sounds like a tasty snack for our girls, they had 4 flee into their run when my husband moved a bale of straw while cleaning the shed. Delish!

Yes mice do bite if they feel threatened, and they certainly can carry disease... I wouldn't worry about mice hunting your chicks but they might go after the feed in your chick box which I wouldn't be crazy about.

 

[gameboygal12]

Quote:
yes I'm sure it's a mouse. because I've seen the rats around here and they are HUGE! I think the mice are adorable! actually at dusk, you can sit down there in my chicken coop and you will see about 20 mice scurry around everywhere at one time! thats why I was wondering if they were going to hurt my chicks. they keep digging tunnels into the chicken pens and I can't stop them!