Is it ok that mice are in my coop?

[cafarmgirl]

Humane as in, does not kill the mouse? If you don't kill it what will you do with it? It may seem mean but I'd exterminate as many as I possibly could. If you think you have 50 mice in your coop it's probably many times that number and they reproduce like crazy. They can spread disease not to mention consume a whole lot of feed. I'd not be wanting to spend $$ on chicken feed just for the mice!

I would set traps and keep setting them, all over the place. Try a bucket trap. Fill it half up with water and float bird seed or sunflower seeds on the water so it looks solid. Mice/rats get in and can't get out. If you have bazillions of mice you may have to resort to putting out bait in tin cat traps. I dislike doing that but I had to do that once to get control of a mouse problem. I checked all around every morning before the chickens came off the roost and again in the evening. Never found any mice laying around but I did solve the problem and it hasn't happened again.

 

[animallover505]

Humane as in, does not kill the mouse? If you don't kill it what will you do with it? It may seem mean but I'd exterminate as many as I possibly could. If you think you have 50 mice in your coop it's probably many times that number and they reproduce like crazy. They can spread disease not to mention consume a whole lot of feed. I'd not be wanting to spend $$ on chicken feed just for the mice!

I would set traps and keep setting them, all over the place. Try a bucket trap. Fill it half up with water and float bird seed or sunflower seeds on the water so it looks solid. Mice/rats get in and can't get out. If you have bazillions of mice you may have to resort to putting out bait in tin cat traps. I dislike doing that but I had to do that once to get control of a mouse problem. I checked all around every morning before the chickens came off the roost and again in the evening. Never found any mice laying around but I did solve the problem and it hasn't happened again.

Humane as in doesn't cause pain

 

[bugglesmommy]

I know there are humane ways to make gas chambers for mercy chick cullings, perhaps you could combine that idea with a bucket trap? Make the trap without water and humanely gas the trapped mice instead of drowning them?

 

[ozarkchicks]

I know there are humane ways to make gas chambers for mercy chick cullings, perhaps you could combine that idea with a bucket trap? Make the trap without water and humanely gas the trapped mice instead of drowning them?

yeah the bucket trap is the way to go and this sounds like a pretty good idea to try if you want humane

 

[DelcoChix]

I'm the same way about the silly rodents--would rather not kill someone who is simply trying to survive...exceptI do not want them in my house, barn, coop, etc--the field mice are pretty 'cute,' except when they are pooping all over my tackroom and chewing holes in my $200 saddle pad. So, I did use a humane trap--bait it and set it up. It worked on a fairly simple premise, just on a little rocker, the mice went into after the bait, went past the halfway point and the trap rocked back and the door shuts down. Worked fairly well but I did find them dead anyways--had to make sure I checked every day or twice a day. OK, guilt for them dying in my 'humane' trap. I confess.

I'd tried the old fashioned mousetraps too--the cheapies that snapped shut. I was right there in my barn when I heard the snap...but it did not kill it right away. Horrible. The mouse did die in a minute or less but I vowed never to use those again. Back to humane traps...till the buggers caught on and somehow managed to sneak in, eat the bait, and flip it around till they escaped.

And then this winter they were in my basement. Not acceptable. So I splurged and bought the trap that is a larger black rectangle box, the lethal ones that snap shut on their necks. It worked. Repeatedly. Bigger=stronger=quick end. Have since moved it to my tackroom--three dead so far this week. I really don't like killing them, but my so-called barn cats aren't doing their jobs, poison is not an option, and they are invading my turf. Something had to change. Hoping to rodent-proof the tackroom this spring, if such a thing is possible. In the meantime, the trap will remain set and I will feel a little sadness each time I dispose of a furry little carcass...that will not be pooping all over and chewing on my stuff.

Good luck..

 

[Pathfinders]

No, mice in the coop are A Very Bad Thing. Please do use traps. Bucket trap is the best way, IMO.

Poisons work, but please be very careful if using them, I just wrote an article for Backyard Poultry Magazine that speaks to the dangers of the new second-generation rodenticides, and how they have NO ANTIDOTES, and if your dog, or cat, or even chickens get into them, there is no cure, none.

Traps are best. http://fivegallonideas.com/bucket-mouse-trap/

 

[drake01]

You can buy small live traps, then just put them in a large storage tote with dry ice from walmart. They go to sleep and don't return. That's how I did it when I needed snake food.

 

[roostersandhens]

Thanks! I will try my best to get rid of all these mice. I will take everyones edvice and use it to make these mice leave. I dont mind the mice I just really love my chickens. Luckily the mice dont go in my other chicken coop!