Mice in the Coop

[sumi]

Gosh, I love owls! I haven't seen one in absolute ages and I miss them so much. We used to see them often on our farm in South Africa.

As for the mice. I'd set traps where the chickens can't get to them and also overnight, when the chickens are roosting and the mice are more active. Peanut butter and chocolate sandwich spread worked a treat for my infestation of rodents.

 

[Hinotori]

I use glue traps sometimes. I also have two cats that patrol. The german shepherd does the best for rats. She will dig them out if needed.

 

[Mini Horses]

Also I think a rat snake might like eggs also.

YES -- in fact, they prefer them to mice! Lazy snakes. I've killed 3 in past 2 yrs. All adults about 4.5-5 ft long. Last one took 2 from setting hen 2 days before hatch Was going back for more when it met my machete.

Unfortunately, saw another about a week ago....in a field. Now I'm out doing snake watch in the coop & barn. They will eat chicks, too. They will eat several eggs a day!!!!!!!!!!

I hate snakes. I've used moth balls under floors where cats & chickens can't get to them. Helps. with snakes & mice. They are everywhere and VERY prolific having young every 30 days or so & several at a time...then THEY mature in a month or so and have more and more and more.

 

[CrealCritter]

Well looks like a snake has moved in to take care of my mice problem. I only got a look at it's tail - It's black with brown rings. I have no idea what kind of snake it is since I didn't see it head. I'm guessing its a
Prairie Kingsnake but that's only a guess...

It did look a lot like this Prairie Kingsnake though.

 

[baymule]

As long as he doesn't eat the eggs or any baby chicks!

 

[Mini Horses]

Looks like what we identify as a rat snake. Yes, they love eggs!!!!! They get large. 3 killed here, 1 in coop, 2 in barn, last 18 months. Most recent on 7/6 after he had consumed 2 eggs just 2 dys from hatch and was going for more. Saw one 2 wks ago in a field near coop. So -- on major lookout! They've all been 4.5-6' long.

Notice no mice in coop -- occasional one before. Concerned it's moved in under coop....mothballs going under there tomorrow. Machete close by and ready. I hate snakes. Really!!!

 

[baymule]

My Great Pyrenees, Paris, kills every snake she finds. She is a bit physco.

 

[CrealCritter]

I ain't gonna kill it unless it becomes a problem (eating eggs or baby chickens) it can eat all the mice it wants I suspect if my roo sees it he would kill it though... Looks like I got a pet snake now... We will live in harmony as long he/she is not a problem.

 

[Beekissed]

A good way to eliminate mice problems is to feed in meals and only what your chickens can clean up before nightfall. Feeding in troughs with wire stretched across the top can help also...this eliminates shoveling of feed out onto the coop floor when they are eating.

I feed fermented feed in troughs, feeding a single meal a day, so nothing is left for mice by roosting time...trough looks like the chickens have licked it clean.

Come spring, if you hatch chicks at all, you'll likely regret living in harmony with the black snake....I had over 20 chicks taken by black snakes last spring. Unless you have a pretty good bead on who and how many are laying, you'll not likely notice if eggs come up missing...most folks just assume someone has stopped laying, especially at this time of year when chickens are molting.

A nice bucket trap could help you....there are various DIY versions of this you can make with other things.

 

[Mini Horses]

We will live in harmony as long he/she is not a problem.

No harmony here...it is always a problem

But then they had hundreds of acres elsewhere to go.