The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[informative]

my main issue is mice in the henhouse - I had read somewhere that chickens eat mice which is why I didn't react to the first spotting, but mine just seem to watch them run around the floor of their house. What is a good way to deal with this? I know sticky traps wont work because chickens kick up so much dust the traps will be covered in bedding and scratch dust instead of mice. can't use old school snap traps because I will wind up with chickens in the traps, can't use poison because chickens are like little vacuum cleaners and eat everything, cant use a cat because cats like to attack birds. what to do what to do?

 

[monnie662]

my main issue is mice in the henhouse - I had read somewhere that chickens eat mice which is why I didn't react to the first spotting, but mine just seem to watch them run around the floor of their house. What is a good way to deal with this? I know sticky traps wont work because chickens kick up so much dust the traps will be covered in bedding and scratch dust instead of mice. can't use old school snap traps because I will wind up with chickens in the traps, can't use poison because chickens are like little vacuum cleaners and eat everything, cant use a cat because cats like to attack birds. what to do what to do?

Depends on the cat, I have one that sleeps in the nest and have even accidentally locked him up in there at night and I have another that is such a hunter she stays beside a hole and waits until she gets her prey. The chickens don't pay either one of them any attention.

 

[monnie662]

Set the first two Nelson eggs yesterday. Must……have…… more…...

My girls are Nelson too and every time one lays I get as excited as they do. Three little Nelson babies in the box was going to get a picture but of course the battery is dead in camera so charging it up. Will post asap.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Set the first two Nelson eggs yesterday.   Must……have…… more…...

yep...yep...yep....... partner! Now tis the waiting game to hear it went well.

Did you set our Kittle under the Nelson male project eggs too?

I hope I kept them all viable for you. A bit nervous they were kept too warm. (Prays)

 

[Fred's Hens]

Nanny, I set them for you.


Before anyone gets their trousers in a twist, this "project" is a one-way street. Nobody here is messing with the Nelson line. LOL They are some of the finest birds I've had the pleasure of keeping.

Unfortunately, we lost our only Kittle male, old school Kittle line, last year to a pitbull attack. It was heartbreaking. We were left with a half dozen really nice Kittle pullets. But, they either needed work on type or put in the freezer, it's that simple. I have a heart of them as they are such friendly, top laying females. Putting a young male over them doesn't hurt the line from which the male comes one iota. It's just a project. Will anything come of it? Who knows. We honestly hope so.



.

 

[hellbender]

Nanny, I set them for you.


Before anyone gets their trousers in a twist, this "project" is a one-way street. Nobody here is messing with the Nelson line. LOL They are some of the finest birds I've had the pleasure of keeping.

Unfortunately, we lost our only Kittle male, old school Kittle line, last year to a pitbull attack. It was heartbreaking. We were left with a half dozen really nice Kittle pullets. But, they either needed work on type or put in the freezer, it's that simple. I have a heart of them as they are such friendly, top laying females. Putting a young male over them doesn't hurt the line from which the male comes one iota. It's just a project. Will anything come of it? Who knows. We honestly hope so.



.

 

[hellbender]

my main issue is mice in the henhouse - I had read somewhere that chickens eat mice which is why I didn't react to the first spotting, but mine just seem to watch them run around the floor of their house. What is a good way to deal with this? I know sticky traps wont work because chickens kick up so much dust the traps will be covered in bedding and scratch dust instead of mice. can't use old school snap traps because I will wind up with chickens in the traps, can't use poison because chickens are like little vacuum cleaners and eat everything, cant use a cat because cats like to attack birds. what to do what to do?

Mice in a hen house? My birds are well fed but i'm certain they would throttle any mouse (pewrhaps any rat) that was dumb enough to set foot there.

Last summer, I watched my flock kill a 3 foot garter snake....actually eat it alive.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

my main issue is mice in the henhouse - I had read somewhere that chickens eat mice which is why I didn't react to the first spotting, but mine just seem to watch them run around the floor of their house. What is a good way to deal with this? I know sticky traps wont work because chickens kick up so much dust the traps will be covered in bedding and scratch dust instead of mice. can't use old school snap traps because I will wind up with chickens in the traps, can't use poison because chickens are like little vacuum cleaners and eat everything, cant use a cat because cats like to attack birds. what to do what to do?

Most of my full grown chickens will take care of mice. But there are times that I have mid sized 6-15 week olds in a grow out area and need mouse killing done. We have a barn cat that is a killer of all things rabbit size or smaller. He does keep the mice count down but I would not allow him in even the run with a chicken less than 15 weeks old. Instead we got a fancy trap from Amazon that I put where I find mouse droppings but high enough a chick could not get in it. It is a rat zapper. It is not cheap. It works well.

 

[NestingHillsSC]

I put 30 eggs in the bator. After day 7 candle had to throw out 5. 1 blood ring and only 4 infertile. Sounds good to me. I have 5 hens in there. Might take one out so the next round might even be better.

 

[Fentress]

mice need a place to hide. Keep the floor and coop clean of clutter and take away any place that might provide some cover. They should attack a mouse if given a chance.