Barn Cat for Chicken Coop?

[Ribbit]

We found out the bucket trick by accident after leaving a bucket out in the rain and some mouse decided it wanted to take a dip, let's just say it enjoyed itself so much it never came back out.

I believe there are herbal poisons that work by bloating the rodents bellies, and the trick is that it's not harmful to humans or birds. We stopped using it because we were concerned it may accidentally kill a hedgehog. It'd be great if I could remember what the name of it was OTL;; (this was so long ago)

I'm sure it could learn not to kill your hens, my friend owns some chooks, ducks and rabbits whilst owning two Jack Russells, a Mutt and 3 cats. They all get along just fine.
I think it just depends on the nature of the cat.

 

[aubreynoramarie]

Hmm well our coop is a rubbermaid shed so it has to be on the ground because the floor is like puzzle pieces that come together... I wish before we had put it in that we would have thought to build a platform but i think its too late now. Anyway it has little holes in the floor I think for drainage purposes. I think theyve built burrows through those. Today we cleaned out the coop completely and shoved the hose down all of the holes. Im hoping that will help drown them. were gonna go to home depot and try to find something to plug up those holes

 

[MamaJoJo]

Good luck! I hope you find just what you need. my coop flooded today so as soon as it stops raining I have some building to do so I can reclaim my utility room.

 

[thegoodlife1961]

I have a book on chickens that says the best thing for rodents is to put the chicken feed AND feeders in a closed container such as a large trash container with lid every night. The chickens won't be eating at night anyway & this way the mice will lose interest & go elsewhere if there is no longer a free feed buffet. I would do that, plus the bucket trick. Seems like it would make the buckets even more attractive to the mice if there isn't any feed anywhere else besides what is floating in the buckets. Good luck!

 

[what did I do]

We have 9 cats in and around the chicken barns. The cats leave the chickens alone and for the most part the chickens leave the cats alone. I thought there might be a problem but there isn't. I even have a stray tom hanging out with them. I thought I might loose my chicks to the tom but I didn't.I have more chicks now and the tom stays away from them.

 

[chicknmania]

Thank you! Im thinking I should crate them inside the coop for a few weeks so they know where home is, then, right? I want them to go in the coop because that is where our problem is. The mice live under it and come out and take so much feed. Last time we did a coop clean out we caught 10 with just our (gloved) hands and every night when i go to lock up i see them all scatter. Its so frustrating!

Yeah, you'd want to crate them or put them in a pen for a week or so so that they know where home is. I'm like you, I hate killing things, mice included. Live and let live...but Mice, please live somewhere else! Cats are the best thing to get rid of rodents and keep them away. I think, anyway.

 

[MamaJoJo]

I'm stopping in to see how mouse proofing the coop is going??

 

[Havenhill Farn]

Any luck with the mice issue? And did you find a cat? I have two cats and one is a great hunter and leaves my chickens alone. The other has no idea what hunting is and trys to play with my chickens. I say try because he acts like he is going to pounce and then runs a way. As he runs away I call out to him CHICKEN. And then I get a look from my girls like "What". As for the cat I wouldn't get a young cat because then you will have to wait for it to grow up and hunt. Get one around 1 to 2 yrs old.