mouse deterrant.....winters coming

[CTMassey]

I keep my MF 1529 in a "Cover-it/Shelterlogic" type shed.Since winter is coming, what are everyones thoughts and ideas on keeping mice away from the tractor??..Hate to think about the damage they could cause.......

 

[greasemonkeyok]

They are called barn cats.

 

[ray66v]

Have you seen weatherproof "outdoor" mouse bait?

I put some around the perimeter of my barn in the fall, and it seems to knock them off before they move inside.

They sell containers you can put the bait in, if you have pets.

Amazon.com: Tomcat All Weather Bait Chunx, 4 Lb: Everything Else

 

[oldballs]

All of my motorized equipment is stored outside under canvas tarps. I use "Tomcat" mouse bait stations, with three kinds of poisons which are rotated periodically. The same goes for the tool shed. After 35 years, no infestations or damages have been noted. Inside the house I use the good old mouse traps, but seldom spring one year after year.

 

[Clint S]

I have a few of these in the barn and garage. Fill with non toxic antifreeze in winter if you so choose. Check once a week or so. They keep on working until the bait is gone.
bucket mouse trap - Bing Videos

 

[RichZ]

As was said before, barn cats are the best solution. Moth balls do a good job of keeping rodents away.

 

[creekbend]

They are called barn cats.

I agree. There are various types of methods that can be used, but cats have hunted vermin for untold ages. Their hunting techniques, utilizing stealth and patience, are a proven eradication method in mouse and rat infestation. Besides they seem to always be hungry, and if they are not hungry, they will continue to kill mice and rats, as if they obtain pleasure from the Act. Works for me, but may not apply in your situation. Best of success and good luck.

 

[SSdoxie]

A couple good cats and moth balls under the hood in case one gets past the cat.

 

[tnmike]

Peppermint oil works. A small jar with several cotton balls in it each with four or five drops of oil. You can get it at any health food store. Mice and rats hate it.

 

[Combustix]

I find dead mice, moles, shrews and other bits that are unidentified from various creatures attempting to gain access to house and garage. My two barn cats are killers and work better than any trap I ever set

 

[dusty3030]

One more for a cat. We've got three spayed females. They kill em for fun.

 

[5030]

I find dead mice, moles, shrews and other bits that are unidentified from various creatures attempting to gain access to house and garage. My two barn cats are killers and work better than any trap I ever set

Problem with barn cats (we have about 30 or so), is they wee on everything in addition to keeping rodents in check, a very undesireable side effect. A good mouser is also a good wee'r I've found.

What we do here when we put tractors up for the winter is put a couple dryer sheets in the cabs or on the floorboards if it's an open station.

That keeps the rodents from building a home in places that you deem undesireable in the spring, air cleaners, under seat cushions, in the dash, under the hood and everywhere else you would presume they would never build a nest.

 

[Combustix]

5030. So for no indoor leaks. I built them a sandbox with a roof for when it rains. Just need to keep the box clean or they use the gravel driveway. Everything we have gets neutered which is how you get them from a shelter. We have had good luck with free cats on cl as well.

 

[CTMassey]

Thanks everyone, we have 2 indoor/outdoor cats that leave me "gifts" regularly, but the shed is 250 feet from the house, I've heard of the dryer sheets, and also peppermint sprigs, but not the oil. I will probaly use both and maybe some enclosed traps as well as the kids/dogs/cats may get into them......any more input is appreciated..!!

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I'm almost afraid to ask... Other than building nests, whoat do the mice do?

I have guineas, chickens and ducks, Barn cats are not likely right now.

At the moment, my tractor is outside, but I'm going to store it an a big metal shed once I make the door opening large enough.

I did not know I needed to fear mice...

David

 

[North Country]

I'm almost afraid to ask... Other than building nests, whoat do the mice do?

I have guineas, chickens and ducks, Barn cats are not likely right now.

At the moment, my tractor is outside, but I'm going to store it an a big metal shed once I make the door opening large enough.

I did not know I needed to fear mice...

David

The nest is the problem. In addition to chewing up anything that you find dear to make the nest (seat stuffing, wire insulation, etc) they **** and **** where they sleep and corrosion becomes a problem.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Rats smell the oils on anything you handle (like wires) and chew it thinking there is food under the insulation, seat covers, etc.

 

[RickB]

They like D-Con better than wiring & insulation here. I started feeding them about 2 weeks ago. Our cats will catch birds, small rabbits and moles, but rarely bother with mice. Go Figure.

 

[Mace Canute]

Ever notice that mice never build a nest where it isn't well hidden? They don't like their nests to be exposed to open air at all! Doing everything you can to eliminate choice nesting sites helps a lot, like leaving the hood raised.

Strangest place I ever saw a mouse nest (and it definitely was a mouse nest...not a bird's nest) was in the head of a street light atop a 30 foot steel standard. The mouse gained access to the inside of the standard where the underground wire came into the concrete base from the trench and then had to have crawled up the Norlex conductor inside the standard to the head! Quite the feat considering the number of trips needed to accumulate enough material to build a good sized nest!

 

[jimmyj]

I am going to try the peppermint thing this winter as the mothballs did not work too well for me. Our cats eat a lot of them, but if you can lay your hands on a weasel, now that's a mouse killer!

I hate mice, they mess on everything and chew wires etc, rotten vermin.

In our chicken coop we use a poison bait station but our best controller is a skunk who keeps them totally in check. He steals a few eggs but not many so it's a cooperative deal we have with him.