Do mice proof cages/coops even exist?

[Karlkurla Chooks]

I use a 'tunnel' trap. It consists of a clear plastic cone-shaped tube where a thick green rubber band is slid over its pointy end, then rolled over to the wide end. There is a trip lever mechanism in the ceiling of the tube.

The tube sits inside a black plastic tunnel. The tube also has a hole that sits over a spot where peanut butter can be placed for bait.

The mouse smells the peanut butter, then enters the tunnel. As they try to get to the peanut butter, they touch the trip release lever, which lets go of the rubber band. The mouse is instantly asphyxiated, dying with no pain.

When I found the mouse I throw it to my chooks for them to gobble up! One usually grabs it first then runs off with it with the rest going after her!

 

[Bawkbok]

We encountered our first mouse in the run about two weeks ago. I haven't slept well since worried about the stupid mice. We have always brought all food and all waterers in at night. They still show up. The dog was going crazy trying to get at it and with it being dark, I couldn't see where it escaped but suddenly heard it scurrying up a nearby tree. We have a fast dog but he could not catch the mouse. Barked up the tree as a hound dog would do (he's 100 lbs. and not a hound dog) frustrated as all get out. I'm not a cat person but I am seriously considering getting one. I don't know anything about them but I would definitely want one that would not harm the chickens, the dogs, and would stay in the yard. That would be the perfect cat.

 

[wrathsfarm]

We encountered our first mouse in the run about two weeks ago. I haven't slept well since worried about the stupid mice. We have always brought all food and all waterers in at night. They still show up. The dog was going crazy trying to get at it and with it being dark, I couldn't see where it escaped but suddenly heard it scurrying up a nearby tree. We have a fast dog but he could not catch the mouse. Barked up the tree as a hound dog would do (he's 100 lbs. and not a hound dog) frustrated as all get out. I'm not a cat person but I am seriously considering getting one. I don't know anything about them but I would definitely want one that would not harm the chickens, the dogs, and would stay in the yard. That would be the perfect cat.

Barn cats.. I have a few. They walk right by the little ones of the flock. The first encounter with a broody or an upper hen usually sets them straight. They don't stay on the property but unless you've got a male that's not fixed and spraying the neighbors are usually ok with the rodent control.

 

[Zenmonkey]

I haven't slept well since worried about the stupid mice.

You don't need to worry about them. Despite their limited intelligence, they manage just fine. Sorry, couldn't resist. I know that they are very annoying.

Barked up the tree as a hound dog would do (he's 100 lbs. and not a hound dog) frustrated as all get out.

Sounds like a wonderful dog!

I'm not a cat person but I am seriously considering getting one. I don't know anything about them but I would definitely want one that would not harm the chickens, the dogs, and would stay in the yard. That would be the perfect cat.

Fortunately most cats aren't people cats anyway.

In my opinion a spayed female is one of the best mousers. This results in a cat that isn't exactly convenient or inexpensive, as the vet bills to get to the spayed state add up. And there is typically a two week recovery period where limited activity is recommended. This, for an outdoor cat, is challenging. And the vet will be confused, because most outdoor cats don't receive much vet care. Or at least my vet sees almost entirely indoor and indoor/outdoor cats.

I found that scheduling the surgery for a moderate time of year (winter for you, as you're in Florida? ) and an outdoor shed with the largest dog crate I could find, seemed to work well. They're not fond of it, but it gives a short window where they can recover and you will bond with them a bit more.

The neutering contributes a lot to them sticking close, as does making some effort to build a relationship with them. Outside of that, how well they stay in the yard depends a lot on how large your yard is. I'm convinced that the neutering also improves their hunting.

Be aware that the criticism regarding outdoor cats and songbirds is valid. The cats appear to catch many dozens, maybe hundreds, of rodents for every songbird they catch. But they will catch songbirds. I think if that was a huge moral concern for the nation, we would revisit the idea of federally protecting raptors, as they eat a lot of songbirds. Kestrels and other small raptors feed heavily on songbirds. However it may still be an issue for you. I find the reduced rodent presence tends to soothe my soul on the occasions where the felines harvest a songbird.

Early socialization with the chickens and the dog will make things work smoother.

Good luck!

 

[Bawkbok]

@Zenmonkey - thanks for your insight. We will be making a food and toy donation to the local pound so I think I'll have a gander at the cats while there. There are a plethora of feral cats in the neighborhood but the dog does a good job of keeping them out. He's just not out all night (too many neighbors too close) as he would bark too much and we would probably be cited for noise nuisance. Not the friendliest of hoods, if you know what I mean.

 

[Zenmonkey]

That's unfortunate. Given that, I suspect that the neighbors are closer than in my situation.

If an indoor / outdoor cat is an option, that might be a better option.

Cons include a litter box and shedding cat fur in the home. Cats can be trained to stay off the counters/ tables, but perhaps not every car can be so trained. Also they don't learn like dogs. They pick up on things much faster. However the dog typically wants to make you happy. The cat often needs convinced to care. Training a cat is a whole subject to itself.

Pros for having the car indoor part time includes a longer life span, better harmony with the dog (though possibly a rockier start).

Cats really do make about the biggest difference with rodent issues compared to everything else I've tried. But it might be difficult to fit one in to your scenario.

In case it is relevant, there are anti flea & tick meds for cats just like for dogs. Where the dog med typically is an orally delivered med, for cats it is usually a topical delivered between the shoulder blades (ie where they can't easily lick it).

 

[StinkyAcres]

Please consider traps first. Maybe an electronic one that can catch multiple at once?

I don't worry about mice. They don't cause much damage and chickens will eat them. Rats are a bigger problem.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

I don’t have a mouse problem but did have a bad rat infestation to my property before I moved in I used poison got rid of that in 3 weeks. Though if you have mice you don’t have rats because they don’t stick around and if you have rats you don’t have mice. My last place had a bad rat infestation they were so bad ripping my birds feet off and my own rats tails. But that’s no longer my problem same place had a coon problem to caught 7 before I moved.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I think if that was a huge moral concern for the nation, we would revisit the idea of federally protecting raptors, as they eat a lot of songbirds. Kestrels and other small raptors feed heavily on songbirds.

No..It's a healthy, balanced ecosystem when native raptors eat native songbirds. If we kill off the songbirds it will throw off that balance and we will lose those other birds that eat them as well as the plants that birds help spread, etc., etc.

 

[Bawkbok]

My last place had a bad rat infestation they were so bad ripping my birds feet off

I have seen a large wood rat recently so now I'm not sure if we have rats or mice since you said they don't live in the same location. I did hear something scurry through the underbrush and leaves the other night before scurrying up a tree. A mouse probably doesn't make that much noise to where I could hear it over the running fans in the chicken run. Oh gosh, I sure hope it's not a rat. At any rate, we bought both rat and mice traps and placed them in the shed where I heard thumping the other night around 11 PM. Hoping to catch something. I think I'll close the coop door at night now. Been keeping it open all night for extra air and ventilation since the temperature doesn't go below 75 over night now. Oh dear. What to do.