"Operation Weasel" in 46 photos

[BennieAnTheJets]

At the beginning of February I notice that, besides being overrun with mice, we had some bigger holes in the floor of the run and more dirt thrown out in front of the hole than a little mouse could manage in one night.

Then, when my humane mouse traps failed to work as before - first by not having any mice in them, and then an injured one, and then another injured one (I thought the first injury may have been an accident at the trap door, but the second one had a missing head) - both dead in the trap, I suspected a weasel had gotten whiff of our mouse population and come in behind them - quick action was needed to protect the 6 babies (Guineas) currently housed in our run, and off to the bathroom they went in six cages.

What followed was a harrowing week of destruction and construction, with laying wire and pouring concrete and hauling dirt in between.

Here is our new, weasel and mouse "proof" poultry run, with brand new wire and cement floor:

Enjoy the pictures! Story comments in photo titles.

I put down rubber mats to be able to sweep up the spilled food every night now - this is an improvement from the food spillage that was there before and will have to do until I can get a spill proof feeder or some such idea.

Any comments, hints, or help much appreciated!

 

[R2elk]

At the beginning of February I notice that, besides being overrun with mice, we had some bigger holes in the floor of the run and more dirt thrown out in front of the hole than a little mouse could manage in one night.

Then, when my humane mouse traps failed to work as before - first by not having any mice in them, and then an injured one, and then another injured one (I thought the first injury may have been an accident at the trap door, but the second one had a missing head) - both dead in the trap, I suspected a weasel had gotten whiff of our mouse population and come in behind them - quick action was needed to protect the 6 babies (Guineas) currently housed in our run, and off to the bathroom they went in six cages.

What followed was a harrowing week of destruction and construction, with laying wire and pouring concrete and hauling dirt in between.

Here is our new, weasel and mouse "proof" poultry run, with brand new wire and cement floor:

Enjoy the pictures! Story comments in photo titles.

I put down rubber mats to be able to sweep up the spilled food every night now - this is an improvement from the food spillage that was there before and will have to do until I can get a spill proof feeder or some such idea.

Any comments, hints, or help much appreciated!

Well done! I don't think you can make your coop much more secure than you have.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

Thank you, R2elk!

Mouse watch continues. Hope the weasel has moved on.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

Update: arrgh! the mice can fit through the 1/2" by 1/2" = 1/4" openings hard wire cloth and are still having a ball in your enclosure

some of the adult ones actually died getting stuck in the wire cloth! when they are babies and youngsters they fit right through - and some of the adults, too, I suppose

at least the snakes won't get in now - the venomous ones especially

have been catching mice and trying mint and still no luck to get rid of them - will try the spill proof feeders next

any favorite brands that worked for you and your birds?

 

[llombardo]

Update: arrgh! the mice can fit through the 1/2" by 1/2" = 1/4" openings hard wire cloth and are still having a ball in your enclosure

some of the adult ones actually died getting stuck in the wire cloth! when they are babies and youngsters they fit right through - and some of the adults, too, I suppose

at least the snakes won't get in now - the venomous ones especially

have been catching mice and trying mint and still no luck to get rid of them - will try the spill proof feeders next

any favorite brands that worked for you and your birds?

Maybe put another layer of wire overlapping so the size of the holes are next to nothing?

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

Yeah - I'd have to re-wrap the entire 11 x 16 x 8 feet structure and pin the wire in between the wood - it would be easier to build a new run

The mice come in at any height level as the wire is great for them to climb

 

[Chickensrforus1234]

. How about get some Barnyard cats? First they are full shelters would be super easy. But more importantly mice spread a lot of diseases.

So you might have ticks where you're at. Ticks are not born with Lyme disease they get it from sucking on a host such as a white-footed mouse a squirrel etc etc. Even though mice are pretty cute they wreak havoc. And unless you don't mind getting kill traps and consistently killing mice. you could have some long-term repercussions that are definitely going to outweigh you even having any poultry such as Lyme disease.

Good luck!!

 

[aart]

Lots of snap traps, bait end against a wall or other vertical surface, all around the outside of your coop. Put them under milk crates inside coop so chickens don't get their beaks nipped.