What a Horrible coop owner... So GROSSED out...

[MakNat]

Ok I've already searched this... Need ANY and every idea.. My coop is infested with mice... I've seen one or two before.. Thought no big deal. Well was I miskaen. I go in every night after dark to close up and do a head count. I at least saw 20........... I about died.. Poor birds.

 

[redstars]

Bucket trap! Hands down!

 

[Dar]

take you food and water out at night they are nocturnal (mainly) chickens roost at night and generally dont eat a night

set up traps, humane or otherwise where the chickens cant get them ... dont use poisons because of the risk of a secondary poisoning ... but i have heard that there is a chicken safe poison out there but i dont know the name of it maybe someone can help here

close up all entry routes... with steel wool in holes they cant chew through that but may be able to push it out.. so secure it with something chew resistant...

thats all i can think about now... good luck

 

[MakNat]

Quote:
How exactly is this trap set up? Can you use this without water? The temps are freezing here for the next week...

 

[Chic-n-farmer]

You need to increase the number of cats in your signature line!

I've got a few (okay, 10 or 12) I can share with you. We get new ones delivered to our door every year! And, bless their hearts, the people never wait for thanks, they just toss the cats out of the car and speed off!

We spend a fortune on spaying and neutering...... not to mention cat food!

 

[tropicalchicken]

I used every thing that has ever been suggested including the bucket method. The mice were smarter than me. I persisted for over two months while they continued to dig mine fields under my house and they just got fatter and sneakier.

I finally caved in and went to the humane society and got two neutered male cats. Within two weeks there was not a mouse nor a rat to be found.

 

[19hhbelgian]

I'm only guessing because I did it by accident, that the bucket trap is when you put water in the bucket, then when the mice go in for a drink, they can't get out. I had sugar water in a hummingbird feeder in our shed, and it froze. So I took the bottom off trying to keep the glass from breaking due to the freezing. So apparently it thawed out, 4 mice crawled into the tiny little opening for a drink, but couldn't get out. Then, it froze again... I found it when it froze the second time

4 frozen mice suspended in "mid air". I was really grossed out (I know they're mice, but I wouldn't want to die from drowning, so I felt bad for them), but DH wanted me to take a picture of it

 

[chrissum]

Bucket mouse traps on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bucket+mouse+trap&search_type=
You can use water in the bucket to drown the mice or leave it empty to dispose of as you see fit. Peanut butter is the bait of choice.

 

[Moxiechick]

We use one of these in our shed. (Ever since the rodents went to town on our lawnmower last year!) The manufacturer claims it doesn't effect non rodents, so it shouldn't bother the chickens. No dead mice to dispose of, they just stay away from where you don't want them.

http://www.victorpest.com/store/rodent-control/m751

 

[redstars]

Quote:
How exactly is this trap set up? Can you use this without water? The temps are freezing here for the next week...

#1 Drill 2 holes approx 1/8 in at the top of a 5 gal bucket across from each other
#2 Get a soda or beer can and drill the same size hole in each end. Approx 1/8 in hole.
#3 String a wire through one hole in the bucket next through the can and out the other side of the bucket. Bend the wire at the ends.At the bucket making it so the can spins around the center of the bucket.
#4 Add a little peanut butter on the can.
#5 Fill the bucket 1/2 way with water or NON TOXIC! antifreeze. I use non toxic antifreeze in case a dog or cat gets into it.
It might be a little cruel but it works like a charm.
Then again I can't think of a killing trap that isn't a little cruel. Good luck. Oh ya when the bucket is full, And it will be. Just empty and reuse.