Unable to eat the usual sunnyside-up egg after seeing hen swallow a mouse...

[sideyard chick]

I was in the chicken coop last week and a ruckus began of the hens chasing another hen who had caught a mouse. She then just swallowed it while the tail hung out of her mouth for awhile. I freaked out that she might die since reading much about craw impaction, but she has been perfectly fine since.

However, now I am unable to eat a fried egg since the image of that hen swallowing the mouse keeps returning. Baking with eggs idoesn't repulse me but seeing one in all its glory, I cannot eat.

I know this is normal for chickens to eat mice. Can someone talk me out of my hopefully temporary revulsion for eating an egg by itself. Much appreciated!

 

[nuthatched]

It's likely not the first mouse.
Mice are made of meat, a tasty treat for a chicken.

 

[tlcmurphy]

I’ve watched mine slurp down snakes like spaghetti. Same reaction to the eggs, you’ll get over it eventually.

 

[WingItRanch]

Yeah it's pretty freaky when their little dinosaur ancestry shows its ugly head. I think all you can do is laugh and say "good chicken!"

Good news is this was week. Long ago digested. Maybe remind yourself of that? Until the next time they go T Rex on varmint....

 

[Evadig]

I was in the chicken coop last week and a ruckus began of the hens chasing another hen who had caught a mouse. She then just swallowed it while the tail hung out of her mouth for awhile. I freaked out that she might die since reading much about craw impaction, but she has been perfectly fine since.

However, now I am unable to eat a fried egg since the image of that hen swallowing the mouse keeps returning. Baking with eggs idoesn't repulse me but seeing one in all its glory, I cannot eat.

I know this is normal for chickens to eat mice. Can someone talk me out of my hopefully temporary revulsion for eating an egg by itself. Much appreciated!

Maybe start by hiding the egg in some baking. Then make a good omelet. By that time you will probably have forgotten about the incident .

 

[Birdslave]

I was in the chicken coop last week and a ruckus began of the hens chasing another hen who had caught a mouse. She then just swallowed it while the tail hung out of her mouth for awhile. I freaked out that she might die since reading much about craw impaction, but she has been perfectly fine since.

However, now I am unable to eat a fried egg since the image of that hen swallowing the mouse keeps returning. Baking with eggs idoesn't repulse me but seeing one in all its glory, I cannot eat.

I know this is normal for chickens to eat mice. Can someone talk me out of my hopefully temporary revulsion for eating an egg by itself. Much appreciated!

You'd be surprised on how eager their excellent eyes are, and "Catch it" reactions are ! It's all protein they need, anyway. Don't fret. it's okay. Most wild mice are not ridden with any disease. Depending on where you live, and the environment the mouse scavenges from; you can judge how well-fed that mouse was (and healthy) before your chicken got that excellent protein boost, and calcium boost.

If anything, the eggs shall be sweeter, and healthier. they know what they are doing.



Years ago, I let a baby lab mouse out to play when my chickens were out. I thought not that anything would happen. But all of a sudden the mouse disappeared ! It must have crawled toward the fence. One second there, next gone !

I'm pretty sure "Sweetie" got it. Lovey was too slow. But I have no idea ! Lol. But they laid great. They need that calcium/protein boost all the time, especially before molt.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Chickens can choke to death on large mice. But it is great that they can take care of the rodent problem, which i guess isn't so much of a problem now.