3 Problems Mice Can Cause In Your Chicken Coop
Your chicken coop is a safe haven for your egg-laying flock, but all of the things that make the quarters seem comfortable and welcoming to your chickens can make the structure just as attractive to mice. While mice are a common problem in rural settings and commonly make their way to buildings that house livestock, mice really should not be allowed to hang out in the same building where you keep your chickens. Here is a look at a few of the problems mice can cause in your chicken coop if you do not get help from a mice pest control company.
Mice can cause harm to your chickens and steal eggs.
Chickens pretty much fall at the bottom of the food chain; they can be deemed as prey by a lot of animals, and even mice can cause them physical injuries. During the day, chickens can be spotted snapping up a mouse and eating it, but at night, when the coop grows dark, chickens are at a disadvantage. Chickens can't see well in the dark, and mice may try to gnaw at their feet while they are asleep or steal their eggs.
Mice can consume large amounts of your chicken feed.
Chicken feed is costly if you have a rather large flock to feed, especially if you live in certain parts of the country. Therefore, having rodents slipping in and stealing loads of it is not something any chicken owner wants to contend with on a regular basis. Of course, you can always start keeping feed in an airtight container, but that won't stop a mouse from getting into the feed you put out for your chickens every day. Just the fact that you have feed in the coop can make it hard to keep mice away, which means you have to be vigilant about keeping things neat and tidy when you're feeding your flock.
Mice can bring harmful bacteria and parasites into your chicken coop.
Chickens are fairly hardy creatures and they don't get sick easily. However, there are certain ailments mice can have that can be passed onto your chickens. For example, mites and lice can be transmitted from mice to the chickens, and something like mouse droppings in the chicken watering pan could leave them drinking harmful bacteria. Just one mouse in the coop can bring along health risks for your entire flock, so you do have to be careful.
For more information, contact companies like Anteater Pest Control.
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