3 sided shed

JMER817 · Dec 7, 2015

Completed the house last year and continuing to work on the new homestead. Really want and need a polebarn, but will have to wait a few years while rebuilding the bank account..lol. Have a garage full of stuff with no room for the vehicles. I'm thinking of building a 3 sided shed to house the tractor and other "toys". My concern is the mice. I had my tractor and fishing boat under tarp for a little while last year and discovered mice getting into them. Have a couple cats now to help with that problem but am wondering will this still be an issue with an open sided shed that I have planned. For those that have "covered" toys, how do you deal with this problem?

davesl708 · Dec 7, 2015

Cats.

George2615 · Dec 7, 2015

I store my riding mower, ATV, and a classic car in an enclosed car trailer. In the basement I use mouse traps with peanut butter bait and check them weekly. I've tried mothballs and peppermint oil but they don't seem to work very well. I also mix some dry cement power with cornflower and put it in a plastic container. The mice eat it then get thirsty. Once they get a drink the cement does its job killing the mouse. May not want to use this if you have pets outside that could eat it.

In my garage I have 2 fox terriers. They are pretty good mousers.

With a 3 sided shed the mice are going to want to find shelter like the engine compartment or dashboard of your tractor. With pets outside you don't want to use poisons. Get the enclosed mouse traps that mice go in but can't get out and dispose of once it has done its job. Cats will also work if they can take the cold and have a way to get back into a sheltered area.

Check this link and build a trap like this. put oil in the bucket so they can't get back out.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/349050-updated-mouse-trap-bucket-new-post.html

MH8675309 · Dec 7, 2015

I keep my tractor in a large lean to that is open on one end. I have been told that tarped equipment is more prone to mice since it is sheltered to some degree.

BleedingOrange · Dec 7, 2015

I would sell some of your wifes stuff, and use that cash to close it in with the fourth side. LOL

zzvyb6 · Dec 8, 2015

Buy 1 or more shipping containers. Move the garage stuff to them. Put the vehicles in the garage. Shipping containers are getting pretty cheap now.

oldnslo · Dec 8, 2015

Mice like to eat in private so covering stuff with tarps just sets the dinner table for them. Open sheds and cats were the best deterrent we had on the dairy farm.

lutt · Dec 8, 2015

I'll second the cats, I keep a large supply of corn gluten mix, bulk mineral, sweet feed and some other feeds in my shop/barn. Including square hay bales. My barn cat keeps the mice cleaned out. Also, if you have your tractor in a shed, you can keep the hood opened and the mice will not build a nest in that area. That has been my experience anyway. LUTT

EddieWalker · Dec 9, 2015

If you build a fully enclosed, super duper, best barn every, you will still have mice. Only way to get rid of mice is to kill them faster then they can reproduce. Poison works good. Cats are OK, but in my opinion, it takes too many of them to make any sort of a significant difference.

newbury · Dec 9, 2015

In Michigan I think a combination of humans, cats and snakes would work very well as a mouse control in a 3 sided shed.

Humans to go out and "disturb" the equipment occasionally. Move the tractor, take the boat out, etc.
Cats on patrol.
And during the warm times when the mouse population tends to pop a good nest of snakes to chase them down.