Haven't got any new alpaca shots to post so here's one of a chicken. Our little Sicilian Buttercup, Doodle (nickname 'The Stiletto').
About 5 years ago when we got our first chickens, Betty and Wilma, I saw Wilma stalk a mouse, pounce on it and then swallow it whole. Couldn't believe my eyes, didn't know chickens had it in them to be so callous, so violent, so vicious. Wilma was a 'Gingernut Ranger' variety and really was a ranger, she used to visit all of our neighbours and became well known about these parts.
Doodle is not so much of a ranger but the other day I watched her catch a shrew!
Do chickens do this regularly? Doodle didn't carry out the kill the way I had imagined though. I had imagined that she would have sidled up silently from behind and with a smooth and lightning fast movement she would have 'slotted' the unsuspecting shrew, killing it instantly. I imagined she would have then bent over, wiped the glistening blade on the pelt of the mouse before crossing herself whilst muttering under her breath a barely audible but brief prayer. She would have then retreated back into the shadows as crowds of other shrews clamoured around gasping at the shocking work of the stealthy killer moving amongst them. But no, she just jumped and pecked it on the back of the neck before slamming it against a rock. She then ran off with it in her beak pursued by the enormous Dottie and little Lulu, our two other chooks.
The picture below shows the mercilless killer running around the garden, the lifeless body dangling from her razor sharp beak.
Gone up in my estimation, chickens. They're not laying any eggs yet but they aren't just lazing about as previously thought.
4 comments:
I would very much like to eat that chickens
The opportunity for extra proteins were there and the mouse had to pay for it. Nature is not always pretty ;-)
Sounds like your knowledge of detective stories and Aardman Animations', 'Chicken Run', has paid off Mark!
Our 17 hens & 2 quinea fowl were amazing mousers. Last winter we had 2 mice in our home which we promptly caught and had no further problems. This year our home has been sold and we got rid of all our fowl in preparation for our move. Here we are in December and we are INFESTED!!!! we hear mice all day and can't wait to leave in a few days. So our chickens were obviously avid hunters. (good luck new home owners, sorry)
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