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Mice and rat trapping

 
pollinator
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I have lots of mice and voles. And a couple of rats left. I have three kinds of mouse traps: the old-fashioned one and newer ones. This works like a treat - full every morning!
For rats, I have been successful with a mink trap.
IMG20251112082043.jpg
best Mouse trap
best Mouse trap
Screenshot_2025-11-12-10-14-28-40_cbf47468f7ecfbd8ebcc46bf9cc626da.jpg
Rat trap that works
Rat trap that works
IMG20251102134926.jpg
Rat trap in action
Rat trap in action
 
gardener
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My mom has rats in her chicken coop. This happened primarily because she did not listen that she needed a new floor before getting new chickens, and also that she cannot leave food out all night for the chickens.

I have been looking at this one for her. https://goodnature.co/products/a24-starter-trapping-kit
 
Kaarina Kreus
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Yea, chicken coops are a magnet for all kinds of critters 😂. I had owls fly in and minks dig in. Now there is a tile wall going a foot deep and hardware wire walls and roof. I am angry at myself for not doing it properly from the start.
 
Matt McSpadden
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Kaarina Kreus wrote:Yea, chicken coops are a magnet for all kinds of critters 😂.



Very true, but for future readers, I would like to differentiate between the critters that are attracted to the chickens as food, and the critters that are attracted to the chicken food.

For predators who want chicken dinner... I don't think you can prevent the attraction, but you can prevent them from getting in, like Kaarina mentioned.

Then you have things like rats and mice that are attracted to the chicken food. I believe that one can prevent that attraction by not leaving any food out over night, and making sure the chickens are only fed what they can eat, and no more.
 
Kaarina Kreus
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I had a mouse couple living in the substrate last winter. My chickens don't seem to understand that mice are food, so they were happily coexisting and I had no problem with that.
But RATS! They will quickly become a menace devouring your garden and gnawing at things.
 
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Kaarena,  thank you for the tip. I will try that style.  
 
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I like live traps aka Tiny Kitty, that is her name.
 
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