Mouse proof feeders for quail?

[Dreamkat118]

Hi - I have been a quail keeper for the last 6 months or so. I have them in my garage cuz of predators (esp neighborhood cat) and a very picky and easily aggravated neighbor. I now have mice in my garage. I try to keep everything clean, clean the aviary every day or two. We are also using mouse traps - and the mice are grabbing the bait and not getting trapped.

This morning I found mouse poop in their feeder. It is a Wynola Ranch feeder that attaches to the side. Any suggestions of how to mouse proof this feeder - or another feeder?

 

[Nabiki]

I don't know about mouse proofing the feeder, but you might try putting circles of traps in areas that they are using to get to the cages, and rather than putting bait in the traps themselves, scatter bird feed around and in the center of the circle of traps.

The mice will eat the food around the traps and then relax and get careless and will get caught in the traps. This is a trick I learned from an exterminator to get rid of rats.

 

[007Sean]

I'm suggesting you put glue traps out instead of springtraps. Although they cost a little more than the spring traps and aren't reusable after you catch a few mice, they work better than spring traps.
I use them all the time, if I catch a mouse, I thump it in the head to kill it, then remove it from the sticky trap....and you can reuse it 1 more time. Sometimes I catch multiple mice on the same trap.

 

[Dreamkat118]

I don't know about mouse proofing the feeder, but you might try putting circles of traps in areas that they are using to get to the cages, and rather than putting bait in the traps themselves, scatter bird feed around and in the center of the circle of traps.

The mice will eat the food around the traps and then relax and get careless and will get caught in the traps. This is a trick I learned from an exterminator to get rid of rats.

Thanks I will try that!

 

[Dreamkat118]

I'm suggesting you put glue traps out instead of springtraps. Although they cost a little more than the spring traps and aren't reusable after you catch a few mice, they work better than spring traps.
I use them all the time, if I catch a mouse, I thump it in the head to kill it, then remove it from the sticky trap....and you can reuse it 1 more time. Sometimes I catch multiple mice on the same trap.

Glue traps - will try that thanks!!

 

[threeepeat]

Hi - I have been a quail keeper for the last 6 months or so. I have them in my garage cuz of predators (esp neighborhood cat) and a very picky and easily aggravated neighbor. I now have mice in my garage. I try to keep everything clean, clean the aviary every day or two. We are also using mouse traps - and the mice are grabbing the bait and not getting trapped.

This morning I found mouse poop in their feeder. It is a Wynola Ranch feeder that attaches to the side. Any suggestions of how to mouse proof this feeder - or another feeder?

I'm not sure that this can help your situation, but I've read that 1/4" hardware cloth is required to prevent mice accessing areas. It sounds like you have one of the outside-the-cage trough feeder systems which are reported to work well. It would be tricky to put wire over the feed to restrict mice while also still allowing the quail to feed. I wish you luck, and I'll be interested in hearing how you tackle this one!

 

[Huntmaster]

It is a Wynola Ranch feeder

Wynola ranch has feeder/egg protector but wouldn't be hard to make your own. https://quailcage.com/parts/96-feed-egg-protector.html But I would still try others advise on getting rid of the mice.

 

[Dreamkat118]

I'm not sure that this can help your situation, but I've read that 1/4" hardware cloth is required to prevent mice accessing areas. It sounds like you have one of the outside-the-cage trough feeder systems which are reported to work well. It would be tricky to put wire over the feed to restrict mice while also still allowing the quail to feed. I wish you luck, and I'll be interested in hearing how you tackle this one!

actually it is an inside the cage trough. the mice are getting into the cage and I will tackle that issue. and catching the mice too thanks for your input!

 

[Dreamkat118]

Wynola ranch has feeder/egg protector but wouldn't be hard to make your own. https://quailcage.com/parts/96-feed-egg-protector.html But I would still try others advise on getting rid of the mice.

Thanks! yeah i am working on ridding of mice

 

[Dreamkat118]

I'm not sure that this can help your situation, but I've read that 1/4" hardware cloth is required to prevent mice accessing areas. It sounds like you have one of the outside-the-cage trough feeder systems which are reported to work well. It would be tricky to put wire over the feed to restrict mice while also still allowing the quail to feed. I wish you luck, and I'll be interested in hearing how you tackle this one!