|
RichZ
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 558
|
|
Loc: Cambridge, New York in beautiful Washington County, next to Vermont
|
|
Mouse eating chickens
05/13/03 08:13 AM
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Last year we had been having problems with mice and rats in our barn. We got a couple of barn cats, and they took care of the problem. Recently, we started getting mice in the henhouse, and I noticed the cats going in there, and I figured they'd clean up that problem, too.
But the other evening, as I was collecting eggs in the henhouse, all the chickens started chasing one of the Rhode Island Reds around the henhouse. They do that when one chicken finds something good to eat. The Rhodie ran into a corner, and I blocked the other chickens, so she could have her treasure, and I saw that she caught a live mouse. I wondered what she'd do next, and quickly found out. She smashed the mouse into the wall of the henhouse rapidlly, and either killed it or knocked it out. Then she started gulping down the now limp mouse, head first.  I never thought she'd be able to do it. It was a full grown mouse, so I figured it would get caught in her throat, and I was getting ready to preform the chicken Heimlich Manuever. But she swallowed it right down with no problems.
So it looks like the cats have competition for the remaining mice, which is a good thing! No wonder I haven't seen mice around lately! First the chickens ate up all our ticks, and now they're helping the cats take care of the mice! And they give us eggs, too!! Gotta love those chickens!! 
Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."
Post Extras:
|
|
pbenven
|
|
Silver Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 198
|
|
Loc: QC, Canada
|
|
Re: Mouse eating chickens
[re: RichZ]
05/13/03 08:44 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
You might consider arming yourself when it's egg collection time - now that they've got the taste for blood 
Post Extras:
|
|
Stoneheartfarm
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 10/10/02
|
|
Posts: 792
|
|
Loc: West Central Michigan
|
|
Re: Mouse eating chickens
[re: RichZ]
05/13/03 09:04 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Rich,
I've watched ours do that too. Wait till you see them find a nest of mice. 
Steve
Post Extras:
|
|
Airedale
|
|
New Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 05/11/03
|
|
Posts: 21
|
|
Loc: Central NY
|
|
Re: Mouse eating chickens
[re: RichZ]
05/13/03 12:46 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
I think a chicken will eat just about anything they can swallow, besides mice I have seen them eat snakes and frogs. I had a pretty tame game rooster that used to follow me around when doing chores, one day the wife brought me down some lunch, a box of fried chicken. I sat down to eat and I think the rooster ate as much chicken as I did, kind of gross when you think about it. Al
Post Extras:
|
|
s1120
|
|
Gold Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 437
|
|
Loc: Niverville NY
|
|
Re: Mouse eating chickens
[re: RichZ]
05/15/03 08:07 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
WOW, Rich, you got some tough street chickens there.  Better tell the cats to be carefull.
Paul Bradway
Post Extras:
|
|
RichZ
|
|
Veteran Member
|
|
|
|
|
Reged: 09/12/02
|
|
Posts: 558
|
|
Loc: Cambridge, New York in beautiful Washington County, next to Vermont
|
|
Re: Mouse eating chickens
[re: s1120]
05/15/03 08:40 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Funny you should say that, Paul!! This morning I saw the funniest thing! The cats love to stalk the chickens. They hide behind things and sneek up on the chickens, but they never attack them, just watch them. This morning, one of the cats was stalking one of the Rhode Island Reds. Apparently he got too close, because, all of a sudden, the Rhodie attacked the cat!!! She started chasing and pecking the cat, with the cat yelping. Finally the cat just took off and hid in the barn!!  Don't mess with Rhode Island Reds!!! They're tough chickens!!! 
Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."
Edited by RichZ (05/15/03 08:41 AM)
Post Extras:
|
|
|
Re: Mouse eating chickens
[re: Airedale]
05/15/03 01:28 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
|
|
Field dress a deer or anything as far as scraps etc and a chicken will clean it up...
As far as game chickens,I have a few game chickens just for the novelty of having some game chickens in with my other various breeds of chickens,a game is a hearty breed,the hens lay well and they are a beautiful bird to have,they seem to need the least amount of care,tough birds...
Post Extras:
|
Previous
Index
Next
Flat
Threaded