Bryce Thomas
Songster
So after studying the mice for about 1-2 weeks, I learned a lot more about them. At 8PM each night I would turn off all the lights in the coop and they would come out, there are 2 mice total. I would just sit infront of the feeder 1 foot away from it and they didn't mind me at all until I moved, I would just sit still then the 2 came out on and ran around and did mouse stuff. I noticed even without the weight they would never be able to get into the treadle feeder, but would simply run around it, and on top of it. They never ate any feed or drank any water. It seems like they are around simply because the coop provides shelter and that's it. Any ideas? (They don't seem to be eating anything, and there is no feed spill either, my treadle feeders dont allow any feed to be spilled out either.)
Also I learned that when I opened one of the feeders and there was a mouse in it 2 weeks ago was because one of the chickens opened it to eat then the mouse went in but didn't leave before the chicken stepped off, trapping the mouse inside
Also one more thing, I always had a light on in the coop if the birds wanted to eat or drink, and I learned some of the naked necks would eat and stand on the treadle feeder and the mice would eat when they stood on it, last night I turned off the light and the NN would sleep all night and the mice would never be able to get any feed.
(last night some feral cat stood outside the coop while I was sitting in front of the feeder learning about the mice behavior, the cat was pretty friendly and even let me pet her, I like the feral cats because they control the mice population, and yes my birds are safe from any predators especially cats : ) )
Those are my 2 treadle feeders, they have the weights on the lid. Even without the weights the mice still could not get in, with the light off and the chickens all asleep and roosting they never set foot on the feeders throughout the whole night and the mice seemed to never be able to get any feed that night. Maybe I won the war with the mice?
Also I learned that when I opened one of the feeders and there was a mouse in it 2 weeks ago was because one of the chickens opened it to eat then the mouse went in but didn't leave before the chicken stepped off, trapping the mouse inside
Also one more thing, I always had a light on in the coop if the birds wanted to eat or drink, and I learned some of the naked necks would eat and stand on the treadle feeder and the mice would eat when they stood on it, last night I turned off the light and the NN would sleep all night and the mice would never be able to get any feed.
(last night some feral cat stood outside the coop while I was sitting in front of the feeder learning about the mice behavior, the cat was pretty friendly and even let me pet her, I like the feral cats because they control the mice population, and yes my birds are safe from any predators especially cats : ) )
Those are my 2 treadle feeders, they have the weights on the lid. Even without the weights the mice still could not get in, with the light off and the chickens all asleep and roosting they never set foot on the feeders throughout the whole night and the mice seemed to never be able to get any feed that night. Maybe I won the war with the mice?
