Outdoor Aviary - Mice !!

[finchmix22]

Traps - used the run-in kind that snap and put them where I knew the mice ran. Effect - got a bunch of them.??
What kind of traps are these? Do they trap humanely or kill the mice? I wasn't sure from your description. We have mice in our garage, but they haven't made into the house. I suspect my four cats and two dogs keep them away. Thank God!

[Hilary]

What kind of traps are these? Do they trap humanely or kill the mice? I wasn't sure from your description. We have mice in our garage, but they haven't made into the house. I suspect my four cats and two dogs keep them away. Thank God!

Glad they haven't made it into the house! Unfortunately they are the kill type, but what I appreciated was that the majority of the time the traps killed the mice instantly. I absolutely refused to use glue traps, and when I used the humane traps the mice ignored them regardless of bait - seed, peanut butter, crackers, cookies, dog food..... I used the Decon Covered Snap Mouse Traps. I didn't even bait them - just put them along the walls.

[Martie]

I haven't seen those traps, Hilary - I'm going to get some - they look great. I refuse to use the glue traps, too.

[Sally]

I have also seen on a tv show that if you plug up small holes with steel wool that the mice can't chew through it!

That worked when I had small numbers to deal with, but since the population explosion, they just chew new holes right beside the steel wool. I have used Kness Snap-E traps with good success in the past. I'm thinking that I will move all the cages into my dining room (power wash them all first), and then put out heavy-duty poison and traps. Either that, or I need to take out all the seed hoppers every night, because they are emptying them anyway. Or, instead of putting out poison and traps, I could leave the door to that room open and let my cats have a feast!

Those glue traps are inhumane! They used them at a stable where I boarded, the big ones for rats, and I saw a rat trying to climb in the rafters of the barn, dragging the glue trap. I hate rats, but I almost felt sorry for that one--what a slow way to die.

[Sally]

Cayenne - sprinkled it across doorways. Effect - could see their little footprints as they ran back and forth.

Peppermint oil - soaked cotton balls and left around the house. Effect - mouse nests lined with cotton balls smelled really good.

I know it's not funny, but I couldn't help but laugh at your descriptions. I bought some peppermint oil--guess I won't bother with that.

[finchmix22]

I agree the glue traps are inhumane! We use the non-kill traps and relocate the mice to a field a few miles away. There are lots of hawks there, but they have lots of place to hide.

[Hilary]

I forgot to add the steel wool to my list:

Steel wool - plug mouse holes. Effect: shredded steel wool everywhere.

Sally, at least the peppermint oil makes your house smell great!

[Mands]

I have 3 Chinese Crested Dogs and 1 Chihuahua that live indoors. I would be horrified if they had even touched a mouse and then came curling up in bed. I can't rely on them to do it, so I am going to have to make a list of all the suggestions and get to work on these darn little monsters. I am so worried about them getting into the house, I think hubby would put a big stop to all the birds very quickly.

[monotwine]

Having a good giggle at all the suggestions and experiences shared. Laughed my head off with the peppermint balls. My friends that are pro rodents (live and let live) always suggest these will keep them away.

Mice are very sneaky.

My last one was just that. He lived in the outdoor aviary run. Never came inside the shed for seed or warmth... only saw him when at dusk I was watching my birds come for their last round of seed before they roost, and I was trying to see what the strange bird was on the ground eating seed. Looked almost like a fire finch fledgling. LOL but no, just a really fat mouse.

After trying to find his den for a week, I eventually gave up, got all the birds locked into the shed and then let my dog into cage. Result: Mouse found. He was living in my brush nesting tower.

I no longer have mice in the aviary for now, but I live near a wetland that is full of them... prevention is better than cure I am finding out.

[monotwine]

Oh forgot to add I have one up on the mice.... my hubby's family business is pest control!

[Mands]

Does your hubby have any mates in Australia?

[wildbill]

head off to the local iga supermarket -buy some talon-and that will get rid of the problem pretty quick. just angle a bit of board/fibro what-ever along the inside wall. place the bait in there-like one full packet and check it daily.

[wildbill]

just read your bit on the 4 dogs. i think the choice now bends towards sticky traps or even mouse traps.
another choice - aviary mouse proof wire in 6mm
although my dog plays with the odd dead mouse maybe yours are different.