Mice in my coop!

[Djrdn]

I was doing some cleaning in the coop today and decided to rearrange everything inside so I could have an easy path to collect eggs. As I was raking the substrate, two mice made a run for the opposite end of the coop (it’s just a small 6x8 shed by the way). I pulled everything out to see just how bad it may have gotten, and I only saw the two run out of the coop into the yard. Next I searched for any newly born mice in nests of their own and found nothing. It is getting colder here, so I pretty much expected this to happen. My question is this. Is there any way to insure these guys don’t set up shop long enough to harm my flock without rearranging the entire coop regularly? My thinking is this would make it an undesirable place if I’m constantly moving things around, but that will get really challenging once the snow and below 0 degree weather hits. I also removed the block of hay I had stored in the corner and the food and water buckets. They are now in the run. The feed bucket is hanging on a perch branch with caps placed on the openings. I also sprinkled some food grade DE under the substrates of the nesting boxes, run and coop because I figured mice bring fleas and mites. I don’t think I can mouse proof the run or the coop because there is a small gap where the doors meet. I don’t know if there was a problem with the installation or the product, but I tried to fix it and have been unsuccessful. What else can I do? I’m desperate for advice on this.

 

[Eroica]

I have a mouse infestation in my own coop. What I found was that my birds would actually hunt the mice, so it turned out not to be a problem for me!
Also, if you have cats (that are good mousers) you can keep them in the coop with the birds. A couple nights might do the trick, they'll find those rodents and get rid of them for you.

 

[nuthatched]

Get some snap traps and set them along the walls, meat is a good bait. You can keep them under control that way.

 

[Djrdn]

I have a mouse infestation in my own coop. What I found was that my birds would actually hunt the mice, so it turned out not to be a problem for me!
Also, if you have cats (that are good mousers) you can keep them in the coop with the birds. A couple nights might do the trick, they'll find those rodents and get rid of them for you.

If only I could find a cat that I’m not afraid would hurt my birds. I do like that idea though!

 

[Djrdn]

Get some snap traps and set them along the walls, meat is a good bait. You can keep them under control that way.

Thanks! I think I’ll do that.

 

[CCsGarden]

This article by @Debbie292d was very helpful for me! https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/diy-mice-deterrent-pouches.79542/

 

[Djrdn]

This article by @Debbie292d was very helpful for me! https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/diy-mice-deterrent-pouches.79542/

Thanks!

 

[Debbie292d]

Thanks!

We're making new ones as we speak as winter is here and the mice are looking for a place to stay. We can't possibly trap them here so we have to deter them.