Mice Control in Duck Pen?

[Miss Lydia]

I have a similar rodent problem. They are thriving on the spilled food. I have a hanging feeder in the pen. How high off the ground does it need to be to allow the girls to feed while reducing the access to the rats? I am still trying to resolve the spilled food issue. Help! I trap all that make it into the house, but what do I do about them in the chicken pen at night? Poison is not an option.

I'd say no feed in the coop or duck houses, food and water outside and taken in when all goes to bed. I've always done it this way and have ducks over 8yrs now. I have not used poison before but was reading on another thread that chickens and ducks won't eat a dead mouse or rat and after seeing the mice on my game camera running around after dark I thought I should put some poison out away from the flock of course but after reading and thinking about this I removed the poison today and put it in the trash. I was worried about them getting into the feed room which is right off the goose room. But If I see signs of them in the houses then I see what I can do to get rid of them. I may try the moth balls and see if that would keep them from coming in side. as a precaution . I did have a chicken running around with a live vole in her mouth a few weeks back,

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Really?! Now I've seen my ducks chase each other for frogs.... But mice! That's awesome! Guess I worried unnecessarily.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

The above post was supposed to reply to HauiBali.

I keep my ducks feed and water out in the pen, have the hardware cloth buried, but I've seen one mouse myself so I know they're there. We are surrounded by fields, and it's nearly winter, so I guess mice are just par for the course. I'd like a few barn cats but I'm just not sure how that would work out... If I were to hatch out ducklings again. I know our huge house cat is terrified of the ducks so it probly depends on the cat. Thanks all!

 

[Miss Lydia]

The above post was supposed to reply to HauiBali.
I keep my ducks feed and water out in the pen, have the hardware cloth buried, but I've seen one mouse myself so I know they're there. We are surrounded by fields, and it's nearly winter, so I guess mice are just par for the course. I'd like a few barn cats but I'm just not sure how that would work out... If I were to hatch out ducklings again. I know our huge house cat is terrified of the ducks so it probly depends on the cat. Thanks all!

I would never trust a cat around ducklings or chicks just too small and tempting for a cat. just my 2 cents though. I use to have a very large cat, he would bring live chipmunks in the house and birds too let them go and then it was up to us to catch them and put them back out side, [we have a doggie door which he used to do this] so we finally found him a new home, But just watching him with other animals I wouldn't have been very nervous with him around chicks or ducklings.

 

[Amiga]

Our cats are never alone with the ducks. Some places have cats that were raised around the ducks and are fine. But no, I would not allow our cats to even see the ducklings until the latter were taller than the cats.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Our cats are never alone with the ducks. Some places have cats that were raised around the ducks and are fine. But no, I would not allow our cats to even see the ducklings until the latter were taller than the cats.

I think that would work getting one and raising it around the flock. This cat was a stray and was a sweet heart but after chasing down too may chip monks in the house we had to let him go. If I ever get another cat I'll go to the animal shelter and get a kitten and let it sleep with the ducks in the duck house so it is acclimated from the start. The ducks sleep in stalls so the cat would not have to worry about ducks messing with it. I have actually been thinking about doing that. Only problem is I feed the wild birds to keep them from coming to the flocks feeders and I feel I would be setting them up for certain death if I had a cat roaming around outside.

 

[new2ducks]

I have a duck who is a mouser! I came home one evening after work and saw her with the back half of a mouse hanging out of her bill and she worked and worked until she got it down!
VERY DISCUSTING but now they all hang out by the one part of the wooden fence at certain times of the day and I think they are actually waiting for the mice.
I also had put poison out but it's inside those containers that the mice go into to eat at it. We have tons of rabbits and I don't mind and I don't want them killed off either and they can't get to this stuff. I put it on the outside of the fence by the road. I was concerned about the poison also and I asked at the mercantile and they told me that most poisons aren't second kill unless a farmer or rancher specifically asks for it. The poison now actually dehydrates and they die that way so if another animal eats the rodent they won't die. You can call or check online about the "Tom Cat" or "Hawk " brand. I hope this helps. I've dealt with so much "circle of life " stuff since I've had my ducks!

 

[Bridgertrot]

I keep food in the coop 24/7 just cause it's easier for me. It piles up sometimes but I won't refill it until they eat it down a little. I do have it propped up on a brick but some mice still manage to get at it. I have a tilt trap in the coop:



It works really well. I put a little duck food in it and I've watched mice just stroll into it all the time. I like it cause it's perfectly safe for the ducks. Sometime's they'll peck it and set it off but most of the time they leave it alone. I didn't want something they could hurt themselves on. It's a live trap so you'll have to release them somewhere but honestly, I don't get to them in time usually and they have heart attacks and die. It's really cut down on the population though.

 

[chooniecat]

Cats are great(make sure spayed/neutered) and I swear by snap traps(Victor brand ONLY) as I have almost NO mouse problem on my farm. I am trapping several a week now that it is colder BUT have no evidence of them in chic sheds/food stores. I set traps daily, 1 per small box taped shut so other creatures can't get in(with tiny hole in front for rodent to enter), and check at least once daily and dispose of trapped rodent.(mice,voles,moles) I don't like poisons and am excellent with the snap traps(like said-Victor brand are THE best!) The mice ARE there but I seem to get em quick with my routine before they cause damage. have 4 traps set in four locations with the tiny box with tiny hole method. Make sure box is TALL enuf for trap to snap.

 

[new2ducks]

I like that idea of the trap in the box! I can't stand handling dead mice and I just throw the whole trap away...good thin they aren't too expensive!