Chickens and field mice, bad mix?

[Mamatomany123]

Isn’t it a futile battle though? Won’t we always have mice in the coop? I agree with the disease part. So if I’m
Supposed to trap, how do I keep my chickens beaks out of the traps??

You'll need to figure out a different way to store your feed. If they're getting a free meal then yes, you'll continue to have a mouse problem. I currently have a treadle feeder that has to be stepped on to open. Mice, rats, wild birds ect arent heavy enough or cant reach the feeder from.the step.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Isn’t it a futile battle though? Won’t we always have mice in the coop? I agree with the disease part. So if I’m
Supposed to trap, how do I keep my chickens beaks out of the traps??

This is my creep feeder for chicks, but build something to put the traps in that the chickens can't get their heads in to peck. And use wire to keep the traps inside the "cage". Sometimes they can drag off the trap.

I feed my dead mice to the chickens. They play keep-away with them and eventually one eats them. Easy disposal and they get extra protein.

I store feed in a metal garbage can so rodents can't get to it but it is a fairly futile battle in my coop. I'm in the country with mice living all around. I'll always have mice. My efforts are to control the numbers so they don't get out of hand.

 

[aart]

Isn’t it a futile battle though? Won’t we always have mice in the coop? I agree with the disease part. So if I’m
Supposed to trap, how do I keep my chickens beaks out of the traps??

I have this wire basket that works well for snap traps inside the coop itself.
I only set these over-night, chicken get up before I do.
Have other traps outside the coop part(it's in a large shed) that are set all the time.