Free choice or not

[RoosterML]

@aart and OP try these. I use to use the old school snap trap and this in by far superior to me and also much more finger friendly.

 

[Aristocat123]

I've tried many traps, but the old style snap traps with the smaller trigger(see pic below) work the best, IMO.

Not sure what you mean by 'animal friendly'?
I set them up where the chickens and dogs can't get at them,
either up high or under a milk crate or wire basket.

View attachment 1941737

I am worried about dogs and chickens getting hurt by them but you already clarified that. You’re so clever I never thought of a milk crate. I will try that. You’re the best. Thank you.

 

[Cryss]

2- If the problem is more about pellets being pulled out and scattered into the litter attracting mice, then attach a small plastic shield to cover the lower ~1/4 of each opening. That will keep the chickens from scattering pellets.

Excellent idea.
I do not feed or water my girls inside the coop unless I need to lock them inside and not allow them outside for a short period of time. Their hanging feeders are in the run under the area just slightly outside the coop pop door and protected from weather. This gives them a dry area to eat, drink, and hang out in outdoors during inclement weather. Once they are up and outside at daybreak they don't care to go back inside except to lay eggs and to roost at night, and now they don't need to go inside just to eat or drink. They seem to not mind even the coldest days and hang out outdoors. I do wrap the run fencing with translucent tarps in winter as a wind break and to keep snow from blowing in from the sides. Snow falls in from above in the half of the run that is only covered with hardware cloth, no weather protection. They just hang out in the protected side till the snow melts, so the feeding area is dry and basically not windy. I bring the feeders inside my house at night.

Hardware cloth covers the run from above, the walls, and an apron. I also have hardware cloth wrapping the bottom 4 feet of the coop walls and underneath the flooring to prevent chewing critters. I don't think I'll have a problem in the coop with mice. We shall see. They might possibly be able to get into the run at night for spills but I haven't seen 'signs' yet.

 

[1muttsfan]

I use the box type traps that have a clear lid - my annual fall influx of mice is going on in the garage right now, I had 4 in the trap yesterday when I checked it. They are just little field mice that are looking for winter digs. They get a trip out to the woods with a handful of peanuts to tide them over.

I have seen the red squirrels climb over the 6" pen fencing, squirm through the poultry netting, and run into the coop for a mid-day snack - doesn't seem to bother the hens at all. Little devils. I think a local predator cleared them out though, haven't seen any under the birdfeeder for a few weeks.

 

[TomZilla43]

This is what I use, it's a 7 lb feeder with a 32 lb food grade bucket drilled on the bottom w/ a 6" hole for easy refilling(it actually is the top in this feeder application). And 1 1/4" holes on the sides to keep the chooks from scattering feed. I've used this setup for over a year and am happy with the results. It seems to do all the things that I need it to do in keeping the feed away from critters, keeps the girls from making a mess and is easy to fill. Now I only have 9 hens and I actually have 2 of these, not sure if it would work great for peeps with a large flock....

 

[perchie.girl]

Hello all,
I would like to know how you all feed your chickens. I have a large tote with 8 ports around it, I take it out of the coop at night, and return it in the morning, ( free choice ) . My problem is mice, I dont know if I should feed them in the morning before I let them out to free range, or continue to let them eat when they want to. So I would like to know your thoughts, and see some pictures of your feeders.
Thank you in advance.

I free feed 24/7. My situation is different from yours. Different climate and Unable to free range. Arts suggestion of trapping now is a good one. One mouse means there are others. One mouse can have a large litter. Each of those mice are able to reproduce in a few weeks. Large litters each...

There is also an organic method for rodent control. I would place pellets in a chicken un accessible place Like the traps.

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/agrid3-pelleted-bait/

There are others but this was the first I found this quickly

deb

 

[Cryss]

There is also an organic method for rodent control. I would place pellets in a chicken un accessible place Like the traps.

https://www.planetnatural.com/product/agrid3-pelleted-bait/

Organic poison? It poisons rats with calcium leached from their bones. It claims that if a poisoned animal was eaten it would have a low incidence of poisoning the eater. HOWEVER it warns to not let pets and livestock (code words for "animals you don't want to poison") eat the poison pellets. Imagine the results of a chicken eating poison that leaches calcium from their bodies.

 

[Drex Chick]

I have 10 birds that free range all day, they get a scoop of pellets in the morning when they are let out, kitchen scraps and such along with whatever they find in the yard during the day, then about 6 cups of pellets in a feeding pan on the floor when it’s time to coop back up at night. A few girls will go in the coop and scratch around here and there during the day.

we have dogs and cats out with them and have not had any rodent activity as of yet “fingers crossed”

This is just what has worked for us so far. Best of luck!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

All-flock feed is available 24/7 in a no-spill, home-made 5-gal. bucket feeder that sits on the floor of the hen house. I don't see mouse sign. We have cats so I guess they do their job.

 

[LizzzyJo]

This may be an unpopular opinion, but what about getting a barn cat? My grandfather actually used ‘king’ his volunteer black king snake to take care of his mouse problem. King never bothered the chickies.

just brainstorming!