How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Mice

I understand the fear, here is what I have done. My chickens free range but they are locked in their coops at night. There feed is kept in a very large metal locker that has a heavy metal lid. Additionally I have two wonderful cats that are very good at maintaining the entire area. I am surrounded by 12 thousand acres of preserve wooded land, so there is no shortage of little furry creatures, but I have to say that in the past year since I did the above I think I have seen one mouse or mole and it was dead and near the edge of the woods. Even on a few nights when I forgot to close the lid on the feed storage locker not a speck was taken, nothing chewed up no sign of any furry creatures. While there is no guarantee that you will never see a mouse if you keep the food locked and a few cats you should be fine.

And truthfully the joy of watching the chickens roam the yard is wonderful.

Good luck.

Noemi

On Thursday, April 24, 2014 2:22 PM, Amy Bishop <bedeviled_76@yahoo.com> wrote:

My guinea fowl and chickens kill mice. They also kill anything else smaller than them, eg toads, frogs, reptiles.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 24, 2014, at 5:52 AM, The Sassy Six <lorahall@centurylink.net> wrote:

Good Morning,
I really really want chickens. The only issue I have is with mice. They scare the absolute snot outta me. I'm not talking just afraid, I am talking full blown freak out when I see one. I once saw one in the house and sat on the back of the couch for over 3 hours until hubs got home from work to give me the all clear. I cry, I scream, I can't breathe. If we build the house part of the coop OFF the ground and keep all feed in air tight containers plus having a few good mousers outside, will that deter them? We no longer get them in the house, thankfully, but I live in the country and I know that they are just a part of living here, I just don't want to see them. I get that it is an irrational fear, but it's a fear nonetheless. Any advice?

Lora
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