Mice in the chicken run...

[aersland]

Help! Mice are infesting my chicken run. I keep the water/food outside (i dont want food in the coop so please dont suggest it). I have always filled milk jugs with holes cut out for feeding and it has worked perfectly for us, but now I have a significant mice problem. 1st year chicken owner ya know.

I live in northern Minnesota so I wont get a chance to dig up the ground to place some hardwire for several months. What can I do for now?? Maybe hanging feeders? Or will that just cause more spilled food? The other complication is that I have three full size chickens but also two bantams, so I'd need something that would be low enough for them to get to as well.

Thank you for any advice you have, or recommendations for feeders!!

 

[cavemanrich]

Mice need to be controlled. You will always get some feed spillage regardless. Are the mice present during the day. If only during night, my suggestion would be to remove feed every evening. That is what I do. I place into metal trash containers. Plastic, the mice could gnaw thru.
WISHING YOU BEST................................. and

 

[RollTideChicken]

Taking the food in is a good plan.
However, I use bait traps to keep populations under control. I just switch poisons when I run out. And no, I've had no chicken deaths or any other deaths from either accidental or secondary-poisoning.
It's tour call, but the infestation has to go.
A buddy of mine uses old school traps to great effect...my way is just more hands off.
Good luck to you!
RTC

 

[Grits&Eggs]

Maybe buy a grandpa feeder? Or we put in PVC pipes with caps that we put on for the night. There is also a feeder we take in nightly. I have tried to use poison and catch and release traps, but the snap traps, both plastic and wood work the best for me