Is it ok to ignore mice in run? (Update post #30 problem solved)

[mkearsley]

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Does planting peppermint in the area work, or does it need to be the concentrated oil or dried leaves?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

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Does planting peppermint in the area work, or does it need to be the concentrated oil or dried leaves?

I had spearmint growing in the ground about 3 feet away from Mr. Mouse starting at me from the entrance to his hole when I created this thread. I wouldn't think it would help much. Maybe others have a better idea though.

 

[Attila the Hen]

I would get a couple of cats but get the cats spayed or neutered.

 

[nicokl502]

there are some god idea i am new to chickens and i know i will find a mice now and then and i hate nice but i live by wood and fins them in my shed i am going to try bait bars where do you get them?????

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

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This thread might help you- the concern out there is that the chickens and other animals might find it and be poisoned, or that by eating the poisoned mice, the chickens might get sick. Proceed with caution. I don't have experience with mouse poison.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=438277

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

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Bait bars can be found at a Tractor Supply, Orschlens, or any farm supply store. Caution is the word with bait bars. They do a good job and prevent large infestations of rodents. Keep them where rodents will go preferably before they enter the coop and no chicken can get to. Remove any dead mice found. I have never lost a chicken to a dead poisened mouse (yet). I have had bait bars out for years in my PVC pipes and not hurt our cats, dog, grandchildren, or chickens. LOTS of rodents have died. I also use one the traps that catch multiple mice alive. They work well for mice but will not catch a rat. Bait bars will

 

[Mattemma]

I love the reusable snap traps.Although the old fashioned ones are gross when you have to pull off the mice. I like the t rex type,but the ones in the stores are not as good as trex. Snap traps are cheap just watch your fingers!

Poison can be useful but you worry about the mice poisoning others.In a crawl they work well,but the decomp smell is super bad if they go up the wall before dying.2 weeks ATLEAST of the rot smell.

Snap traps are my favorite.

 

[mkearsley]

As far as the secondary poisoning goes (chicken/cat/dog eat dead poisoned mouse), it really depends upon how many poisoned mice the animal eats & how big the animal is. If a chicken or a cat eats only one poisoned mouse, or maybe two within a short time-frame, there's a slim chance of them getting sick. The poison the mouse ingests is designed to kill a mouse based on it's body size. It also depends on what the poison is. If it is a fat-soluble poison, it gets stored in the dead mouse, and can be transfered to larger animals. However, it'd take a lot more poison to kill a chicken or cat than it does to kill a mouse. And it takes even more to kill a dog. Unless you have a massive influx of mice and their little bodies cover the coop or yard, and your chickens aren't getting enough protein in their regular diet, you won't see any impact on your flock, especially if they have a wide array of food choices. However, if you've got rats & your chickens like to eat them, you would have a higher chance of getting your birds poisoned because rats are so much larger than mice & it takes a stronger poison or more poison to kill them. I feed my girls 20% protein crumbles and they free-range throughout the yard. I've had mice bait stations hidden in locations the birds can't get to since May 2010, and I've found dead mice in the yard. I've not had a single problem with my four girls exibiting any signs of poison. If you keep the dead mice cleaned up, you won't have a problem. Also, the nasty smell of dead creatures is present whether you poison or trap, you just need to be on top of cleaning them up, especially in an enclosed coop.