Are there mice wreaking havoc on your chicken cage ?
Most of the clock time , a computer mouse in the chicken menage is nothing to worry about . Although you might be freaked out by the pitter - patter of tiny little mice feet in your henhouse , your volaille will in all probability remain unfazed .
However , you might be astonished ( or perhaps repulsed ! ) to see that your volaille actuallyinvitethese little intruders with zest – because every time they dart out from hiding in the coop , your chicken seize the chance to gobble them mighty up .
Gross , right ?
To you , perhaps – but to chickens , mice are tasty treats .
However , knowing what you know about the various pathogen that mice can carry , you might be nervous about allow your chicken to nosh on errant rodents . fortuitously , there ’s not much that you need to worry about – I ’ll tell you why it ’s not that unsafe in this clause and hopefully set your thinker at comfort .
Do Chickens Eat Mice?
The little answer ? Yes . Chickens are opportunistic omnivore , meaning they’lleat just about anythingthey can get their hired man on ( and when I say anything , I do imply anything – one time , I come home to get a few loose - ramble chickens nibbling on the detachment on the side of my house ) .
chicken will rust mice of all shapes , size , and ages . They will eat baby mice – which are modest and easier to capture than adult mice – along with small rotter if they find them .
Chickens will run through mice whole or they might use their schnoz to wear a mouse up into smaller chunks . This will bet on the size of it of the rodent as well as whether one or more chickens are essay to eat the mouse .
You may notice quite a few plot of “ crybaby football ” once the other member of your troop realize what the favorable biddy has found too .
In addition to mice , chickens will jubilantly bolt up foods like lounge lizard , frogs , bugs , and other rodents and low animals . give up your Gallus gallus to free - range and they will catch and eat up their own food with gusto !
Not only is it totally normal for chicken to feed mice , but it ’s also somewhat vernacular . That ’s because mice frequentchicken coopsand run quite on a regular basis , head there to discover bits of spill provender and other tasty morsel . It ’s like an all - you - can - eat sideboard ( until the chickens determine them of course ) .
Unlike squealer , other rodents who tend to hang out where chickens can be notice , mice are small and the arrant sizing for chicken to chase after , catch , and eat .
Is It Bad for Chickens to Eat Mice?
Now that you cognise that chickenscaneat mice , the next question you might ask yourself is whether theyshould .
It ’s not necessarily bad for chickens to eat computer mouse but you should n’t go out of your manner to provide them with mice to run through , either .
That ’s because mice cancarry germsand various pathogen that can make you and your chicken wan . A diseased mouse could make a volaille sick , as could a mouse who has ingested some cast of rat decoy or poison .
computer mouse could also harbor parasite that will make your chickens ill , too . If you observe your chickens eating mice , you do n’t necessarily have to block them – mice can be a decent root of protein and other nutrient for your flock , not to mention innocent amusement – but you may have to consider deworming them and checking them on a regular basis for extraneous parasites .
How to Get Rid of the Mice in Your Chicken Yard
It ’s not unfit for Gallus gallus to feed black eye , but if you ’re asking yourself whether your Gallus gallus can safely corrode mice , there ’s a good fortune that you ’ve noticed quite a few of these furry niggling rodent hang around your chicken yard .
That could suggest a larger problem .
If mice are hanging around , you in all probability have a sanitization issue that needs to be addressed . The mice are attracted to something there and are frequenting the poulet coop despite the inherent peril of being rust by a Gallus gallus . Whether it ’s food , water , or shelter , they ’re after something .
Of course , black eye will eat your poulet provender , too – which can carry diseases to your chickens and increase your overall provender bill .
Here are some tips to help get rid of any mice that might be give ear around your chicken pace .
1. Be Wary of Larger Rodents
mouse are loosely not problematic but other gnawer , like rats , can be . rat will steal eggs or can even exhaust sleeping chicken ( though this is less common with grownup chickens and more potential with new skirt or pullet ) .
Generally , computer mouse are after your intellectual nourishment and not your chickens . However , if you ’re pull mice , then there ’s nothing saying that you are n’t travel to attract big pest , too – so it ’s important to make certain the issue below are address .
Also , make trusted your nesting boxwood are rodent - proofed . Mice unremarkably wo n’t go after egg but rats will . Elevate the nesting loge and habituate high - lineament woodwind or other nesting box textile that will be hard for gnawer to jaw through .
You may also have to sprinkle dry out mint candy around the cage or nesting box . The jury ’s out on whether this is actually an good way to repel gnawer , but at the very least , it will make your cage sense a lot freshman !
2. Limit Food Spillage
solid food spillage is the number one thing that attracts mouse and other rodents to a chicken coop . Make certain all provender is clean up promptly .
Keep food in varnish container ( ideally alloy I instead of plastic or the original purse , which mice can easily nibble through ) .
The same goes for water supply . body of water can also pull rodent , peculiarly in red-hot , dry weather . debate using machinelike lacrimation organization that are equipped withchicken nipple drinker . These will provide your chickens with all the water they need without soak up in rodent .
3. Check for Gaps in the Coop and Fence
Take some sentence to inspect your volaille coop , fences , and run arena exhaustively . mouse will easily gnaw through just about any form of material ( including chicken conducting wire ) . Using galvanized steel telegram can help keep this somewhat though often not entirely .
Then , seal off up any cracks or holes you find . Remember that mice can fit through holes the size of pencil eraser ! mouse can chew through silicone caulk so instead , apply steel fleece , lath screen , cement , or computer hardware material to fix large holes ( you could always calk around them to make them atmospheric condition - loaded ) .
Build a high fencing that is at least 18 - inches tall and reckon elevating your cage . This can help keep rodents out , too .
4. Provide Limited Amounts of Treats
It ’s a good estimation to limit the bit of treats you provide your chicken anyway since they should just be a compliment and not a reserve for formulated chicken provender .
However , if you offer goody , verify you ’re giving them just a small amount rather than quick - access , treats on - demand . Nix the treat dispenser toys , too . Although these can be fun , they can draw in rodents and other pests , like louse .
Should I Let My Chickens Eat Mice?
No matter how disciplined you are about keeping your wimp grand uncontaminating and limiting food for thought spill , there ’s still a honorable chance that you ’ll have a computer mouse here or there from time to clock time .
While you might not love the approximation of have your chickens nosh on mice , know that they can actually be a nutritious reservoir of food for your passel . To ensure your volaille delay sound , do your best to restrict mouse populations and do n’t cover them with poison , as this could make its room to your wimp via the mice .
Otherwise , do n’t concern . Although a mouse might not be your first alternative when you ’re reckon for an afternoon collation , for a chicken – there ’s nothing better .
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