INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[browncow15]

are some of these the eggs I sent you?

Yup about half of them

 

[bearbottom]

Although not ideal, I did have to resort to poison in my coop with the mouse problem the way it was (I killed 300 or so, MAJOR infestation that I could not treat any other way......).  I used the plastic poison huts so the chickens could not reach the poison, put the poison up in the loft totally out of reach and was careful to do a body search early in the morning to get them before the chickens.  I also kept the chickens contained for a few days.  I had no ill effects so it is doable for those that deem the risk necessary.

I did also read that a larger animal would have to consume several mice to get enough poison to be a problem.  Where you run into issues are animals like Owls that ONLY consume mice and are better hunters, they can eat enough in one night to cause death.  You would run into problems if the chickens were able to get directly into the poison.

I would say the normal chicken owner should avoid the risk, but for those having MAJOR issues like I was and like I would consider a rat problem....I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Safest I've heard of for killing rat's is oatmeal. From what i heard they can not pass gas. Plus, chickens can eat it. Thou, i'm not to sure how ture that is. It just may attract them. For mice, we get bunches of them and we fill a 5 gallon bucket up 3/4 with water and float peanuts on top. Pile some junk around it so they can climb in. It works really good. Thou, you do get the occasional chipmunk. That may work for rats but you'd need a bigger bucket and less water. They can swim for a long time and I'm not sure if they can jump or climb out of it.

 

[bearbottom]

Oh, i forgot if your scared a chicken will fall in put chicken wire over the top. Mice can get in chickens stay safe.

 

[minmin1258]

Thought you all might get a giggle outta this

 

[number9]

fill a 5 gallon bucket up 3/4 with water and float peanuts on top

What kind of peanuts did you use? Packing peanuts or peanuts in the shell?

 

[bearbottom]

Shelled, from the feed store.

 

[dennislambert79]

our barn cats have kept most of the mice, rats, and other small animals down to a level I don't ever see them alive.  But I have lost a few chicks to them as well.  We have to be very careful that the pen containing chicks is not only cat proof but chick escape proof too.

For in our house we have the shock traps but they don't work in the coop as well as dust causes the trap to just die.

My barns cats do an outstanding job keeping all rodent numbers down. I've been amazed by what they have got. Most amazed by their bat take down. My coops are cat proof but apparently not chick escape proof. One of little ones was on a ranging spree yesterday. My cats learned from being small kittens not to mess with the chickens. They learned the get pecked and chased way. My indoor cat went to get my chick but momma dispatched him quick so he doesn't try that no more.

 

[ChickCrazed]

I'm having an issue with a half a pen of attempted broodies (Isbars and 1 EE). Since I obviously take the eggs from their nest boxes they are trying to hide nests from me. This means that for MONTHS they have been laying all over the floor of the coop. Their latest spot is now right under the roost.......that sure is pleasant..... Does anyone have any tips on how to get them back to laying IN the boxes? The Bielies that are in that pen are still laying in the nest boxes, so there are still eggs in the nest boxes daily.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

our barn cats have kept most of the mice, rats, and other small animals down to a level I don't ever see them alive. But I have lost a few chicks to them as well. We have to be very careful that the pen containing chicks is not only cat proof but chick escape proof too.
For in our house we have the shock traps but they don't work in the coop as well as dust causes the trap to just die.

LOL - you should read the rant yesterday about cats being allowed outside to "slaughter wildlife" and how ALL cats should be kept indoors rather than being allowed to go on such needless homicidal rampages............apparently cats "might kill a rodent here and there" but are "not an efficient rodent reduction tool" and take out to many other "innocent animals and songbirds".............and can almost single handedly (pawedly?) wipe out entire species.

 

[browncow15]

Guys I'm crying here my last little Legbar chick is gone this morning

. It's my fault too! I almost brought her in last night because she was on the roost with the big girls (momma was in a nest box) DH has a fit about the birds being in the house though so I moved her into a tank with two roos close to her size. This morning she's gone!!! Not a feather or part left! I don't know what happened?!?!