Mice In the Feed

[Flip-N-Flogging]

I’m sure I know the answer to this, but wanted some feedback.

I have moved the location of my chickens feed. Since doing so, I’ve noticed a mouse hop out of the bag pretty much every time I walk into garage.

I buy 50lb bags, which usually fills up the girls feeder about three times. Since I bought this bag, I’ve filled the girls feeder twice, so I have a third of a bag left, which has conveniently turned into a mouse trap, apparently, as I have four mice that are stuck in there and can’t get out. My problem is not the mice at this point as I have containers coming soon, but the stink of the bag of food now, it smells like mice. Like I started out with, I think I know the answer here, but should I just assume this is a lost and toss it all out?

Your feedback is appreciated.

 

[sourland]

I'd toss the feed and store any new feed in rodent proof containers. Rodent feces can cause E coli and Salmonella infections in birds. This is especially a problem with pigeons.

 

[Folly's place]

Store all feed in metal garbage cans, in the original feed bags. Rodents will invade any other storage method.
Set traps or poison to get rid of your current mouse infestation; you have many more than you think you have!!!
It would be best to pitch that feed, but (true confessions) I have fed it to my birds if it's not obviously contaminated.
Mary

 

[lazy gardener]

If it smells mousey, it is full of poo and urine. Toss it. And lesson learned: feed belongs in rodent proof containers. For now, be thankful that it's mice and not rats. Agreed, you have a huge infestation, and need to bring it under control.

 

[blackdog043]

You have mice stuck in there, it's contaminated. I'd toss the feed, if you haven't already.

 

[Folly's place]

I agree; if the feed is obviously grungy or smelly, it needs to be gone.
It's a constant battle between rodent infestations in outbuildings, garages, and anywhere there's food, and keeping their numbers down to near zero.
Are they parasites or in a symbiotic relationship with us? Do I want to know?
Mary

 

[peeper89]

hope u can fix it

 

[Flip-N-Flogging]

I’ve lived where I’m at, weather being in the house I’m in now, or right down the road nearly twenty years, I’ve learned at this point, controlling field mice is a little bit of a joke, they kind of come with the territory around here. I have learned to keep them out of the house, which is big, but outside will be quite a challenge.

I felt bad, but I rolled the bag of feed up, with all the mice in it and put it out with the trash, as the trash ran right after posting.

Feed moving forward, will be in galvanized trash pales. I actually finished building out our bigger coop this weekend about 50’ further out from the house, so the feed will be living in the new bigger coop from here on out. So it’ll need to be not only mice proof, but chicken proof as well.

I appreciate everyone’s feedback on the matter.

Thanks,
D

 

[Lazy Farmer]

 

[Flip-N-Flogging]

$22 can be quite a game changer. I got a big metal trash can. It can fit two 50lb bags of feed and a bag of oyster shell. I even put it in the coop, so feeding time itself has become more efficient and more enjoyable.