Mice droppings in feeder

[Chickn chick 46]

Did you catch any mice?

I personally would be freaking out if I heard them in my house. Do you have a couple cats ? I have read that moth balls will keep them away. Not to use in the coop but maybe in the attic and the garage, and some de-con too. Mice and rats gross me out

 

[PunkinPeep]

I understand that the mice droppings seem nasty, but i can not remember a single incidence of someone reporting their chickens getting sick from a disease they got from a mouse. Mostly i've read about chickens EATING the mice.

Can anyone enlighten me?

I know they can't get Hanta virus from the mice. That's a rodent to human problem.

Just curious.

 

[GardenWeasel]

Over run here too in rural TN. Not so far in the coop but so many coming in the house. Yuck. I should buy stock in sticky traps as I haven't yet overcome the grossness of emptying the wooden ones. Gross enough to have to shove said trap with squirming mouse into a plastic bag with a very long spatula. I feel for you.

 

[TriciaHowe]

I have used these with great success. I like them because I don't have to see the dead mouse and I don't have to worry about dogs/cats setting them off and getting hurt. I get mine at Dollar General for a lot cheaper than anywhere else....
http://www.d-conproducts.com/traps/nvnt.html

 

[idahomama]

WE GOT ONE!!! I went out to the coop this morning and the culprit was in my trap! Thanks for the idea! I will be setting it again tonight, and probably for many nights after. I am confounded on how they are getting in though. There were none when I cleaned out the coop yesterday and I shut and locked the pop door last night. Dear hubby built the thing like fort knox and there are NO openings to the outside so how are they getting in???

For the other mice issues, we have 2 cats and they are worthless as far as mousers. One is too old and fat and while she catches mice outside, she ends up bringing them still alive into the garage and releasing them. Our other cat is 10 weeks old and does not go outside.

I don't mind emptying the mousetraps since I know that is one less I need to deal with. I use these http://www.victorpest.com/store/rodent-control/b130-2 and they work great! I could go the poison route for the attic and beyond but I do not use any synthetic anything around the house or garden since I have a 3 year old about and I don't trust synthetic chemicals in general.

 

[hen-thusiast]

Congrats on catching one!

I read in a book once that for every one you see there are 500-1000 you don't. I can't imagine it's actually true but it scares the bejesus out of me.

 

[hen-thusiast]

Quote:
"Rodents are recognized as carriers of approximately 45 diseases, including salmonellosis, pasteurellosis, leptospirosis, swine dysentery, trichinosis, toxoplasmosis and rabies. Mice and rats can carry disease-causing organisms on their feet, increasing the spread of disease.

Here's the entire link I pulled the quote from.....
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/dairy/facts/07-009.htm#Why