Successful Mouse Trapping

Just wanted to share a trap method I started 3 days ago, resulting in 12 caught mice so far. After thinking on several ways, poison or trap methods, I opted for chicken proof trapping.

Bought a pile of the old school wooden snap traps, and 2 plastic shoe box sized totes with snap on lids. Cut a small, 1 inch hole into 2 sides of the plastic tote, on the bottom edge for easy access for the mice.

Baited the traps with peanut butter, and put 2 into each box. Set directly in the coop, after the girls go to bed, right by the food.

You know mice have no fear of trapped dead mice? You know they will canabalize each other when one is in a trap? You know they will come along and eat the peanut butter off the trap after it has been sprung by another mouse? Crazy!

We'll keep the traps set every night until we just don't catch any more. At this rate, we've been supporting a heck of a population of rodents, without ever even seeing one. I started to see tell-tale signs of mice when I found bits of insulation pulled from the coop walls. That's the only sign there was of them!

The plastic totes keep the traps out of the chickens reach. The box can get shuffled around, and the lid stays on. I can get traps set anywhere I need them. Keeping them by the food for now, since it's working so well.

just curious....were they house mice or field mice

I don't know, what's the difference?

house mice are the grey, dirty disgusting ones.......field mice are light brown w/ a white belly.


house mouse


field mouse

They're darker like the first one, but with white bellies. At 15 caught now, forgot to reset the traps last night, so nothing today.

Just wanted you to know that I tried this method last night and it was a huge success! I just used the one box but tonight, I plan on adding an additional box with 2 more traps.

What a great idea, going to borrow this !!

So simple and a great idea. I have trapped all th emice (for now) out of my shed but there are quite a few in and around the run.

I have mice in my hen house also I have put traps got a few,still coming in .chewing through the floor boards .I stuffed steal wool in the holes and covered them with wood.
these rodents are giving me a pain lol ...had snakes now mice where are the snakes at when ya need them.... I used moth balls and the mice seem to not like the smell either ..we will see what happens ..I wont give up ... I will try the totes also thanks...

Great idea - I'll have to give it a shot! Thanks for the tip!