Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    
    About the electronic devices...  recent articles seem to say that they 
    are not that effective and that the noise may be more bothersome to the
    dogs and cats than to the pests.(flea collars, but could pertain to
    other devices).
    How about borrowing or renting a cat or even adopting one.  Or consider
    a small terrier, as they were originally used for ratting.  Sorry I
    can't offer anything better.  My cats work for me.... I'd be real
    hesitant about exterminators if chemicals are involved.
    
    MaryAnne

    Hi,
    
    Maryanne's comments sound good and, I too would be hesitant about
    the electronic device.  The way I understand it, they make it
    unpleasant for the insects, and if that is the case it must do something
    to other lifeforms too !                           
                                                   
    I have had mouse problems before and the mice never learned to avoid
    the traps. I always bought the real cheep ones (about 3 for $2),
    baited them with peanut butter and threw the trap away with each
    mouse. If you are reusing the traps it could be that they smell
    "DEATH" on the reused trap.  If that is the case you could either
    do as I do, or sterilize the trap. I like my way as I don't have
    to mess with this poor little furry creature I have just murdered,
    although I know it was necessary.             
                                                  
    Good luck                                     
    Doug                                          
                                                  
                                                  

    Get a Cat.  Your problems will be solved.  Get a female cat and you
    will never see a mouse again.  Just be sure that your birds are secure.
    I have 21 birds and 4 cats - and they are used to the birds and know
    that they cannot get them.  It may be another story if they had access
    to them in any way. (They are petrified of the large birds and the
    small birds are all hanging from the ceilings.)  If the birds are
    not accessible - the cats will ignore them after the first week or
    so.  (By the way, my cats have had their front claws out. It save on
    the furniture and on the large birds - should they ever get close
    to them (Unlikely though).
    
    Mouse traps are ok, but you will be forever using them, for the mice
    will continuously be entering for the food.  However, the word spreads
    in the mice world, when a cat is around.  They fear for their lives
    and avoid the area.  Therefore, you will not be killing the poor little
    guys and the cat will only have to sacrifice a few before word gets
    out.
    
    My son had a rat problem in his apartment in Boston when his was in
    school. Due to the construction that was going on in the surrounding
    buildings. He and his roomates tried everything from traps (They
    couldn't stand seeing the little guys dead - they felt like murderers)
    to poison - but could never get rid of them - they just kept coming in.
    I advised them to get a cat but one of the guys was alergic to cats -
    SO they just blocked all the holes in the house.  They then came in
    through the pipe for the stove.  But that's another story.
    
    Best of luck in your challenge!
    
    Denise

    I had a BAD mouse problem in my garage a few summers ago.  They were
    eating the bird seed I stored there.  I started using traps with peanut
    butter and throwing them away...I was catching 6 - 10 A DAY!, so it got
    too expensive.  Every couple of times I used a trap, I rinsed it with
    boiling water.  Still kept catching.  This went on for quite a while,
    until I caught the QUEEN RAT (or king).  It was so big, it ran away
    with the trap.  After that, no more mice (it's been 3  or 4 years now).
    
    My only problem was the dog, he likes to pick up the mice and bring them 
    in to the house (already in the traps of course!).  In the places he was, 
    I used the enclosed traps...they look like little mailboxes.
    
    The mice were smart enough to avoid the sticky and cardboard traps, but
    I guess the giant hunk of peanut butter on the mechanical trap was too
    much for them.
    
    Happy hunting,
    cheryl
    
    

    We had some mice in the basement the first spring, but the cats (4) got
    both the young ones and the parents.  The ugly part was the 'trophies'
    the cats bestowed on the living room rug.  Then no mice.  After a 
    heavy rainfall once since then, another trophy appeared.  That has
    been the extent of it.  We have more trouble with the moths in the
    bird room, but that is another subject!
    
    If you decide to adopt a cat, consider the Nashoba Valley Animal
    Humane Society in Lancaster where they specialize in cats and kittens.
    They sometimes get a 'mouser' with a known ability to rid the premises
    of mice.  Other humane societies also sometimes get these types of
    cats, and they are not always 'barn' cats (the ones that supposedly
    do this best), but are housecats (all ours are indoor cats only).
    
    Linda

    We used a round trash can with peanut butter & seeds.  place a ramp
    to the lip and they fall in.  in the morning put the them out side
    for the cats.  this works well for mice but rats are something else.
    
    

>We have more trouble with the moths in the
 bird room, but that is another subject!

The moths you are seeing are more than likely from your bird food.  When the
seeds are gathered for feed, alot of time insect larvae is gathered as well.
The result?  When the food is kept in a warm location, the larvae hatches and
you got "moths."  These flying vermin live for a very short time, and tend to
"commit suicide" around any type of liquid.  [Cover your drinks!]  

Once you become infested with them [yuck] you had a bear of a time getting rid
of them [I remember it well].  I made terrible mistake of initially keeping my
bird food in the food closet years ago while living in an apartment.  How did
I finally get rid of them?  I threw out all my food-- and then MOVED!  

How to avoid them:  As soon as you purchase your food, throw it in the freezer
for a day or two.  Then, once open, keep it in the fridge!

Now, back to the mouse conversations!

Regards, 
Marcia

    re .6  (trash can method)
    
    I love it!!!!