Mice poop in chicken food.

[Danny188]

We have a few mice in our barn were we keep our chickens and chicken food. We have some 10 week old pullets and some 16 week old pullets so we keep two different foods and mix them together chick starter grow and adult layer feed. We have a tote for the adult food and i just wrap up the chick food. I saw mouse poop in the starter feed this morning i got most of the poop out is it ok to give to my chickens (50lb bag is half full). I will find a tote for that bag today. I will set some mouse traps today i thought i had them all because i didn't catch any for 3 weeks

 

[21hens-incharge]

You got most out?

I think it is ok then. I am pretty sure the mice aren't JUST in the feed. The birds likely come in contact with the poop elsewhere.

Time to set traps....put under milk crates and in boxes with mouse sized holes to keep your chickens safe.

 

[Mark_Khrushchev]

We have a few mice in our barn were we keep our chickens and chicken food. We have some 10 week old pullets and some 16 week old pullets so we keep two different foods and mix them together chick starter grow and adult layer feed. We have a tote for the adult food and i just wrap up the chick food. I saw mouse poop in the starter feed this morning i got most of the poop out is it ok to give to my chickens (50lb bag is half full). I will find a tote for that bag today. I will set some mouse traps today i thought i had them all because i didn't catch any for 3 weeks

I put my feed in a metal looking trash can with no holes and big enough for 30 lbs. You might have to do the same. Also, make sure not to touch it with bare hands, alright?

 

[Danny188]

You got most out?

I think it is ok then. I am pretty sure the mice aren't JUST in the feed. The birds likely come in contact with the poop elsewhere.

Time to set traps....put under milk crates and in boxes with mouse sized holes to keep your chickens safe.

We have the chickens separated from the rest of the barn its pretty much a coop inside the barn. Thanks for the help!

 

[Danny188]

I put my feed in a metal looking trash can with no holes and big enough for 30 lbs. You might have to do the same. Also, make sure not to touch it with bare hands, alright?

Yea i put on gloves. We will probably buy another tote to put the feed in thank you!

 

[cmom]

I use poison. I put it in bait boxes that other critters can't get into except the rats and mice. I check the baits regularly and replace if needed. I have them in my barn which is right behind my coops. The rats dig tunnels and most go into their tunnels and die. Good luck and have fun...

 

[Danny188]

I use poison. I put it in bait boxes that other critters can't get into except the rats and mice. I check the baits regularly and replace if needed. I have them in my barn which is right behind my coops. The rats dig tunnels and most go into their tunnels and die. Good luck and have fun...
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I we have poision in the barn already thanks for the suggestion

 

[Folly's place]

Storing feed in metal garbage cans, in the original feed bags, works best.
Mary

 

[Danny188]

Storing feed in metal garbage cans, in the original feed bags, works best.
Mary

Ok thanks

 

[Orit]

I am just noticing that I might have this problem (I saw a tiny mouse yesterday in the run at dusk). However, I feel using poison is quite problematic. While it might kill the mouse/rat, any other animal that digests that mouse/rat will also be poisoned. There have been many cases of dead birds found (not chickens), sick cats, etc... due to being poisoned. It goes up the food chain. It might be an immediate solution to a problem, but there are definitely severe lasting implications. Has anyone tried anything else other than traps?