So, we're still relatively new chicken keepers but getting the hang of things quickly. We have 5 hens housed in a small coop (min requirements were 4 sq ft/ bird so we have a 20 sq ft coop) and have been using the deep litter method all winter. It has worked well... we didn't heat the coop this winter and the temp inside stayed consistently 10-20 degrees warmer than the outside on the coldest winter days. Smell has been minimal; turning and layering new litter has taken care of that problem when it arose.
So, now it's spring, it's warmer, and the ammonia smell is not going away w/ the addition of new litter (and turning the litter). So I figured it was time to do a deep clean today. Last night, however, as my daughter was closing up the coop and counting the girls (she does this every night when she says goodnight
) she saw 2 mice run under the bedding. We left the coop open last night, as it didn't get very cold, and hoped they would leave, but I'm concerned that they've been living there a while.
Aside from setting up multiple mice traps and cleaning out the space today, what else would you recommend to keep this from happening again?
So, now it's spring, it's warmer, and the ammonia smell is not going away w/ the addition of new litter (and turning the litter). So I figured it was time to do a deep clean today. Last night, however, as my daughter was closing up the coop and counting the girls (she does this every night when she says goodnight
) she saw 2 mice run under the bedding. We left the coop open last night, as it didn't get very cold, and hoped they would leave, but I'm concerned that they've been living there a while. Aside from setting up multiple mice traps and cleaning out the space today, what else would you recommend to keep this from happening again?
