The Great Mice Infestation....help!!!!!!!!!!

[rhoda_bruce]

I don't know how big of an area you are talking about or how difficult it would be to temporally relocate your flock, but I bet if you could borrow a rat terrior for a week that it would really discourage the mice. Thats the first thing I am thinking.
The second is......do you have another small building you can borrow for a few days and then completely cover your coop with plastic wrap and wait until night time, go in and set off about 7 fog bombs.
Other than that, can you later on plant a bunch of mint around your coop? Rodents are supposed to hate it. I don't know if that is true, but thats what I have been told.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Quote:
I've always read that chickens eat mice, but I thought mice were nocturnal. Your chickens eagerly ate the mice you found for them, but as for an infestation, I'm thinking the chickens are sleeping while the mice are out.

 

[chickluver:D]

Quote:
what she said.
actully, my hen was digging around the other day and then (out of no where) had a unlucky mouse in its mouth but luckly,(for the mouse) it escaped. i THINK..........

 

[teach1rusl]

Sounds like you need a good cat or two...

 

[briteday]

I would try the multi-mouse trap and some spring-loaded traps (only use those if you can find a place where the chickens ABSOLUTELY cannot get to them, I put them in the feeder with a lid). I would also do the bucket trap if you don't have any small chickens that could fall in and drown. My little pullets love to sit on the handles of things right now so I can't use a bucket trap.

And as previously mentioned, put all food away for the night when you close up the coop. I put my feeders in the galvanized can that holds the feed bags. Only put out as much food each day as your chickens can eat so there isn't any wasting going on. And if you can, you could try feeding your chickens outside for a while until the mice find other resources and their numbers dwindle.

 

[fargosmom]

I've been having a mouse problem lately too - and they've started poo-ing in the waterer every night - blecchhh!!! I've had a "tin-cat" trap (like the previous poster linked to) but so far no luck - any good ideas for irresistible bait? And second - about the "death bucket". First, how do you keep the sunflower seeds floating? Don't they sink after a while? And - would it work if you put a lid on it, and cut mousey-sized holes in the lid so the hens can't get into it? I really don't want to risk using poison - we have dogs as well as hens and I don't want to take the chance of anyone swallowing a dead poisoned mouse.
Any other suggestions?

 

[RockyPhoenix]

for the death bucket all you have to do is put a little feed in the bottom and then when there are a bunch of them in there fill it halfway with water and put the lid on for an hour or two...that should do the trick....

 

[chooniecat]

I ALSO do not want mice everywhere so I PREVENTED them from being a problem in the first place(Victor snap traps are the best,tried all the snap traps) certainly wouldn't drown/poison the neighbors DOG if IT was a problem so maybe you need a few snap traps checked a few times a day(empty as needed and it WORKS IF YOU MAKE THE EFFORT) have lived with feed in my barn for 22 yrs. without EVER having a mouse issue and I keep the traps in small cardboard boxes with hole big enough for mouse to enter [/u]ONLY. I may catch 1 mouse a month and NEVER see evidence of mice so it DOES work. its cheap. easy. non toxic. the most humane. quick. do it 24/7. did I mention humane?

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

If you are in a warmer climate you could use a kill bucket. It'll get servral at a time.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Quote:
The cardboard box with small opening is a good idea. We have some mice I've been trying to kill also and I've been placing the spring loaded traps under a wire guinea pig cage. The mice can get in through the wires, but the chickens can't.