A few weeks ago I saw a mouse under the coop. It came out and then ran along the feeder and stole some chicken feed.
I was glad it was not a rat!! Tonight when I put the Hens inside the coop which sits off the ground there she was again. This time with the tiniest wee babies.
I kind of figured she thought she found a really good home under the coop! Ok I am not the stand on a chair type of Hen!!!!!!! I find them wonderfully fascinating and I love watching the wee ones - but I dont want any harm to come to my hens either! One of the neighbors just lost another chick to a rat. He has been losing a lot of chicks so I am needless to say worried. I have 4 baby chicks in the next coop with their mum. Not in the one the mouse is under.
The mouse doesnt seem to bother the hens and I am not missing eggs. Will she encourage rats - or help keep them away??????? Do mice harm chickens???????
I dont really want to kill them unless they are going to be a real danger to the hens. I know the Dog next door and our cat keep the numbers down. So what should I do?????????????? Leave them or evict? Will a mouse being there stop a rat taking up residence? I would rather have the mouse!!!!!!!!
Should I leave her there and enjoy seeing her when I sort the hens or do I evict her with the help of my cat?????? I kind of enjoy her there in an odd kind of way but not if she will hurt the hens.
I was glad it was not a rat!! Tonight when I put the Hens inside the coop which sits off the ground there she was again. This time with the tiniest wee babies.
I kind of figured she thought she found a really good home under the coop! Ok I am not the stand on a chair type of Hen!!!!!!! I find them wonderfully fascinating and I love watching the wee ones - but I dont want any harm to come to my hens either! One of the neighbors just lost another chick to a rat. He has been losing a lot of chicks so I am needless to say worried. I have 4 baby chicks in the next coop with their mum. Not in the one the mouse is under.
The mouse doesnt seem to bother the hens and I am not missing eggs. Will she encourage rats - or help keep them away??????? Do mice harm chickens???????
I dont really want to kill them unless they are going to be a real danger to the hens. I know the Dog next door and our cat keep the numbers down. So what should I do?????????????? Leave them or evict? Will a mouse being there stop a rat taking up residence? I would rather have the mouse!!!!!!!!
Should I leave her there and enjoy seeing her when I sort the hens or do I evict her with the help of my cat?????? I kind of enjoy her there in an odd kind of way but not if she will hurt the hens.
