Help, help, help. MICE.

Ok, need assistance.

I am in an apartment, fairly old. Definitely were mice here before I got here. I consider this normal-- it's an old building.

I am fairly certain the birds have provided a feast of food and bedding material. For some reason it really went nuts a couple months ago. I'm cleaning daily and dumping food, but mice are wily. AND BOLD. Saw one climbing the bars of Stitch's cage a couple days ago and that was just-- it. Oh my god.

So, I guess I have to set traps? I already tried a humane trap and it failed. I may call maintenance to try to get them to plug a couple holes but I don't want them to use glue traps, which are horribly cruel.

What about the plug-in supersonic things? Thinking those would upset the fids?

Thanks for any advice.

Sorry about your troubles.... Mice are no fun. I also like any humane trap over a kill trap any day, though, I mean, that's my opinion. Totally respect other people's opinion. I would try every possible humane trap, and then finally resort to kill traps, as I don't think birds are very safe around mice....

I agree. Do what you can with the humane ones but if they don't work, do what you need to to get rid of the mice. They are unwanted guests in your home. Your birdie's safety and health must be the priority.

A few months back, I had a problem with fruit rats. They are very cmmon here in Florida. I got those supersonic plug ins, and put one in every room. The fids were not affected at all. I called the company before using them. They said they would not affect pets, except rodents. My birds have been fine. No problems. And there's been no rats. They do make a slight low buzz, which you get used to, and we don't really hear anymore.

Every few years a new crop of ultimate remedies and/or devices hits the market. The remedies I don’t know about, but the ultrasonic and subsonic devices, both the battery operated and the ones you plug into an electrical outlet, ARE NOT effective at driving off or preventing the return of the insects or vermin that they claim.

In the 1980s, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission warned companies about deceptive marketing claims for such products. For a while the devices faded from the market, however, a new crop of marketing hypesters are offering their ‘ultimate’ products (2009), for anywhere from $6.99 USD to $699 USD.

What these devices are very good at is separating the buyer from their money, nothing more.


The consensus of researchers who have actually investigated ultrasonic devices is these products do not effectively repel or eliminate pests from homes.”

Leonard R. Askham, in an article Ultrasonic and Subsonic Pest Control Devices, posted on the Washington State Extension Communications and Educational Support website states:

“Testing has also shown that the sounds don’t carry far. About half of the energy is gone in 15 feet. None remains at 30 feet.”

Askham goes on to state:

“….. ultrasonics and recently subsonics have been tested extensively in the laboratory and field. These devices don’t work. Animals placed in cages next to the devices continue to live normal lives.”

The best kind of live trap for mice has doors on both ends, like this one:
10 in Extra Small 2 Door Live Trap for Rats and Mice | Havahart
Back when I lived out in the boonies in an old farm house we would have a bunch of those sort of traps all over the house to try and keep the indoor mouse population down. Good luck!

BillsBirds said:

A few months back, I had a problem with fruit rats. They are very cmmon here in Florida. I got those supersonic plug ins, and put one in every room. The fids were not affected at all. I called the company before using them. They said they would not affect pets, except rodents. My birds have been fine. No problems. And there's been no rats. They do make a slight low buzz, which you get used to, and we don't really hear anymore.

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I like those, on occasion we would get a rat in the kitchen, my parents usually use poison, I don't like it as the rat can get out and poison wildlife but it is effective. We live near the hills and sometimes see them run across backyard fences or up a tree(really creepy but at least outside). Maybe someone in the neighborhood has a infestation, we set up those supersonic plugs and never get them now.

I have heard that the sonic plug ins work to a point. I'd also advise not to use snap traps unless you can ensure a bird or other animal will not get caught in them. You can use poison which overdoses the rat or mouse in vitamin k which makes them bleed internally. You can get bait boxes and set outside, here is a website selling one: Protecta Mouse Bait Station

I'd try this as it is outside and it locks so no other outside critters can get in.