Ahhh! Mice Invasion!

[jjthink]

I totally understand your angst! At a couple of points in time over the years I had a mouse and/or rat flurry but the situation resolved, and nonlethally actually. If you can put all food away at night (chicken food and beyond - even that in dishes) and endure getting crumbs up (I know - not easy!)), this will really help. You can also try Mouse Magic by Bonide - a nontoxic mouse repellent that uses spearmint and peppermint. Some Ace Hardware stores carry it. You put the little packets anywhere that you don't want mice. Reportedly, cotton balls dipped in peppermint oil also work. (I do not put any of this stuff too close to the chickens in case the scent bothers them). I will never use sticky traps because of the slow torment of a death that they are, so those and poison ...never. I also did a major cleanup in the building within which my coop resides and found places that the rats were getting too cozy - they had used straw and towels and whatever else to make places for themselves when it was cold out. Cleaned it all out, made sure no food anywhere, and they didn't come back (truthfully I also did some hav-a-heart trapping then).Coop is made inpenetrable by mice or rats (hopefully) so this also helps. And have been working on making the larger building inpenetrable too. Now that spring has sprung (sort of) it will be easier for you to get them all gone because they will have plenty of other options for food etc. Not fun, any of it - hope it gets better soon.
JJ

 

[draggar]

Quote:
How much is the Mouse Magic?

 

[jjthink]

Hi. I don't recall exactly but it seems like it was well below $10 for several packets. Ace Hardware can probably tell you more exactly. A friend also used them in her car when mice began to take up residence in her engine. She said it solved the problem. Likely the peppermint oil/cotton would be even less expensive, though the packets are nice and neat and you just put them wherever (the scent emanates from the porous packet).
JJ

 

[draggar]

Thanx, I'll look into those. I really don't mind the mice around the chickens but they do eat my tomatoes when I grow them (hence why I don't grow them outside anymore). Maybe I'll try those two tricks and plant some more. Too bad I won't know about the mice coming around until AFTER I'm about to harvest some tomatoes.

 

[Chickens? WOW]

to help store the food the sell tiny metal trashcans at hardware stores and farm stores. The handel keeps the lid on tight. Works great! It also helps having a nighbor kitty who will bring "presents".

 

[77horses]

I will never use sticky traps because of the slow torment of a death that they are, so those and poison ...never.

I totally agree with this, and those sticky fly strips.

I really disagree with them because they are really quite cruel, in my opinion. But my dad was the one who got the sticky traps, and I got really mad at him and eventually he got rid of them.

Luckily nothing got caught in them during the couple days they were out.


Thanks!


P.S. Do you think they mice (or...*shutter* rats...if there are any!

) will bother young baby chicks? Just in case one of our possibly broody hens hatches some out?​

 

[4 Love of Baby Chickens]

Yes they can and will bother baby chicks. Rats will I mean.

But they would have to get on by my RIR roo Rusty to even try for my baby chicks!!!

He's killed at least 2 rats and stomped on more mice than I care to count in the past 14 months of his being the ruler of the roost.

 

[77horses]

Quote:

I don't know if our fluffy Cochin rooster, Foghorn, would do that. But we also have a RIR rooster named Marty and he probably would


And if the mouse was small enough, I think our hens would go after it, too! They love eating mice!

I know, it sounds nasty, but one time there was a bunch of baby mice (not really small babies, they could run and see and everything) that we found in the garage. They scattered everywhere when they saw us and one of the hens saw them, ran over and snatched one up and carried it away to play keep-away with the other hens.

That's one way to get rid of mice.

 

[dntd]

You can get some button quail to eat the chicken feed, place the feed in chew proof ,use the bucket trick, if yoiu don`t feel like doing those get a good rat catcher type dog like a jack russel

 

[draggar]

Quote:
I totally agree with this, and those sticky fly strips.

I really disagree with them because they are really quite cruel, in my opinion. But my dad was the one who got the sticky traps, and I got really mad at him and eventually he got rid of them.

Luckily nothing got caught in them during the couple days they were out.

Most vermin poisons are horrible. Not only is it slow and painful but if another animal (someone's car or dog) eats a poisoned mouse / rat- then the pet is also poisoned. Double whammy. I don't like spring traps but if it's either them or my chickens / garden - guess who will win? Repellents are the best way to go, I've even seriously considered getting ferrets again (we just don't have the room and time for them) just for their poo. I contacted our local ferret rescue about buying some poo but they never responded - maybe they thought I was some sort of freak?