Posted 2007-05-03 10:11 AM (#60357) Subject: Keeping Mice out of tack room!
Regular
Posts: 63 Location: Missouri
I'm building a new barn and will be also be building my new tackroom. I plan on getting a good barn cat, but I was wondering if there are any tricks I can try as i pour the concrete and build the walls for my tackroom that will keep the mice out. Thanks for any help. Natalee
Posted 2007-05-03 2:50 PM (#60368 - in reply to #60357) Subject: RE: Keeping Mice out of tack room!
Regular
Posts: 58 Location: Clearwater, MN
The only thing I can suggest is what I did with mine. I made it a separate room and put a real exterior door on it. It may be overkill, but with walls properly built all the way to the ground, a ceiling, and a real door with a threshold, I have had no mice. I had problems in the past with mice and vowed never to lose any more tack! I keep the door closed at all times, even if I am walking out and know I will be back as quickly as I turn around. It was a little more expensive (I insulated the walls, painted, and put down a vinyl floor) but I have not had a mouse in it for over 5 years.
My biggest piece of advice is that exterior, sealing door leaving no gaps for them to get in, otherwise, I don't think you will ever keep them out!!
Posted 2007-05-03 3:21 PM (#60370 - in reply to #60357) Subject: RE: Keeping Mice out of tack room!
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
I agree with the above post. The best advice I can give you is about grain storage and saddle care.
Store grain in rodent proof containers, metal bins or trash cans work well as long as you keep the lid on them. Rodents hate chewing through metal, but any other material is fair game.
Don't stack saddles on top of each other. Storing saddle pads between stacked saddles is another big NO NO!
Another bit of helpful info is that rodents hate to climb, the reason you see chicken coops on stilt like legs is to keep rodents out. Hang your saddles high enough that they won't shimmy up the stirrups. Keeping the floor clean is another big deterrent. I mean spray pine-sol on it weekly and you'll also see the amount of bugs drop-off. Playing the radio can also keep them on edge. Lastly, keep mouse traps on hand. I'm not a huge fan of rat poison, our neighbor lost a cutting horse(very high dollar mare)to poison somehow but we never got the whole story.
Posted 2007-05-03 4:23 PM (#60371 - in reply to #60357) Subject: RE: Keeping Mice out of tack room!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
Despite having a good sealed tack room AND keeping the door closed, I did get mice-they wanted to eat the chipboard siding. It is amazing how small a hole they can get through. I got 8" high metal flashing and fastened it all along the bottom, after filling the holes with expanding foam. No more mice.
Posted 2007-05-03 7:46 PM (#60381 - in reply to #60357) Subject: RE: Keeping Mice out of tack room!
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
You can also use lidded containers. I have one for halters, winter blankets during the summer and saddle blankets (after they are dry!) and one for all the stuff I had to have and for some reason never use. It helps keep down the "nesting" items. I keep them on a shelf and they make the tack room look nice and neat.
Posted 2007-05-03 11:48 PM (#60384 - in reply to #60357) Subject: RE: Keeping Mice out of tack room!
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 479 Location: central sierra nevada foothills
Uh,..............make sure they are not rubbermaid tubs, them suckers will eat through those.....................just use rat kill or what ever rodent poison you can, that' s what we do, but we are out on 750 acres too, and cats don't hang out long at our place either, they come by eat and leave. Poison is good for us, no problems now..........................
Posted 2007-05-04 9:05 AM (#60399 - in reply to #60357) Subject: RE: Keeping Mice out of tack room!
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
Very true about the snakes, but it is a little disconcerting when they have woven themselves through the stall bars and are at your eyeball level. I KNEW he wasn't poisonous but it didn't make me want to stay and get acquainted with him!