Mice!

[Sallimom]

My chickens free range, but at night they are locked in their coop. Their coop is as predictor proof as you can get but I have a significant mice problem.
I am not afraid or against mice per say, but they leave their poop in my chicken’s feed and I worry about diseases from that.
Should I be concerned? Any suggestions?

 

[DobieLover]

My chickens free range, but at night they are locked in their coop. Their coop is as predictor proof as you can get but I have a significant mice problem.
I am not afraid or against mice per say, but they leave their poop in my chicken’s feed and I worry about diseases from that.
Should I be concerned? Any suggestions?

Are they getting in the run or getting in the coop? If they are getting in the coop, there is some place(s) where they've found a gap greater than 1/2" and that is how they are getting in. Find them and seal them off or tighten the gaps.

 

[Sallimom]

They are in the coop, but they likely came in through the run. I have deep bedding in the coop now for the winter months and I think these little pests have decided to live in it!
I can remove the deep bedding and chase them out. The coop has wire mesh fabric under its floor so the only way they can get in and out is through the door between the run and the coop.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Mice will live within a few dozen feet from their main feed source. That tells you the chicken feed brought them and will keep them there till you buy a treadle feeder. Research them here on BYC.com. Google rats/chicken diseases if you aren't sure if there is a danger, huge danger, to your family as well.