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.