Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[bgmathteach]

I went all out nuclear. I think I have described my meticulous exclusion approach filling and patching even tiny gaps in the foundation. Then inside I put snap traps out at night (so as not to harm the chickens) and a couple of Rat Zappers which are basically electric chairs that kill instantly.
I caught so many mice in the Chicken Palace that the chickens started to refuse to eat the bodies ‘not mouse steak for dinner again?!’ they complained.
I know you don’t want to kill them and I had that thought initially but found it wasn’t practical. Both the zapper and the snap traps deal a very rapid and humane death unlike glue traps or drowning in buckets.

Oh, I like the idea of the rat zapper. While I don't atm have electricity at the coop, hopefully I will by next winter (so no more lugging of lots of warm water all winter long....hopefully...next winter.)

I haven't made the bucket with can trap yet, but am planning on it. You don't have to use water...you can leave it empty (or a bit of bedding), but then it isn't any 'better' than the mouse catcher you used...just catches more at once.....lots of 'relocations' to do!

 

[RoyalChick]

100 mice? (I would be changing my strategy too)

Yes. I said when I hit 100 I am calling a professional (this was in the house not the Chicken Palace). I called the professional and told him I had caught 100 mice and he said 'do you want a job?'!


So by the time it came to dealing with the rodents in the Chicken Palace I was already a seasoned rodenteer!

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh, I like the idea of the rat zapper. While I don't atm have electricity at the coop, hopefully I will by next winter (so no more lugging of lots of warm water all winter long....hopefully...next winter.)

I haven't made the bucket with can trap yet, but am planning on it. You don't have to use water...you can leave it empty (or a bit of bedding), but then it isn't any 'better' than the mouse catcher you used...just catches more at once.....lots of 'relocations' to do!

The rat zapper can work off batteries too. I have one plugged in and one on batteries. They are quite expensive but I found it to be very effective. Now I am hardened to the snap traps and at one point had about 6 of them bated in the Chicken Palace each night.

 

[bgmathteach]

She is definitely no worse, and the optimist in me says she is better, but I think objectively she is about the same.
Being about the same is probably on balance good news as it means whatever it is isn't rapidly rampaging through her brain and nervous system.
I also managed to observe her closely and she isn't suffering any kind of generalized brain issue - she is alert, she is accurate in her aim for a bug or a sunflower seed (or a Roadrunner for that matter!), and she is interested in her surroundings.

That, I think, is good news. It does mean it bodes well for her to recover...?yes?

 

[featherhead007]

Mice?… glue traps! Somewhat noisy when they get caught, but the traps work well for me!

 

[bgmathteach]

For yellow and orange you need beige eggs like all my ladies lay except Phyllis.

See, there is a reason you don't get other colors. Beige eggs are PERFECT for coloring for Easter!!!

 

[RoyalChick]

Can someone link my too the emergency and diseases please. I was leaving but found someone that rescued ducks and one has a bad case of bumble foot. @micstrachan and everyone

Here you go: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures.10/

 

[RoyalChick]

That, I think, is good news. It does mean it bodes well for her to recover...?yes?

I don't know - depends what is wrong with her - I hope so. She put herself in the ground floor nest box tonight - I don't know if that means she is weaker and couldn't make it up to her preferred box or just she decided this was less hassle.

 

[RoyalChick]

Mice?… glue traps! Somewhat noisy when they get caught, but the traps work well for me!

I hate them - I don't think they are humane to the mouse. I am at peace with killing them but I want that to be a swift and painless death.

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh dear. Poor half-naked Diana has nobody to snuggle up to.
Maggie is in the nest box because she cannot balance on the roost.
Minnie has been roosting on her own since she got sick.
Dotty decided to join Minnie tonight.
It will dip down to freezing briefly so not terribly cold but I did shut the doors to keep as much heat in as possible.