Show me inside and outside of your homemade coops

[21hens-incharge]

aart!

Good example though!

 

[imneva]

awesome coop! what is the red string over the run for?

I have hawks around here. I researched ways to deter them. One homestead blog I read showed red ribbon crisscrossed over the top of the run. It was huge like mine. Roofing mine was not really feasible due to the layout. So far so good

 

[BReeder!]

Yes. I disturbed them in a nest yesterday and the adult mice went right through it like it was the freeway.
That said these mice are smaller than good ole country mice.
They are nasty food destroyers.

I'd say it's time to start trapping. Put several mouse traps out but block them from the chickens. Peanut works great as bait in my experience. Cheese is dumb. Mice naturally eat nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Peanut putter sticks to the trap and has a strong smell to attract them. Check the traps daily and reset them with fresh bait - be sure to refresh bait that has sat on a trap for several days untouched.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Here is our 4X8 coop. On a wonderful sunny February day. The sun drove the temperature up to 63F earlier. Note the humidity shows 58%. Outside the coop it is 52%.

This is beautiful. Lucky chickens... I see the little buggers are digging your foundation... mine too . I did not have to go through the elaborate build many of you cold weather keepers have to go through but I find it quite irritating to see my small coop leaning again. Does anyone have any simple tricks for a fix? I have 4x8 CMU on post and pier. Mahalo gang.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I'd say it's time to start trapping. Put several mouse traps out but block them from the chickens. Peanut works great as bait in my experience. Cheese is dumb. Mice naturally eat nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Peanut putter sticks to the trap and has a strong smell to attract them. Check the traps daily and reset them with fresh bait - be sure to refresh bait that has sat on a trap for several days untouched.

Little turds eat the bait and don't trip the traps.
I am coming up with ways to poison but contain while dying.
Yes gross but necessary.
I will do a thread with what I come up with.

 

[BReeder!]

Little turds eat the bait and don't trip the traps.
I am coming up with ways to poison but contain while dying.
Yes gross but necessary.
I will do a thread with what I come up with.

Have you tried the bucket traps?
Here's an example from a quick google search:
https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai...hUKEwiKi-LasKPgAhUSc98KHSpSB-sQ9aACCDY&adurl=

 

[21hens-incharge]

Have you tried the bucket traps?
Here's an example from a quick google search:
https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai...hUKEwiKi-LasKPgAhUSc98KHSpSB-sQ9aACCDY&adurl=

They work in summer when things don't freeze.
I am thinking a combo of "walk the plank" with poison, a lid and baited ramp. Idea is up the ramp, through small hole, tip the ramp, fall in poison in the bucket and cannot get out.

 

[FlyWheel]

So many good ideas. I have learned so much here and I can't wait to put it all into action. Heh, I have so many different thoughts my first coop will probably fold in on itself and become a tesseract.

I'm not sure what impresses me more; the fact that you know the word "tesseract" or the fact that you actually used it correctly!

Those things don't even look like chickens !!!
For some reason I can't see how they are considered a chicken. I don't have any............yet. Before the Cyber silkie loving world starts giving me heck, Let me say I am joking.......kinda..

Silkies aren't chickens...

...They're tribbles with heads (I hear they even trill/purr).

<---
The link to my coop can be found in the sidebar. Alas, once I move I'm going to have to build another one.

 

[NewBoots]

I'm not sure what impresses me more; the fact that you know the word "tesseract" or the fact that you actually used it correctly!

Childhood reading of Wrinkle in Time for the win!

I like your coop, especially the water supply. I probably won't have a rainwater system set up right away but it's on my to do list.

 

[aart]

reset them with fresh bait - be sure to refresh bait that has sat on a trap for several days untouched.

I use scratch grins, no need to 'refresh'.

Little turds eat the bait and don't trip the traps.

Shove a sunflower seed into the trigger, shove it in tight so they have to work at it. Put bait end of snap trap against a wall or flat vertical surface(like a box at least 6" tall). My catch rate skyrocketed when I started doing both these things.

They work in summer when things don't freeze.

You can use windshield washer fluid instead of water