mice getting at stored bags

[supertech]

I keep about 10 bags of pellets at a time and the mice still get at the bags in the feed room. I don't want to poison the mice cuz the chickens do eat them. Should i just try to stack the bags in one stack and let the chickens have access to the room or will the peck at the bags worse than the mice. I am thinking the chickens will kill more mice if i do this and take the feed off the pallets and put the bags on the floor. Thoughts?

 

[FowlProtector]

I keep about 10 bags of pellets at a time and the mice still get at the bags in the feed room. I don't want to poison the mice cuz the chickens do eat them. Should i just try to stack the bags in one stack and let the chickens have access to the room or will the peck at the bags worse than the mice. I am thinking the chickens will kill more mice if i do this and take the feed off the pallets and put the bags on the floor. Thoughts?

LISM 2 Pack Dog Food Storage Container with Scoop,Large Airtight Pet Dog Food Bin,Container for Dog Treats Rice,Dog Cat Dry Food Bin,Baking Supplies,Flour,Rice,Kitchen Pantry Cereal(25 LB)

I think you can probably find cheaper ones. It was just the first one I came across. I use them for my chicken food.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Get some food grade steel drums with lids. check Craigslist in your area, should be $10 and up. You need lids but the locking ring usually isn't needed if the barrels are where critters or a horse would get to it and founder its stupid butt. I'd say two barrels would be plenty. The cheaper barrels might need burned out; get some plastic drum liners just to be safe. The food grade barrels usually run $40

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Galvanized garbage cans have nice tight lids that Mice can't slip into or rats can chew through (like they WILL do with all plastic.) Easy peazy and no games with expecting chickens to find and eat all of the mice. Mice are one thing, you probably have rats too. Get the metal cans asap.

 

[saysfaa]

I don't think the chickens will peck at paper bags, if you can get them. The woven plastic bags are more likely to be pecked, especially as strands work loose.

But chickens could only protect the bags at night. The mice would soon learn to come around after the chickens roost, if they don't come out at night already.

The steel barrels are better. Or a chest freezer that doesn't work. Or a hardware cloth covered (or lined) box or set of shelves -just be careful at the seams because mice can fit through an opening the diameter of a pencil.

 

[RoyalChick]

Metal garbage cans are your best bet. I don’t get that much at a time but I do keep a couple of bags in a big can and one in a smaller can.
Some people decant it from the bag it comes in but I don’t. I find it easier to put the whole bag in the can. That way I still have the original packaging with the mill date etc.

 

[Folly's place]

That's what I do: two 50 pound bags fit into each garbage can, with a couple of empty bags in the bottom of each can, and the cans on top of blocks, on top of rubber mats in the coop. Also, frequently replaced empty feed bags on each lid, so the birds don't poop on the metal lids and destroy them.
Mary