Found a mouse in my feeder?

[chrism]

I use an outdoor King Feeder with Rain Hat:

http://smile.amazon.com/Chick-Inn-Poultry-Feeder-50-lb/dp/B009010UB4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1444785428&sr=8-4&keywords=range+feeder

What can I do?
I don't imagine that they are eating much but I'm concerned about the mouse droppings and other mouse stuffs being deposited into the food.

 

[cavemanrich]

Where there is food available, mice are always a possibility. I suggest mouse traps or these boxes that keep trapping multiple times. I don't have mouse problems, but you can see who I employ...
WISHING YOU BEST.

 

[chrism]

Oh man...! That's what I'll do.
A couple of outdoor ally cats sure would take care of the mice and small snakes around here.
Is there ever a concern for mouse/rat droppings and parasites in chicken feed?

 

[cavemanrich]

Not sure how bad that black rice is, but am sure it is better not to have. Chickens are quite tolerant to many things that would make us sick. They eat their poop and don't get sick. They scratch in the ground and pick up all sort of things. After we work in our garden soil, you know we must wash our hands well. Of course there are many things that can make them sick as well. If you see black rice in their feed, then try your best to remove it.. I would. As to my warriors, yes they earn their keep. They are feral cats that I feed. They are part of our county TAR program. Trap and release. They are neutered or spayed and receive rabies shots. Their left ear gets clipped a small amount to identify them as protected at this stage. Animal control can easily identify them with the ear tip. Not sure that this is practiced where you are at, but it is a successful program to control cats in our area.
HOPE THIS HELPS

 

[drsteik84]

We ended up having to get a hanging feeder. Even then we had to make sure nothing was close enough for the mice to climb and jump.

 

[DanEP]

Hanging feeders seems to cut way back on the mouse problem. be careful of the alley cat idea, chicken can be a favorite on feral cat menu's, and I mean chicken not just chicks. I have lost 8 lb roosters to feral cats.

 

[chrism]

Thanks all for the help!
I am coordinating with a few Barn Cat re-homing organizations in my area.
The possible problem of the cats going after the birds is a big concern of mine but you never know until you try I guess.
I've thought about hanging the feeder but it weighs 50+ lbs. when full.
I'm also considering adding an outdoor Terrier breed dog.

 

[donrae]

Not sure how bad that black rice is, but am sure it is better not to have. Chickens are quite tolerant to many things that would make us sick. They eat their poop and don't get sick. They scratch in the ground and pick up all sort of things. After we work in our garden soil, you know we must wash our hands well. Of course there are many things that can make them sick as well. If you see black rice in their feed, then try your best to remove it.. I would. As to my warriors, yes they earn their keep. They are feral cats that I feed. They are part of our county TAR program. Trap and release. They are neutered or spayed and receive rabies shots. Their left ear gets clipped a small amount to identify them as protected at this stage. Animal control can easily identify them with the ear tip. Not sure that this is practiced where you are at, but it is a successful program to control cats in our area.
HOPE THIS HELPS

We had an orange tomcat who wandered too far once.....he was gone a few days and came home neutered with his ear clipped

. I didn't know anyone around here was doing that program. He stayed closer to home after that!

 

[lazy gardener]

Hanging feeders seems to cut way back on the mouse problem. be careful of the alley cat idea, chicken can be a favorite on feral cat menu's, and I mean chicken not just chicks. I have lost 8 lb roosters to feral cats.

My cat is not very big... about 10#, and he's not a great hunter. But, he takes great pleasure in chasing chickens just to see them run. IDK what he'd do if he ever caught one. Don't really want to find out. Often, when I let the flock out to free range, he'll get down and roll on the ground with them, and just lay around and watch them... other times, he gets that wild leopard look in his eye, and hunkers down, and that tail starts twitching. Then, he gets tossed back in the house.

We had an orange tomcat who wandered too far once.....he was gone a few days and came home neutered with his ear clipped

. I didn't know anyone around here was doing that program. He stayed closer to home after that!

Don't blame him... poor guy!

 

[trailrider330]

My German Shepherd thinks she's part cat. I know of at least 3 mice she has dispatched in the past 6 months.