I have never heard the like, dh was down digging up the compost heap, tidying up around the hens etc, when they started making a racket and dashing about. He thought they had found a huge worm, he watched a hen pounce, catch a mouse/shrew, then dash off with it, tail hanging out of her beak, with the other hens in hot pursuit. Dh then watched as she gobbled it up, I am a bit shocked!