Can mice get through weld mesh?

[ChickenCarol]

We have recently been getting mice and rats in our chicken enclosure. We know from droppings. We have spent days blocking up every possible gap but wonder if mice can get through one inch weld mesh. This is now the biggest gap left. We hope it was designed to keep everything out but are aware how tiny a gap a mouse may be able to get through. Anybody out there know the answer to this? Much appreciated.

[sandy]

Yes mice can get in through chicken wire. I have always had mice, nearly fall over them if I have to go down in the dark. I pick up any droppings(when I see any) when I poo pick girls in the morning. The one good thing is I know when I have mice I have not got rats

[pepi]

Yes mice can get in through chicken wire. I have always had mice, nearly fall over them if I have to go down in the dark. I pick up any droppings(when I see any) when I poo pick girls in the morning. The one good thing is I know when I have mice I have not got rats

Why does having mice preclude having rats Sandy??

If theres a mouse in your hen run there is a good chance the girls will catch it and eat it

[saint-spoon]

rats eat mice so the mice scarper

[Steve valentine]

Mice will easily get through 1" mesh, probably 1/2" too!

[pepi]

rats eat mice so the mice scarper

didnt know that (yuk!) - thanks

Mice have 'plates' in their skull which they can move to squeeze thru small spaces Ive read

[ock]

a mouse can get through a gap as thin as a pencil, I watched a rat squeeze through 1" wire mesh last year, as long as the skull can fit through the rest will follow

[sandy]

Our other visitors are green t*ts. Like Saint Spoon said rat will eat mice

[ChickenCarol]

Thanks for all your replies on this.

We have filled all gaps except of course the weld mesh and seem to have stopped the rats but not the mice which I think proves that you are right and they can get through it. As someone said it is easy enough to pick up a few mouse droppings with the morning poop pick so I think this is the best we can do.

I didn't know that rats ate mice.

Always something new to learn from you guys.

Thanks again.

[johnh123abc]

Just a thought, but do you lift their food and water in the evening? If there is no access to food and water overnight, this could help deter the mice. I lift mine after dusk each evening and replace with fresh in the morning before the girls get up.

[aishakali]

Just a thought, but do you lift their food and water in the evening? If there is no access to food and water overnight, this could help deter the mice. I lift mine after dusk each evening and replace with fresh in the morning before the girls get up.

Yes its a good idea to bring in food and water, but there is always going to be spillage that you can't pick up, so always something for mice to eat