Yuck!!!!! Is This Harmful?

[lauriruth]

WELL, TO THE HEN. WAS DEFINITELY HARMFUL TO THE RAT....
My BIG SLW caught a baby rat last evening. this was followed by keep-away chase...not even yogurt and raisins could lure away from the dead, limp rat, which she ATE!!!!
DISGUSTING!!!! i've seen them eat lizards, even a small garden snake, but this really grossed me out. so, what i really want to know is: can this hurt the chickens? if there is one baby, there's more. (not to mention rat parents) HELP!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Will not hurt your chickens - does look gross when watching, but great rodent control.

Adult rats can and often do hurt chickens at night - chickens are roosting and rats will nibble. Might want to start a rodent control program - besides your lovely SLW.

 

[ducks4you]

Well, that proves it, chickens are DEFINITELY little Raptors.

 

[Gerbil]

What about ducks? My Muscovy eats mice! Is this bad?

 

[zazouse]

I think the only way it would be bad if you have someone near you putting out poison out to kill rats and mice, otherwise it's great to see the chickens learning a new trade

 

[jarcoo0153]

My chickens eat them all the time, but I lost a Naked neck because she ate a mouse that had been poisoned!
So don't poison them.

 

[MysticScorpio82]

chickens and ducks are omnivores, so yes it is fine and normal for them to eat small rodents.

 

[KatieH]

I've heard chickens love pinkies (newborn rats/mice), but I used to have pet rats and can't bring myself to give mine any! Though some places sell them dead and frozen. Anyway, chickens are omnivores, so it shouldn't cause issues (unless, like someone else said, the rat had been poisoned).