Q about feeding mice. **Those against killing mice DO NOT CLICK***

[cluckmecoop7]

I have to many mice and other rodents around my house. So, today I set some mouse traps to see if I could get rid of some. I have a question though:

Is it ok to give the dead mice to the chicken to eat? Will it hurt them? Thanks!
- Clucky

P.S. > I caught 2 tonight!! Only a few hours after the traps were set.

 

[sunny_bellyboo]

I am not sure about this, I'll tag some more helpful people. @21hens-incharge @Wyorp Rock @DiYMama540 they're all asleep currently but will be up in the morning so just wait.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I am awake.

My birds will kill and eat anything they catch. The list includes snakes, mice and squirrels.
I think it is ok to feed them the mice unless they have been dead a while or potentially ate poison.

I don't know if their interest level will still be high if there was no chase involved.

 

[Abriana]

Mine have eaten mice, frogs, songbirds, and attempted to eat a rat (I took that away! They were mad). As said above, as long as they are freshly killed and have not ingested poison then it should be fine.

 

[nuthatched]

I recommend a product called mouse x if the traps don't cut it. safe around poultry, I pour some in a small large mouth bottle (v8, coffee, sweet tea) and place wete it wont get knocked around.
took care of my friends mouse issue within 2 weeks

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree, it's o.k. as long as the mouse if "fresh" and hasn't eaten poison.
I don't do that though because of the thoughts of it (ick!) but mine have no problem ripping apart frogs and whatever they can catch LOL

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Ok, Blanca Duck is a duck, but she is a mouse-trap on legs and has caught and swallowed countless mice. And my neighbors are telling me that their chickens are better in catching and killing mice than their cat. So if there's no poison involved give your hens some well deserved extra-protein. And for the "ick!" or "yuck!" factor: Had that discussion with my wife. Was over really quickly after i reminded her what else our ducks might also find and eat outside…

 

[springvalley123]

There are at least a few different types of mouse/rodent poisons out there available for us lay people. But, they generally take a few days to work, at least. The mouse has a meal of several times a lethal dose for itself, then runs around without showing any outward signs that he's been poisoned. During this time, one of your birds eat him, in doing so, she ingests all the poison that the mouse ate (assuming your bird ate the whole mouse). This may be enough to kill your bird in a few/several days, or make her sick. I'd follow others' suggestions regarding someone who has a chicken-safe poison, or use the pet/kid resistant bait stations, so your birds don't get the poison, then place the bate stations somewhere that the birds won't access the mice that feed on the poison--perhaps at your lot line??

 

[sunny_bellyboo]

I am awake.

My birds will kill and eat anything they catch. The list includes snakes, mice and squirrels.
I think it is ok to feed them the mice unless they have been dead a while or potentially ate poison.

I don't know if their interest level will still be high if there was no chase involved.

Oops sorry thought you were asleep

 

[DobieLover]

Your chickens need to step up their game.