how do you rid your coop of mouses and rats that have come in for protection from the cold? I've tried mouse traps, and caught three mice, but I think my chickens have found where I've hidden them and are setting them off and eating the cheese. Just in case it's really a rat getting into my mouse traps I'm afraid of setting rat traps as I'm afraid they would hurt the chickens. I'm not sure arbout poison as the chickens could possibly get into it, or try to eat the critter that died from eating it. any suggestions?
You need to put your traps where the birds can't spring them, such as glued inside a large length of pipe. No cats to help you? We support ferals and have no rodents. Rats tend to tunnel so you need to search around the perimeter of your coop and run for them and deal with them at that level. And for bait, peanut butter works better than cheese and is far cheaper...
Poison mixed with feed is good because they obviously have been enjoying the feed. Way to do it is make a 'T' of 2" or 3" pvc pipe. Invert it and fill the vertical piece with poisoned bait. Chooks and pets cannot get it but rats/mice will crawl in to dine. Be sure to secure it so that it does not get tipped over. Be sure no other feed is available during the night time. Rat traps are fine too if put inside of a skinny box lying on it's side. Chooks cannot get to it and rodents can. If you do not have a skinny box, cut some cardboard and use duct tape to make one. Set it against the wall nearest to where the feed usually is. (Spilled feed elsewhere will cause you to waste your efforts.)
I hadn't thought of the pvc pipe ideas. thanx. Another question: If a poisoned mouse dies where the hens can peck at it, will that hurt the chicken?
I would add a little upturned elbow on each arm of the T to keep them from knocking the poison out, but that's just me... Only cost a couple bucks but might save you a bird or two.
If you have lots of mice already, chances are one or more of your hens has developed a taste for them. Do NOT let them have any access to a mouse that has died of poison. They can swallow them whole and it could kill them.
First & foremost you need to rodent proof your coop so that rats/mice cannot get in. Then & only then, institute a rodent trapping/baiting program. I recommend using sealed traps such as: http://pestmall.com/prrabast2u.html?gclid=CNvW78TfiJ8CFQ0hDQodNjWAsA It is always wise when placing any rodent poison to do so in child/animal proof sealed stations. Shop around for the best price of course for sealed stations. Use bait blox that go through a wire that come with the station. They contain the poison and force the rodent to have to feed inside the station. Never use pellets as they can be removed & transferred somewhere else. You don't want to cause an accident. See if you have a do it yourself pest control place in your area that could help you get set up. One other thing. Never, ever use tracking powders of any kind for rodent control as they are indiscriminate, highly toxic products bad for animals and the environment & you! Hope this helps. ...JP
I just spent the day shoring up my pen against rodents. First I surveyed every inch of the pen to figure out thier probable entry points. Then I stuck steel wool into any gaps in between walls, studs, etc. Then I surrounded that with spray insulation foam. Then I noticed tunneling, so I decided to dig a new deep trench around the pen. This took most of the day. Tomorrow I will be placing 8 inch wide strips of 1/4 inch hardware cloth (wire) against the bottom frame of the henhouse about 8 inches down and slightly turned outward. I will then be adding a layer of concrete and then backfilling with 8 inched of soil and 1 inch rock. Then I'll fill and cover any other gaps I can find.
