Dolly and the mouse (pest control)

[daddyofbob]

Its early evening here and I just put the chooks back in their pen and scattered some corn about as a bedtime snack.

I was amazed and disgusted with what happened next. Our new amber girl, who goes by the name of Dolly, caught a mouse and was being chased around by the other chooks. She ate the thing whole!

Is this normal?

Is it safe?

Does this mean that we have a mouse infestation?

How can we cut down on the amount of mice?

Will rats be next?

Are we going to become hated by next door?

I guess the fact that its harvest time doesn't help.

Warmly,

Richard

 

[MuckyPuppy]

I have read that other people's chickens have caught and eaten mice.

To try and prevent a rodent invasion, Every evening i put all the chicken food in a rodent proof/resistant place.

 

[chfite]

Mice and rats are found where there are shelter and food. Take a look at that.

Chickens will eat anything. Mine ate a snake a few weeks ago. Ten chickens are more than a match for a snake. The snakes keep the chipmunks and rabbits under control.

Mouse traps where the chickens cannot get into them might be a good idea.

Chris

 

[CAjerseychick]

Its early evening here and I just put the chooks back in their pen and scattered some corn about as a bedtime snack.

I was amazed and disgusted with what happened next. Our new amber girl, who goes by the name of Dolly, caught a mouse and was being chased around by the other chooks. She ate the thing whole!

Is this normal?

Is it safe?

Does this mean that we have a mouse infestation?

How can we cut down on the amount of mice?

Will rats be next?

Are we going to become hated by next door?

I guess the fact that its harvest time doesn't help.

Warmly,

Richard

Back when we lived in the city that was the #1 concern of neighbors -- the rats attracted by chicken feed (sewer rats are HUGE and I once saw one jump a 6 ft fence in 1 leap)-- we also have tons of old feed scatterd about the chicken yard/ back yard they roam in-- its covered in a layer of straw so just sorta disappears into it-- cant really sweep it up-- I think its a matter of time before we get rodents -- Am sort of impressed by your mouse eating chicken-- for me that is convenient-- and probably nutritious as well (I have young Jersey Giants and they need alot of protein)-- let us know how your hens health goes-- If she suffers from no ill effects-- GREAT... The circle of Life and a high protein snack to boot....

 

[daddyofbob]

I have read that other people's chickens have caught and eaten mice.
To try and prevent a rodent invasion, Every evening i put all the chicken food in a rodent proof/resistant place.

Has this worked so far MuckyPuppy?

Mice and rats are found where there are shelter and food. Take a look at that.

Chickens will eat anything. Mine ate a snake a few weeks ago. Ten chickens are more than a match for a snake. The snakes keep the chipmunks and rabbits under control.

Mouse traps where the chickens cannot get into them might be a good idea.

Chris

Thanksfully we don't get snakes where I live. Well at least I hope not anyway. I guess I need to buy an airtight storage box and put all feeders in there over night and stop feeding them cord strain to the floor of their pen.

Back when we lived in the city that was the #1 concern of neighbors -- the rats attracted by chicken feed (sewer rats are HUGE and I once saw one jump a 6 ft fence in 1 leap)-- we also have tons of old feed scatterd about the chicken yard/ back yard they roam in-- its covered in a layer of straw so just sorta disappears into it-- cant really sweep it up-- I think its a matter of time before we get rodents -- Am sort of impressed by your mouse eating chicken-- for me that is convenient-- and probably nutritious as well (I have young Jersey Giants and they need alot of protein)-- let us know how your hens health goes-- If she suffers from no ill effects-- GREAT... The circle of Life and a high protein snack to boot....

Rats would be my worse nightmare. Has anyone tried those sonic devices as a deterrent?

Warmly,

R

 

[CAjerseychick]

Yes! We had an infestation of mice in our garage-- had the sonic devices in the garage as well as some that plug into your electrical outlets and make the walls vibrate-- the inner hallways (it is a 3 story condo unit-- 3 flats on top of one another) never saw a mouse (but I think b/c the stairs and hallways had no food)-- the sonic devices...hard to say... maybe cut down on the mice a bit... but more than that the bags of bird seed stored there got used up and the mice had no more food... still in the back yard though, but just a few not enough to be bothered by, really...

 

[daddyofbob]

I'll add the sonic devices to my arsenal as well then. They would be good for the garage and shed, but not sure if you can get one which works out of doors?

We're going to take the food in this evening and I have some humane traps to use in the garage. I guess that's all I can do at them moment.

Warmly,

R

 

[CAjerseychick]

I'll add the sonic devices to my arsenal as well then. They would be good for the garage and shed, but not sure if you can get one which works out of doors?

We're going to take the food in this evening and I have some humane traps to use in the garage. I guess that's all I can do at them moment.

Warmly,

R

Garden store had this solar garden stake that you just pushed into the soil and it emitted a sonic vibration-- it was for moles....I think it did work for moles...

 

[daddyofbob]

Will have to check to see if we have anything like that in the UK.

R

 

[daddyofbob]

Garden store had this solar garden stake that you just pushed into the soil and it emitted a sonic vibration-- it was for moles....I think it did work for moles...

Is it like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solar-Pow...Pest-Repeller-Chaser-/170748561841#vi-content