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Hi, My hen just ate a dead shrew (quite a big one) that my cat had left in the garden. She ran around with it very pleased with herself then finally downed it in one go! Is this a common thing to happen? I suppose there'll be a lot of protien in it but it looked quite horrible!!

Don't worry - they do that! Mine also go for frogs and any cat leavings they can find! We recently found a pool of blood and some splatters in the hen house - the hens were all fine so we are guessing that some poor mouse found it's way in there.

Oh just be grateful for the shrew that it was already dead. Yes they do that! So do ducks, but the poor mouse that my duck got was still alive then taken for a little 'swim' in the pond and no doubt got drowned big time as my duck seemed incapable of swallowing it whole without taking big gulps of water. Pretty gross but quite funny at the same time, I shouldn't laugh but

my hens have had small frogs/toads before... they are omnivores.....

reminds me of when my chickens had a fun time sharing a mouse - poor thing was stretched and pecked and devoured eventually.

Oh good, glad it's normal. They'll probably be treated by the cat again, she's new and seems to be quite the huntress!

Saw my girls have a go at a very live ferret/stoat that had got into their enclosure. Felt so sorry for it that I went in and got the girls off - it probably came back later to eat the eggs/chicks. Oh well.

and to think i was concerned when i found out my kids had fed their packed lunch ham sandwiches to the chickens

OK, ducks are now off the list, as well as the chickens.

Anyone know any really gross reason why I shouldn't keep a goat?

Not a billy goat as they really stink! Another one of those smells I'd just read about (like rotten eggs) that has to be smelt to be believed!