Need to wage war on mice / rats

[Geunther]

I cannot agree with the posters who use Just One Bite. It is very effective, and I use it sparingly with another poison in rotation. We have cats in the barn, but with hay, feed and horse 'stuff', the cats just cant keep up. Our cats will not eat a dying or dead rodent, so we haven't had any issues with cross contamination. This is a constant battle for us, as we keep chickens and sheep, as well as the horses. It is just routine for me to check bait stations and deploy little bricks of poison every week. This is the only method I have found that really works.

 

[Zetorboy]

Plowhug Forget it. You will NEVER be able to get rid of mices in barn.Never! Go get 4 cats , put them around...and do not nourrish them. Let them do the job of controling the bunch! Good luck. Zetorboy

 

[oosik]

I have chipmunks and mice - no rats. I've tried a few types of traps and they all work to a limited extent. Two types of Victor - the metal box with an inside paddle - walk the plank type. I even tried poison once - when I didn't have a dog.

The best was walk the plank. Over a 17 day period - 33 mice and about seven 'munks.

Then - all of a sudden - it quit working. I baited the "spinning drum" with just about everything. No joy.

Barn cats provide the best solution. I've had as many as eight at one time. Slowly but surely - owls, hawks & coyotes dwindle the population.

The one thing I know for certain out here. Regarding mice & chipmunks - I will NEVER eliminate them. Just reduce the population to a tolerable level - if I'm lucky.

I just can't seem to get the hawks, owls & coyotes to work that hard. And half of all the cats I've ever had were lazy sun bathers.

If you can get two hard working mousers - they will put a serious/noticeable dent in a rodent population.

 

[plowhog]

I appreciate the many suggestions. Very helpful. I recognize this problem cannot be solved, only lessened.

Many suggested barn cats. Unfortunately I cannot do that as there are periods where I am away from the property, which could cause difficulties with cats.

I can try locating Victor traps in an enclosure so a skunk won't get it. But I have a feeling catching one per day won't dent the population enough.

I ordered 4 of the "walk the plank" traps that were suggested. I like these since they would not snap jaws shut on a skunk, plus they will catch and hold multiple mice even if I am away.

I think I am going to hold off on poison, at least for now. I don't want various critters eating poisoned mice and having that go up the food chain.

 

[JohnnyMX]

I tried making my own roller style traps on a 5-gallon bucket and found the dogs just kept finding all my peanut butter leaving the traps unbaited. The mousetrap guy on youtube showed a version that is a top that snaps on a 5-gallon bucket and is a pivot/walk the plank style. The nice thing about it is the peanut butter can be put up and under to keep the dogs out. I put it out and had about a dozen or so in days. Now I leave it and check it weekly and lucky if I get any.

RinneTraps - Flip N Slide​

 

[nyone]

Poison bait can kill the predators that eat rodents. The mice or rats wander around sick and vulnerable before they die, and they often get eaten. Then the poison goes to work on the predator.

That's false. Look up what tomcat says about there poison.

 

[jmc]

I tried making my own roller style traps on a 5-gallon bucket and found the dogs just kept finding all my peanut butter leaving the traps unbaited. The mousetrap guy on youtube showed a version that is a top that snaps on a 5-gallon bucket and is a pivot/walk the plank style. The nice thing about it is the peanut butter can be put up and under to keep the dogs out. I put it out and had about a dozen or so in days. Now I leave it and check it weekly and lucky if I get any.

RinneTraps - Flip N Slide​

As an aside, I like this guy's video strategy. In the first several seconds, you know exactly how the product works, and then you can decide to watch. No tedious intro clip, blather, unpacking, etc before you even get to see anything useful.

 

[plowhog]

The mousetrap guy on youtube showed a version that is a top that snaps on a 5-gallon bucket and is a pivot/walk the plank style.

That is a very interesting trap. Very overpriced at $30 for some plastic pieces but I ordered one anyway. If it works well, it's worth it ...

 

[jfh0jfh]

1. I use traditional traps inside large cans or tucked in corners of shelves. This keeps them away from cats, skunks, opossums, .....

2. I have some 5-gallon pails: holes drilled at 180-degrees ~1" from the top; metal rod/ all-thread through the holes; pill bottle w/ holes in the center that spins freely; baited w/ peanut butter. Mice walk out on the rod, get up on the bottle; it spins and they fall in.

Need to check it regularly though as the smell gets rank.

3. I also build boxes for kestrels and barn owls.

 

[plowhog]

C

3. I also build boxes for kestrels and barn owls.

Can you help me understand how to build something that would attract a barn owl? I had one in the barn a few years ago ... took a picture and my camera flashed ... haven't seen him since.

btw I saw some raptors patrolling around the barn today ... maybe a good sign but did they come because of how many mice they are seeing?

 

[the old grind]

Raptors would have it better here if dozens of red wings around my cattail farm/pond would just leave 'em alone. The black-birds also don't like crows or turkeys but don't bother the herons (blue, green) kingfishers, or the occasional osprey.

 

[JohnnyMX]

That is a very interesting trap. Very overpriced at $30 for some plastic pieces but I ordered one anyway. If it works well, it's worth it ...

Overpriced for sure. But peanut butter isn't cheap and my dogs were going through crunchy like it was going out of style.

 

[bigtiller]

I setup a bucket trap last week in an old, holey out-building but haven't caught a mouse yet. July doesn't have an "r" so maybe it isn't mouse trapping season yet.

 

[Dawg in Fl]

I haven’t seen anyone talk about peppermint oil - pure, not artificial.
Rodents were making nest in the battery compartments of my tractors, etc. I dipped a shoelace in peppermint oil and place near an opening to the battery compartment. No rodents.
I now pour peppermint oil into open containers and place around my barn. The oil irritates their noses and they go elsewhere- until I forget to refill my containers- then they come back.
Yes, I’d rather they die but this really does help. I didn’t believe it until I tried it.

 

[lman]

Black oil sunflower seeds? Where do you purchase this?

Wherever you buy your bird food.

 

[PILOON]

We once had a contract to build a 200 ft stable and a 220 ft riding arena.
So I followed basic house building specs, (insulation, structure etc.) but used metal for ceiling and wall finish.
Now since rodents were obviously to be a potential problem I bought bulk rodent poison and alternately placed different brands/types between each stud spacing.
Owners said later that they never saw any rodent signs nor smells.
The client was breeding Arabians and had some 200 or so.

That one was a real fun project full of challenges due to size and compliance issues not counting local petty politics.
LOL, the permit was delivered by a truck driver who was also the mayor!

 

[fidowanttobe]

I gave up on snap traps and now use the plank style.
Intrigued by the yellow pail top version.
I agree that Peppermint oil is a fantastis deterent also. Bleach water is also a deterrent.