[tallgingerbloke]

Hi,

During cleaning I have found mice droppings in the chicken coop. Is this something that I should be worried about. All 4 chickens are healthy and happy and their coop is a converted 6' x 4' shed so they have plenty of room.

I am pretty sure that mice are everywhere anyway, just thought I would ask and make sure.

Thanks

[steelman]

Not much you can do to keep mice out. They can get through a hole roughly the diameter of a biro! Make sure there's no nooks and crannies where they can nest in the coop - although the chickens would have a field day if they could get to them!!

As usual, don't leave food out at night and use vermin proof feeders etc. Rats are the bigger problem as I'm sure you're aware

[bravemurphy]

I got a 6x4 shed for my chooks with just perch and nest box in there so nowhere for anything to hide.

If the mice saw what they did to the last mouse they found they will stay away I am sure.

That goes for the poor old frog too.

[ANHBUC]

If you put a baited trap (not poison) in a wooden box so the hens can't get at it and place it near to the wall of the shed you should soon catch them.  If you are not squemish the hens would love them as a little snack.   

[Sassy]

It is good practice to try and control them as they can carry disease.

[joyfull]

if you are using poison to control rats and mice then be very careful and use one called Eradibait (see here, this way if your chickens find a mouse that has eaten some poison it won't harm them if they eat it.

[finleyfreyaseth]

used have one in the shed we my chooks used scare hell out of me sometimes wen i moved the straw and it would scuttle cross floor lol not seen it for while so assume chooks got it.