Janty Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 Has anybody ever heard of hedgehogs attacking chickens? It seems a bit odd to us as we have hedgehogs in the garden and have never had any problems but my in-laws have recently lost two chickens to some sort of animal and a friend of theirs has convinced them that it's down to hedgehogs. The chickens were left with just the throats ripped out. There were no other injuries to the birds. I was very sceptical as to how the hedgehogs would reach the chickens' throats and kill them but I said that I'd consult the oracle that is the Omlet Forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 Surely not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted May 17, 2009 Author Share Posted May 17, 2009 That's what we thought but I said that I'd ask. I think that somebody is winding them up...as I say, we've never had any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidygirlsuk Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 I think they have been playing to many video games, 'violent hedgehog !?' I think it must have been sonic the hedgehog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 hedgepigs are so placid and sweet, surely there's no way!!??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 More likely to be rats or weasels surely? I've heard that hedgehogs are partial to an egg................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 I would think (like Eglutine) weasels, stoat or ferrets most likely. Poor maligned hedgehogs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Hedgehog teeth are tiny ! It'd take them all night and probably part of the next day to do any real harm to a hen. And while they can move fast, I think a hen under attack would move quicker! I'm thinking more stoat/weasel or, more likely, mink if they're unfortunate enough to live in a mink area. Poor little hedge-pigs ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Hardly! Like the others, I suspect a small rodenty thing. Were there any droppings present? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 No way would hedgehogs do damage like that. Eggs, yes they might steal those given the opportunity but killing a hen, no way. My first thought, like others, was stoat, weasel etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hetty F Posted June 10, 2020 Share Posted June 10, 2020 Just to add to this thread, I have today witnessed my bantam cockerel and 12 week old bantam girls being attacked by a hedgehog. A commotion in the hutch at dusk sent the chickens fleeing. There were loads of feathers in the hutch and a large hedgehog running up and down the run. I spent half an hour wondering how to remove him and how to get the chickens back in their home when the hedgehog attacked the cockerel, pulling out a load of feathers. The cockerel tried to retaliate and then fled. I would not have believed this was possible if I hadn’t seen it. I will now have to work out how to protect them, from what I thought was a cute creature. Google it, there are loads of entries about this and beware of hedgehogs around young/small chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stanners Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 My mum's 8 year old silkie was found dead and mauled this morning. Sleeping hedgehog found in her nest box :-(. Devastating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watto Posted September 26, 2021 Share Posted September 26, 2021 Just in from rounding up 8 of my 12 bantams. 10.30pm. Was late shutting them away earlier (idiot, I am) and when I checked inside the henhouse I found the most enormous hedgehog. Sadly, also our sweet littlest chick dead beside it. Unfortunately, as much as I’m a fan of hedgehogs, we’ve found out tonight that they do infact attack chickens…..perhaps only small ones. Here’s hoping the other bantams are roosting safely somewhere. Poor things….. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted September 28, 2021 Share Posted September 28, 2021 Did you find the rest of your chickens safe and well @Watto ? Sad to read about your little one though. We hardly ever see living hedgehogs where I live but fortunately, my girls are in a secure run, so no chance of one getting in if we did see one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chloe7 Posted August 27, 2023 Share Posted August 27, 2023 We have just heard a commotion in the garden and have also seen a large hedgehog charging at and attacking all of our silkies. They were all out of their coop for some odd reason as they should be roosting now. On closer inspection we found their eggs has been eaten in the coop so can only assume he turfed them out, ate their eggs and came back out to attack them. Could not believe our eyes watching him attack them in the garden. They always looked so sweet and innocent 😕 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
