4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Phosphorus]

Stupidly I have been leaving corn in a bowl in the eglu with broody Gemma and not taking it away at night when I close her door - have now seen a few droppings - very tiny so presuming mouse, in the corn bowl

 

So I am back to removing the food from her every night (she is only eating snatches of it anyway) and also from my big girls in their WIR.

 

Could it have been a rat - I am presuming a rat couldn't get into the eglu when shut up at night and also the droppings seemed mouselike rather than rat size? Uggggh my own stupid fault. Will removing food help them move on - don't want to put any chicks in danger if they actually hatch

[Redwing]

Crikey, it must be a mouse surely? It could be coming through by the poo tray I guess, I can't see anything climbing up the smooth face of the Eglu to get through the ventilation holes and with the broody in the nestbox I can't see anything being brave enough to come up the drainage hole in there!

[Phosphorus]

Crikey, it must be a mouse surely? It could be coming through by the poo tray I guess, I can't see anything climbing up the smooth face of the Eglu to get through the ventilation holes and with the broody in the nestbox I can't see anything being brave enough to come up the drainage hole in there!

 

That makes me feel better - I can live with the thought of a mouse but not a rat (not squeamish just think of the greater danger : ). Hopefully moving the food out again at night will solve the problem. Broody seemed as grumpy as ever so hopefully no damage has been done. Droppings were really small so pretty sure it was a mouse.

 

My own stupid fault - I was always so religious about bringing in food - just because she has been so diligent I have been leaving her with a corn supply full time. She doesn't need it!

[Guest]

Does sound like a mouse dropping very small brown/black like a grain of rice....rats are bigger similar shape but you will know

 

I would put a bait box down(can get them most places and some loose poison to go inside the bait box) if you place it outside nearby.

 

Wildlife cant get into the bait boxes ie hedgehogs

 

good luck

 

indie

[The Dogmother]

Sounds like a mouse to me too. Your broody shouldn't need any food at night, just shove her off the nest a couple of times a day to make sure that she eats.

[Lewis]

We used to sometimes have a mouse in with babs in her hutch, you'd go up and it would be there in the feed bowl.

 

We got a humane trap and let it go a few miles away