Mice condo

[jmc]

Don't know if this is a new idea or one I subconsciously borrowed. For the barn mice smarter than the traps, what about providing them with little nesting containers in the barn that are more attractive to them than an engine compartment, for example. Then just periodically "evict" them. Like a milk jug on its side maybe stuffed with nesting material. What do mice look for in a nesting site?

 

[Alien]

My electric trap has been the best investment I have made for mice. Never had any luck with snap traps.
Not so sure on providing a 'nest' as they still need to eat electrical wiring in the vehicles and barn apart from the fact they poo over everything. Provide a nest and they will just breed more.

 

[check]

My electric trap has been the best investment I have made for mice. Never had any luck with snap traps.
Not so sure on providing a 'nest' as they still need to eat electrical wiring in the vehicles and barn apart from the fact they poo over everything. Provide a nest and they will just breed more.

Wow, Doug, that is a surprise. Snap traps with a little peanut butter have worked great for me!

 

[Alien]

I have all sorts of snap traps but everything just takes the bait even if I have it set on the tip of going off. I reckon they all sit and watch me and snigger. I use peanut butter in my electric trap.

 

[Alien]

Even with the electric trap they were taking bait at times. I found they were sneaking in the holes in the end, thus avoiding the metal plates. I modified it so they couldn't get in there. Rats are no problem. Gets them every time.
Pic shows the grid I used to stop them sneaking in the back door.

 

[Alien]

I have 2 containers. One for all my 'stuff' and one for stored household stuff and the 4x4 XUV. My wife always reminds me to close the containers before dark. However, a couple of nights ago I forgot.
This morning I opened mine and was sitting at the bench and needed a pack of zip ties. I reached up and pulled the pack from the wall and a mouse dropped down from behind it in amongst the stuff on my bench. I went and found an old cage trap and put some peanut butter in it and left it on my bench. 2 hours later I went and checked it. I opened the door and it was over 120 degrees in there. There was 2 mice in the trap, both dead from the heat. Seems like I needn't worry about rodents getting in there as there is no food or water and the heat will deal with them.

 

[oosik]

Every trap I've ever used has worked for a while. Then I got a resident barn cat. The cat eliminated MANY rodents( mice & chipmunks) and now its mere presence is the deterrent.

Trapping provided momentary satisfaction. Then I realized - for every rodent eliminated - there are two, or three, or four more waiting in the "wings" to come on down.

My property is dead smack in the middle of open range land. It's open range for tens and tens of miles in all directions. The idea of elimination is a fools folly. Deterrence is the only hope.

 

[bridge4]

"mouse houses" I have them all over my property and burn them every spring. Basically you just stack some wood or brush in a way the mice will be secure from predators and most weather, and they move right in. This, with OUTDOOR bait boxes and you will never see a mouse again, I can almost promise that.

Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Station-Mouse-Reusable-Against-Squirrels-Including/dp/B08GSCJ9X7/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=outdoor+bait+box&qid=1615114559&sr=8-4

Filled with little green poison OUTSIDE your barn, and you're all set. We used to kill dozens a week, started with this and don't have mice anymore. Its what the REALLY EXPENSIVE pro's will do.

The reason I'm told this works: Mice will look for food outside regularly, especially in a shop without real food around. They eat this, and don't make it back in, dying outside and out of your hair.

 

[Alien]

My trap worked well last night. Got a mouse and a rat.
I can't use poison as my wife is scared of it and I don't blame her. One of our dogs found a pellet once that a rat had dragged outside and she ate it. I saw her chewing on it and her mouth was all red from the pellet. Straight to the vet and then on vitamin D for 6 weeks. The poison works very well but even though they say it is not secondary, any vet will tell you it can be.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Mice condo? Ha! I saw some exotic animal vet show on TV yesterday where some woman brought in 3 mice for spaying! yes - she paid money to have her 3 pet mice spayed. Oh she cried and cried that the nature of those mice was to live 'only' about 900 days. She just loved on 'em like they were her children.

Different stokes for different folks I suppose. I won't be in that group though.