I did something foolish, and now probably deserve the mouse problem I think I have.
Over Christmas, I was going away for a few weeks, so to entertain the girls between chicken-sitter visits, I bought them a flock block for their run. After I returned, I noticed they hadn't touched it.
A few weeks ago, my daughter said "oh mom, they are finally eating the block!" Indeed, they had whittled away at it. Tonight, it's halfway gone. However, for the first time, I heard some rustling in the straw on the floor of the run...and some more, and some more. I don't think the chickens ate it at all...I think I have mice (or, gasp, rats...I don't even want to think about that). I had lured them right in. Ugh.
I know mice come with having chickens, but I haven't had them yet and I am DEATHLY afraid of them and need to get rid of them!
I don't think I can handle snap traps (I figured I could put them in a cage in the run the girls can't get to), and I don't want to do poison in case the chicks eat the mice.
I built 1/4" hardware cloth all around and buried--how did they get in there!?? Help! It's so gross I don't think I will sleep tonight!
Over Christmas, I was going away for a few weeks, so to entertain the girls between chicken-sitter visits, I bought them a flock block for their run. After I returned, I noticed they hadn't touched it.
A few weeks ago, my daughter said "oh mom, they are finally eating the block!" Indeed, they had whittled away at it. Tonight, it's halfway gone. However, for the first time, I heard some rustling in the straw on the floor of the run...and some more, and some more. I don't think the chickens ate it at all...I think I have mice (or, gasp, rats...I don't even want to think about that). I had lured them right in. Ugh.
I know mice come with having chickens, but I haven't had them yet and I am DEATHLY afraid of them and need to get rid of them!
I don't think I can handle snap traps (I figured I could put them in a cage in the run the girls can't get to), and I don't want to do poison in case the chicks eat the mice.
I built 1/4" hardware cloth all around and buried--how did they get in there!?? Help! It's so gross I don't think I will sleep tonight!