Mice!!!

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:10 pm

Continue to set the trap

Believe me where there is 1 there is more

Rats will bury their cache for later dining. He may have burried it and another came along and, dug it up and consumed the rest.
The original rat , or others, smelling the cache spot would dig to try and find the spoils.
Most all wild carnivores will do this, large cats will even stash the remains in trees for later snacking. But most small rodents will dig a hole and bury. Just like a dog with a bone.
A few of the left over feathers around the trap will lure other rats to investigate.
Be careful of bringing wild birds from outside in...weather dead or alive. They could have disease or mites that could contaminate your aviary

HoangQuan · Post by **HoangQuan** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:21 pm

CandoAviary wrote:Continue to set the trap Believe me where there is 1 there is more
Rats will bury their cache for later dining. He may have burried it and another came along and, dug it up and consumed the rest.
The original rat , or others, smelling the cache spot would dig to try and find the spoils.
Most all wild carnivores will do this, large cats will even stash the remains in trees for later snacking. But most small rodents will dig a hole and bury. Just like a dog with a bone.
A few of the left over feathers around the trap will lure other rats to investigate.
Be careful of bringing wild birds from outside in...weather dead or alive. They could have disease or mites that could contaminate your aviary

Candace, I didnt use the bird bait to lure the rat. the trap is like two wires bend into circle, I simply put it in the way I think the rat will pass by, and waiting, that was so convenience

, tomorrow I'll take picture of the trap for you to see

. I have 2 traps already set for tonight.

I highly suspect that the rat did bury his last two victims, but after many days I havent even smell anything from the aviary, so it might eat them all(!), I think.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:34 pm

That was good of you to place it where you thought the rat(s) typically ran and no need to use a bait-bird.

I hope you catch all those rats and can return your birds to their own home/aviary safely and soon.

Geordie · Post by **Geordie** » Wed May 13, 2009 4:17 am

Keep a hammer handy, it sounds cruel but, they will get out of control quicker than you can imagine. Luckily I have solid wood floors so if one gets in it is easy to clean up the mess. Doesn't happen very often, but hanging washing out gives the vermin a chance to get in, even had a snake in here once...it got the hammer.

Post by **Hilary** » Sun May 17, 2009 12:28 am

I have to chime in, since I'm having a major mouse problem in my house right now. All of the birds are inside, and when I had my cat I had no problems. I lost her last year (at 17 years), and started to see a mouse or two. Set live traps (they're so cute!), with no luck. Set out poison - some luck. Set snap traps - regular luck, but the population is growing. I put moth balls in the eaves - no change. Added peppermint oil-soaked cotton balls all over the house (they're supposed to hate that), and found them in the mouse nests. Tried dried blood (garden center - for enriching soil but squirrels don't like it) and cayenne pepper - no reaction. They've been chewing on clothes and shredding books. Cleaned out anywhere they can be nesting, and found that they are everywhere. I counted five in my bedroom last night - they're eating the seed out of the seed cups after dark. I called in an exterminator, who set out a different kind of bait and (ugh, I can't stand it, but it has to be done) glue traps. I also added those plug-in sonic things, though I just saw a mouse sitting happily right near one. Tomorrow I'm buying plastic bins with lids, and will start "locking up" seed cups at night. I'll let you know how it goes!

Post by **Sally** » Sun May 17, 2009 12:58 am

I feel your pain, Hilary, I've had mouse problems a time or two, and it is so hard to get them under control. Fairestfinches put me onto the best mouse trap--it is the Snap-E moustrap, sold by Kness. They are reusable, easy to bait and set (without snapping your fingers!), and then you just release the trap and drop the mouse into the trash--no touching. Their website is www.kness.com.

Post by **Hilary** » Sun May 17, 2009 1:04 am

What did you use as bait, Sally? So far they like my seed and quail food far better than peanut butter, cheese, dried eggfood, goldfish crackers and Girl Scout cookies. Argh!

Post by **Sally** » Sun May 17, 2009 1:11 am

All I used was peanut butter, and there was certainly enough spilled and tossed seed on the floor, plus in open cups, for them to get seed, but they still went after the peanut butter.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Sun May 17, 2009 8:57 am

I would mix some seed in the peanut butter and put that on trap

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sun May 17, 2009 9:48 am

Oh that doesn't sound comfortable for you or your birds Hilary. I hope you find a permanent solution for those rodents soon!

Alec's Finches · Post by **Alec's Finches** » Wed May 20, 2009 4:35 pm

but a cat or two or mabey adopt one, just make sure that it cant get to ur birds

Post by **Hilary** » Wed May 20, 2009 4:58 pm

That's just it. When I had my cat I didn't have mice. But she was fat and 17 years old, and had no interest in the birds. I have cages all over the house, so no way to keep a cat away from all of them. Even if I could move all of the cages to the basement, that's where the litter box would have to go again. It's the perfect solution if I didn't have the birds. But then, if I didn't have the birds I wouldn't have the mice!

Alec's Finches · Post by **Alec's Finches** » Wed May 20, 2009 5:01 pm

my birdstore has a cat and even a dog now and then. they usally ignore the birds as if theres nothing in the store but the people.

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Wed May 20, 2009 5:12 pm

Older cats will usually ignore the birds, my siamese is about 11 years old and won't even look twice.

A kitten is another story...our grey tabby/tiger had to be sprayed with water at least a dozen times... and we finally attached all the cages to the walls because yesterday she tried climbing again. So now when I'm not home she goes into her travel carrier. I just hope that one of these days she will learn,......and leaave my birds alone.

Alec's Finches · Post by **Alec's Finches** » Wed May 20, 2009 5:19 pm

hehe i have a shih-tzu (dog) and he will try to kill or eat any thing thats smaller than him