Mice in the broody coop!

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Ok, I moved the food into the coop to dissuade the little guys but it hasn't worked. I was hoping they would meet their end at someones beak. But no, the residents seem to have befriended the vermin. I have put down snap traps in spots the ladies can't get to but the ants cleared off the bait before the tailed menaces could try for it. There are at least four mice back there and I haven't caught one. Poisen is out and I don't know what else to try.

Suggestions? I want those mice gone before the chicks hatch. Two and a half weeks to go...

 

[joan1708]

Take the food out of the coop /run at night or make it inaccessible to mice (I hang mine at the top of the run with a cover over it). You could also encase your broody coop with 1/4 hardware cloth. Can you hang your traps up about 2 inches off the ground? The ants won't be able to get to it, but the mice can. I would use a hanging basket like set up and a saucer with the trap sitting on that. If you keep your chickens in the coop at night (don't put food in there). The chicks should be sleeping - not eating). Set up the traps in the run. Make sure you take it all down before you let the chicken out in the morning.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I was removing the food at night but the ladies are such messy eaters that they leave fresh food scattered around daily. :/

I will try hanging the traps first. I think I can make that work.