Steph101 Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 The past two days, we've spotted a mouse scurrying around in the garden! What is the best course of action when you have chooks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixabell Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Yes we have seen 3 since we got them, we have removed the feed from the shed and put it in an airtight tin in the kitchen and i try and clean any food up in the run at the end of the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara123 Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 We've always had mice even before getting the bantams. I use the live traps and next doors cats to get rid of mine. My own cats are to lazy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixabell Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 yeah my dog ran away from them hahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I see more mice in my Mum's garden than in mine - and she doesn't have hens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 (edited) All you can do is make sure that the chicken food, any wild bird food and garden seeds are locked away in secure mouse proof containers and bring the grubs in at night. If you are worried, set up a humane mouse trap, catch it and release it somewhere else. Depending on your chickens, they may sort the problem out for you. Some are partial to a bit of mouse, newt or frog We've had mice in the garden as long as we've lived here and at one point a mouse set up home in our garage. It was so tame that I used to be able to catch it in a flowerpot and drop it over the fence in the hopes it would move out. It kept coming back so eventually I put it in a large match box, took it for a long walk and dropped it off at the local nature reserve. They still get into the garage from time to time. They only annoy me when they eat the cushions from the garden furniture and the car sponge. If you are worried about them getting into the house, get one of those pest stop plugins, We've got one and so far have not had any mice in the house. Edited April 8, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 There are mice everywhere, and they are quite sweet compared with rats. But if you don't want them to share your hens' food, you must bring the food grub in at night, because mice are small enough to get through the bars of the eglu/cube run. If you have an Eglu, check that they haven't tunnelled underneath it and made a cosy little nest; and also make sure that there are no little holes in the side of your shed. And mice can easily nibble through plastic containers, so keep your sacks of pellets in a metal bin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Mice will be able to get through the bars of the Eglu to the food, so maybe it would be a good idea to bring the foods in at night. Personally I don't mind mice in the garden as long as they realise that they are not welcome in the house! Living near a wooded area we are bound to encounter them. Rats on the other hand I hate with a vengeance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph101 Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 Thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Get a cat!!!! Cats Protection league are advertising out of work mousers!!! No seriously, a cat would be a good idea - or if not, some straight forward traps bought from your hardware store & a bit of mars bar!!! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 You can't waste perfectly good Mars bar on a mousetrap ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph101 Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 I agree. Draw the line at giving them chocolate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 We have mice and rats living near our house, we do live next door to a farm with sheep and cows though where there are barns etc. but our dog is very good at catching them. We keep our food inside but leave the feeder for the chickens outside so they can have it in the morning before we let them form their little run into the big run. Im guessing just keep the run tidy trying not to leave any food lying about and you could bring your pellets/mash in at night. Emma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Well there's a big mouse in our house & he likes chocolate! Apparently peanut butter works good for rats, but not sure about mice...I know mice like wheat, so maybe a few grains of your chickens wheat? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I have mice and I have 2 CATS to deal with them - no seriously they climb up to get the birds nuts from the feeders - great fun to watch. Cats are sacked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I used to have mice in my garden, very sweet little ones, before I had chickens. I think my cat has seen them all off though! Haven't seen any for ages. I had to get rid of the cat flap because she would bring "presents" upto my bedroom in the night. I bring the grub full of pellets in every night and keep the big bag in a metal bin in my garage. I don't fill the grub, to minimise spillage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I've had mice since before I got the chickens. Cats are USELESS - mine catches them, brings them into the house and then lets them go! There's a tiny corpse downstairs at the moment (I didn't get to him in time with tonight) and I'm putting off having to go down and sweep it up! I usually get the cat out of the way and put down a humane mousetrap - peanut butter works best, they can't resist it and then because it's sticky, they can't leg it back out of the trap like they can with chocolate. Besides, Green and Black's is the only choc I allow in the house. Too good for mice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janepie33 Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 We have mice in the garden shed. our cats bring them home (sometimes alive) as little presents for us. My son caught one in a humane trap, it jumped out, the chickens caught it, killed it and one of them ate it! A little frog suffered the same fate. (Not the humane trap bit!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
