Food location - coop or run?

[WindingRoad]

Aw they really are attached to the studs. I thought you meant they were hung on a hook. A horse of another color. I think what you should do is only fill them for the day. And if any is left in them scoop it out for tomorrow. Do you have an apron or did you put hardwire down into the ground around your run?

Nice looking SLWs.

 

[PirateGirl]

In summer I often put the food in the coop due to prairie dogs. The rodents you have are similar in that they are more active during the day and hopefully will return to their homes at night. Good luck! I hate feeding the little buggers. Perhaps something like a treadle feeder will help. I also try not to feed more than the chickens will eat in a day so there isn't much waste available for the other critters.

 

[WindingRoad]

In summer I often put the food in the coop due to prairie dogs. The rodents you have are similar in that they are more active during the day and hopefully will return to their homes at night. Good luck! I hate feeding the little buggers. Perhaps something like a treadle feeder will help. I also try not to feed more than the chickens will eat in a day so there isn't much waste available for the other critters.

If the critters food source drys up they will look for greener pastures.

 

[PirateGirl]

I read a few replies... I too sit by my coop with my pellet gun in the summer in hopes I can get the little buggers when they poke their heads out, I send my cat out as well and he does a pretty good job but can't keep up. I saw a comment about raising your feeders and saw a photo. Perhaps if you raise them a few feet and have roost/perch a few inches in front of them so the chickens can hop/fly up to eat it will make it more difficult for the rodents to get there.

 

[WindingRoad]

I read a few replies... I too sit by my coop with my pellet gun in the summer in hopes I can get the little buggers when they poke their heads out, I send my cat out as well and he does a pretty good job but can't keep up. I saw a comment about raising your feeders and saw a photo. Perhaps if you raise them a few feet and have roost/perch a few inches in front of them so the chickens can hop/fly up to eat it will make it more difficult for the rodents to get there.

I had squirrels jump up over 3 feet to get on the roof of my henhouse and dangle down the side to eat a flock block last fall. Once I stopped feeding form a pan outside I got rid of my squirrels. Again once there is no food available they will move on.

 

[PirateGirl]

I had squirrels jump up over 3 feet to get on the roof of my henhouse and dangle down the side to eat a flock block last fall. Once I stopped feeding form a pan outside I got rid of my squirrels. Again once there is no food available they will move on.

yes, but gophers aren't exactly known for their acrobatics the way grey squirrels are

 

[RadiantJay]

Thanks to everyone posting possible solutions. I need to fix my wire Mesh floor holes caused by the gophers, reinstall sand and pebbles to cover it and I will try reducing the food from 24-7 to more of a day time schedule. I’m advocate for “no food, no critters” so I recognize the need to clean it up and reduce the volumes available. GD gophers!!!!

I was considering a wire mesh apron but I know gohpers can borrow deep so have tabled all that work for now.

-sling shot J.

 

[PirateGirl]

Thanks to everyone posting possible solutions. I need to fix my wire Mesh floor holes caused by the gophers, reinstall sand and pebbles to cover it and I will try reducing the food from 24-7 to more of a day time schedule. I’m advocate for “no food, no critters” so I recognize the need to clean it up and reduce the volumes available. GD gophers!!!!

I was considering a wire mesh apron but I know gohpers can borrow deep so have tabled all that work for now.

-sling shot J.

Yeah, I'm not sure an apron will make a difference. I know with prairie dogs (related) their tunnels and networks and towns span a few miles for a colony, so I'm not convinced something along the lines of an 18 inch apron will make a huge difference Ours have not come out from their winter hiding yet, but I'm not looking forward to it. I've already started sending the cat out more often in anticipation of their spring arrival.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Apron won't help against these types of burrowers, they just travel too far underground to effectively apron against. I really think it should be possible to fashion some sort of cap for the feeders.

 

[wild chick]

I agree with rosemarythyme, it would be easiest to just cap the feed at night and uncap it in the morning. I don't have gophers but had rock squirrels that burrowed under the barn. Our dog killed them one by one two summers ago and they never came back. Gophers are just about impossible to control. @RadiantJay you have my sympathies.