How do I get rid of mice??

[shmccarthy]

There's a few mice in my coop and my chickens are terrified of them, I'm afraid to set traps out in case one of the hens gets into them. I've only seen 2 so far but is there any chicken friendly way to keep them away? I have an owl statue on top of the hen house but that hasn't deterred them.

 

[aart]

Sometimes chickens will catch and eat mice! How old are you chickens?

Put a snap trap in a box with a mouse sized hole in it so the mice can get at it and the chickens can't.
Give the snapped mice to the chickens to eat, good source of protein, then maybe they'll start catching them.

Do a search on mice, you'll find lots of situations and solutions.

 

[chfite]

First, look for and eliminate the mice's source of food and shelter. If there is no place to live, they will move along.

My chickens like mice, good with tahini.

Chris

 

[Czech's_chicks]

I remember when my girls would find the pinkies! It was hysterical to watch them fight over them!

I have started prophylactic baiting and have not seen or heard a rat in months. I have bait stations that I keep in the front totally away from the dogs and birds. Best thing I have ever done. Don't wait till you see them, just start and keep doing it.

 

[phalenbeck]

There are enclosed CIRCULAR traps that seem to be most places. Anything larger than a mouse cannot get in.

 

[ozarkchicks]

I agree on using the circular traps, they work well. Hopefully your hens will eventually want to eat the mice

 

[aart]

What is a circular mouse trap?? Can you catch more than on at a time? I like the bucket trap myself!

 

[ozarkchicks]

D-Con has a "No View, No Touch" mouse trap, if you google it then it pops right up. I'm not sure how often it is to catch more than one in it, I have caught two once. The bucket trap works well too, we made a bucket trap but we felt bad for the mouse who was drowning so we saved it from the bucket. Now that I think about it I would go with the bucket trap, a lot cheaper and works great

 

[shmccarthy]

Thanks! I'll have to try both of them. My chickens are around a year old and they all jump up to their roosts and lift their skirts up when they see mice! XD I was worried they'd start chewing on the heat lamp cord.

 

[ozarkchicks]

good luck!