Today was my weekly (by-weekly if I am lazy) cleaning of the coop. I take everything out and put in new bedding, rake everything, put down DE, clean and fill feeders and waterers. Well I lifted up the feeder and there was a huge hole under it. I looked in side of the feeder and sure enough there were mice poos in the food!!!!! After further investigation I saw were there tunnel went, right under my shed. The coop is up against my shed. I was thinking that my chickens were going threw food like crazy, almost 40 lbs in less then two week for only 7 chickens. Now I know why. My cat and the neighbors cat have been going under the shed alot so I am hoping that they are mice hunting. That is the first time I have seen any traces of mice them in about 5 years. So now to figure out what to do. I don't want the cats to get caught in a snap trap and putting out poison is out of the question. Now I guess just have to try and figure out what to do. I mice!!!
You need to build a mouse catching box. Make it small enough for some sticky traps to fit in it. Put 2 mouse holes. Make the top hinged with a lock to keep unwanted animals out. If you do a search you can see pictures.
A huge hole could also mean rats. I'd do more than rely on the cats to get rid of your problem. Rats (and mice) reproduce like Crazy, especially when they have a food source. Seal up your coop and coop floor against them by using 1/2" hard wire mesh. Anything with larger holes and they will get through it.
If it's not a huge hole and you can't do a permanent repair; stuff it with steel wool. they don't like to chew the stuff.
I know I am going to have to do something because if the cats were doing there job there wouldn't be any mice. The reason why I think it is mice is because of the side of the droppings, they are itty bitty. We used to raise rats years ago for our snakes and there droppings were a lot bigger. I am thinking that I might take out there food everynight. That is going to be a pain. Talk to hubby when he gets home and give him the good news about our new friends.
