Infestation - mice / pack rats

[sloanbychoice]

So, I’ve got myself one H E double hockey sticks of an infestation. Primarily mice.

Our coop is an old dirt floor barn, that we used OSB and 2x4s to wall up nice and convert into a Taj Majal of a coop.
I’ve never floored it, because we never had a problem, and because it’s a pretty large barn.
We’ve always had a few mice in phases; Victor traps have always taken care of it.
But this winter, they really set in.
Also, a pack rat has made himself welcome and has married now, and I assume there have to be some youngsters.
The mice are tunneling badly from outside right up through the floor into the coop.
I’ve heard stories of what can happen to chickens’ feet when mice are allowed to invade. Also, they are vile and diseased, so obviously I need to get this taken care of.

Sorry this is so long.

Normally, I wait until bed time, and we set traps up, no bait needed, in their paths. We set around a dozen or so, and they are usually all tripped when we go back out.
One night, we went out three times in the course of two hours, and had managed to kill almost 20. That’s how bad it’s gotten.

First, obviously, we’re going to floor the coop. But I guess I’ll have to line the entire floor with hardware first?? Otherwise, won’t they just chew through the plywood?
What’s the best way to do this?

Second, how in the world can I mass murder all these nasty things, without putting my flock at risk?
I mean, setting traps in mass every single night is getting really old.

 

[Folly's place]

If you can, a concrete floor would be best! Rodents chew through plywood just fine.
Minimally, hardware cloth and then plywood, although having a dig proof perimeter could save your nice dirt floor instead, and not add plywood which will rot eventually.
Rats will eat eggs and kill chickens at night, and their tunnels are plenty big enough for weasels, who will kill your whole flock.
Traps do kill mice, but won't get all the rats, so at this point you likely will need poison bait in the safer bait traps. Most of the rodents will return to their tunnels and die there, so most bodies won't be available for accidental secondary poisonings.
Do fix your coop to prevent this happening again!
Mary

 

[sloanbychoice]

If you can, a concrete floor would be best! Rodents chew through plywood just fine.
Minimally, hardware cloth and then plywood, although having a dig proof perimeter could save your nice dirt floor instead, and not add plywood which will rot eventually.
Rats will eat eggs and kill chickens at night, and their tunnels are plenty big enough for weasels, who will kill your whole flock.
Traps do kill mice, but won't get all the rats, so at this point you likely will need poison bait in the safer bait traps. Most of the rodents will return to their tunnels and die there, so most bodies won't be available for accidental secondary poisonings.
Do fix your coop to prevent this happening again!
Mary

Yes, those tunnels being left behind are a big concern. I’ve been reading about other animals that use them once they’re there.
Ugh.

I had given concrete a thought... not sure if it’s feasible. But it’d definitely be permanent.
I don’t know how I could get a dig proof perimeter in this set up. The floor is my only option.
So if I go with hardware and plywood, can they be layered directly next to each other, or does there need to be space between?
Any thoughts?

 

[Folly's place]

I don't know. Try posting on the 'coops' section for better building advice.
Mary

 

[Fluffyflufffluff]

So, I’ve got myself one H E double hockey sticks of an infestation. Primarily mice.

Our coop is an old dirt floor barn, that we used OSB and 2x4s to wall up nice and convert into a Taj Majal of a coop.
I’ve never floored it, because we never had a problem, and because it’s a pretty large barn.
We’ve always had a few mice in phases; Victor traps have always taken care of it.
But this winter, they really set in.
Also, a pack rat has made himself welcome and has married now, and I assume there have to be some youngsters.
The mice are tunneling badly from outside right up through the floor into the coop.
I’ve heard stories of what can happen to chickens’ feet when mice are allowed to invade. Also, they are vile and diseased, so obviously I need to get this taken care of.

Sorry this is so long.

Normally, I wait until bed time, and we set traps up, no bait needed, in their paths. We set around a dozen or so, and they are usually all tripped when we go back out.
One night, we went out three times in the course of two hours, and had managed to kill almost 20. That’s how bad it’s gotten.

First, obviously, we’re going to floor the coop. But I guess I’ll have to line the entire floor with hardware first?? Otherwise, won’t they just chew through the plywood?
What’s the best way to do this?

Second, how in the world can I mass murder all these nasty things, without putting my flock at risk?
I mean, setting traps in mass every single night is getting really old.

The infestation already went inside our house, I hear mice underneath our closet. What's the best thing to do to get rid of the mice. without them dying there?

 

[sloanbychoice]

The infestation already went inside our house, I hear mice underneath our closet. What's the best thing to do to get rid of the mice. without them dying there?

I don’t know about other animals in your house... I know in my house I’ve used poison bait. Knocks them out pretty quick.

I just don’t know how to kill out this problem in my coop and run. I can’t use poison in there.

 

[50-45-1]

Instead if building a floor (which the rodents will just live under) can you dig a perimeter around just the coop section and install hardware cloth down in the ground?
This is what we did for our coop with a dirt floor..
Also I recommend you build some bucket traps. You need some 5 gallon buckets, heavy wire or metal rods and small metal cans like vegetables come in. You bait with peanut butter. You could build 4 or 5 of those and they would drown rodents all night. Just empty in morning. You can use water in summer and smell free RV antifreeze in winter. There are direction to build them on the internet. Good luck!
Edit: took some pictures of one of the bucket mouse traps my husband built for me and i can gaurentee they do work.

 

[hispoptart]

I don't think you would have to leave any space between the hardware cloth and the plywood. I think I would lay some sort of moisture barrier, then attach the hardware cloth and then the plywood. I would then put down some sort of vinyl flooring to protect the plywood.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I had a similar invasion with my flock of chickens about 40 years ago but wouldn't recommend what I did at the time. My action plan included pouring gas into holes and lighting with a match. It was all fun and games watching those burning Norway rats pop out of the holes until it wasn't. The main coop and the woods adjacent to the lot caught on fire. I ended up having to just get rid of the chickens at that time.

 

[coopdeville15]

I too have had a dirt floor coop for about 5 years, but didn't have a problem until about 4 months ago. Got a couple with rat traps placed where the chickens couldn't get to them. But the rats got wise. I flooded their tunnels with a hose then shot them with .22 bird shot as they scrambled out. Only got a few, but it was fun! The chickens didn't care for it much, but they seemed to have recover from all of the excitement. I will eventually have to put down a hardware cloth barrier. I guess I better do that before it gets too hot.