Professional Mouse Removal (video)

You may not want to call the Chicken Nanny if you have a mouse infestation (or even if you have chickens that need to be taken care of).  I am sure there are professionals out there that don't think that mice are cute, but really, this little guy was adorable.  I shrieked whenever I saw one, and I am still willing to kill them, but still...  I think I could really like them, if only they didn't spread disease and get into houses (and coops) and poop everywhere.  A healthy diaper wearing mouse in a cage would be cute, though.

You're Fired, Chicken Nanny

I tried, unsuccessfully, to trap "the mouse" last night.  I made some "boxes" to put the traps in, using items found in my recycling bin.  I took the feed containers out of the coop to encourage "the mouse" to find the traps.  My Chicken Nanny Apprentices helped to get everything set up.  After an hour or so, I ran back over to check on them, and the chickens had knocked over the boxes and set off the traps.  We reset them and tried again, but no luck this morning. 

Since Beth got home late last night, she officially took over with the chickens.  It was very hard not to bust down her door to check on them.  We waited patiently (okay, this isn't true -- Alex was jumping up and down on the couch in the front window, waving his hands, yelling "Wake up Esteban!!").  As soon as we saw signs of life across the street, we descended.  Despite my best efforts to fight the urge, the words out of my mouth were "how are the chickens?".

Beth took the news of our furry little friend(s) in stride, requiring only one cup of coffee to get through the news (the Chicken Nanny might have resorted to something a little stronger).   This afternoon, we decided on a plan to try to clean out the coop.  The boys played in the house while we got ready.   

The  Mouseketeers

We started by taking out all of the old bedding (pine shavings) in the top part of the coop with a snow shovel.  Then Will started pulling the paneling off.  We heard some frantic rustling in the wall.  I started to get a little nervous.  I was worried about baby mice and a nest falling out and not knowing what to do with it.  That wasn't what happened.

The Chicken Nanny ready for battle

Instead, mouse after mouse fell onto the floor, scuttled around looking for a way out, while Beth and I screeched.   Ten mice in all made their way out of the coop from behind the left panel.  Yes, TEN.  Who knows how many more were living there but heard the commotion and escaped before we got to them?!  Equally impressive was the home that they had made for themselves.   They had burrowed through the thick Styrofoam layer to make tunnels behind the panel.

So it seems that my once amazing power of observation has completely failed me.  It appears that there has been an infestation in this coop for a long time.  Yet I did not see any evidence of anything other than chickens living in the coop until the last couple of days -- no rustling sounds, no Styrofoam until two days ago. 

We removed all of the Styrofoam from the walls, seeing at least ten mice.  It was nasty work, and Will did a lot of it (I owe you honey!!).  Beth sprayed everything down with a dilute bleach solution and will put new bedding out tomorrow after it's had a chance to air out.  After we were done cleaning, we found two dead mice in the area of the coop (not from our efforts, these mice had been dead awhile). 

In conclusion, I kept the chickens alive... with an added bonus of at least ten disease carrying vermin.  Oh, what's that?  I'm fired?  Sigh.

Multiplying mice

Just got back from the coop, and now there are rustling sounds in both sides of the coop, simultaneously.  On the left side, there is new damage to the insulation panel.  It looks the mouse is chewing through the panel.  What I thought was one mouse appears to be at least two, maybe two (or more) families of mice.  I will continue to post what happens for my followers, even though I officially hand over my chicken nanny duties tomorrow!

Chickens Love Styrofoam!

Notice the Styrofoam balls stuck to her beak.

I thought I had cleaned up all the Styrofoam, but apparently I missed some.  The good news is that I researched it online, and all chickens love to eat Styrofoam (and it apparently doesn't kill them). 

The Rodent Problem

I have about 24 hours left as the chicken nanny.  I know, that makes my followers very sad (both of you!).  And wouldn't you know it, we have a problem...

For awhile, I've been noticing mouse poop in the feed bowl in the lower part of the coop.  I assumed the mouse was living nearby and stopped by occasionally to have a snack.  A few days ago, I started noticing poop in the feeder in the upper part of the coop.  Yesterday I heard a rustling sound between the layer of insulation and the exterior wall of the coop. 

The mouse has moved in behind the silver panel.

The white stuff is the Styrofoam.
I bet you can guess what the brown stuff is...

Today there was poop along the wall, which is gross, but not as troubling as the pile of Styrofoam balls.  There is Styrofoam in the insulating panel, and the mouse is knocking it all into the coop when he scurries around making himself at home.  You may wonder why this is such a problem, especially if you have never had the fortune to be a chicken nanny.  Chickens eat anything, and little Styrofoam balls look like scratch to them.  I'm not sure if eating Styrofoam will hurt them, but it can't be good for them.  The balls ended up all over the coop and spilled outside.  I cleaned everything (which was harder than it sounds!), duct taped the space in the panel where the balls fall from, and have been researching rodent control.  Apparently rodents are common problems with chicken coops.  They eat a lot of feed, and can spread disease to the hens.  So we will have to get rid of them and figure out a way to keep them out.  Taking off the panel is going to be gross.  At least Beth will be home soon to help me figure out what to do!

While I cleaned the mouse crap,
the boys bonded with the girls.

Spring Break

Today was the first day of Spring Break for our family, and we have had a great day so far.   I loved these pictures of Alex with the chickens today, and thought I would share them.  Only a few more chicken nanny posts, I've got to get them in while I can!

Chicken on the Roof

Happy April Fool's Day!  

"Chicken on the roof" is code for a dead chicken.  The chickens are actually fine, don't worry!  We've had a lot of fun playing tricks on each other today.  This one is for you, Beth!