O.T. Mice deterants

D.B. in Mi. · Dec 20, 2010

I have a 48x32 pole barn that I want to start insulating one end of for a work area.It has normal polebarn steel siding.My question is what would be the best thing to us to seal up the bottom opennings in the siding to keep the mice from getting in?I thought about spray foam or chunks of steelwool to fill the gaps. has anyone ever really dealt with the mice this way and what did you use?

Nebraska Cowman · Dec 20, 2010

I don't think you'll ever keep them out. Just remove
all food sources and keep poison out.

GeneMO · Dec 20, 2010

Lots of pussies!

Gene

VicS · Dec 20, 2010

My son is insulating his shop/house with closed cell
foam. It stops all the air coming in and all the
holes.$1.70 sq ft. But it doesn't stop the mice. I
think they are getting in the large double doors.He
has set lots of traps and all kinds plus poison.
lots of luck.

barn E · Dec 20, 2010

Father in law used to run his car for and hour and swore that would kill them all. Don't let it get you! Forgot how he shut off the car. Dave

Lou from Wi. · Dec 20, 2010

Just for a little helpful advise, they make brass wool, it won't rust up on the steel tin for the building,mice also hate it, cuts their nose and face.What we use in our garage is sonic repellers.They do work for us, had no mice since we put them in, just have to locate them where the sound will travel around equipment,otherwise the equip blocks the sound waves.Hope this helps. LOU

Detmurds · Dec 20, 2010

Cleanliness is very helpful,..I had a mess (no food either) on my barn's workbench and I went in there this summer, started working on something and a rat about 10 inches long hopped off the bench and ran out of the barn. I cleaned it off, and no problems now.

johndeereman · Dec 20, 2010

only thing i know that repels them is moth balls after there in need poison and if they want in they will get in no matter what they will just eat the spray foam so dont waste your time or money on that

wijim · Dec 20, 2010

They make bottom trim for that,That would be the best. Jim

TonyIN · Dec 21, 2010

Not sure I have a solution, but do know:

1. Almost impossible to seal enough to keep them out. Seen them run right up the side of brick houses, wood siding too, just to find another way in. Not sure about metal siding, but they can fit through a very very small opening. Pay attention to all your other gaps.

2. Steel wool will not stop them. It will eventually kill them once they eat it. Then you wait for the smell to find them. Had one do that to a triple layer mesh HVAC filter - looks a lot like steel wool. Ate a hole through it about the size of a quarter. Found him dead in the ductwork. Took some bleach and serious scrubbing to rid the system of the smell.

Not sure of how your floor meets up to the siding, but you may look into a concrete pour around the perimeter.

Good luck.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 21, 2010

A carpet snake [python]or two.

ohiojim · Dec 21, 2010

they make a trim called rat gaurd that will keep them out if intalled properly

Bartt · Dec 21, 2010

Mice hate the smell of peppermint. If you can afford it.

R2D2 · Dec 21, 2010

Anonymous-0 · Dec 21, 2010

This year has been bad for mice. I saw them run sideways along the house and keeped up with me as I walked. So I put out the Black and Decker ultrasonic repellers and haven't seen any more poops so it seems they are staying away.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 21, 2010

And keep the poison out....... I judge the need of poison by mice that make it in the house (everything is attached at our place). As soon as we hear something in the wall, I buy poison and put it out in the room closest to the house. Try to keep it out of the barn because of cats, owls, little falcons, and weisels that hang out there.
This year, I went through almost 8 pounds of poison before there started being left over in the pile in the morning. Things are quiet now.

Dave

NY 986 · Dec 21, 2010

The local seed producers and dealers put down mothballs. They put down enough to where the smell overwhelms you when you walk in. Ultrasonic chasers are a mixed bag as some have had good luck and some have had no luck. Depends what you want to spend on it and probably see the electric bill go up a couple of bucks but would be worth it not to see them. I don't know who said a snake on here but unless the shop is stoked to 70 to 75 degrees a snake is not doing anything this time of year in the Great Lakes region. Some years I think they are active for only 5 months (barely) out of the year. We have a couple cats that are excellent mousers so we definitely do not use poison (and it seems the rodents just bypass it anyways).

Crem · Dec 21, 2010

TonyIN,

I think that your idea about a concrete pour around the perimeter is a good one. The next thing is to get the door to seal. I use those outside mouse feeders around my buildings and make sure that every spot under the overhead doors is sealed. They can still get in when you have the door open. I keep some mouse bait inside for that and can see if it is being used and then if I see any activity I set a trap. I rarely ever see any mouse activity but it only takes one little open spot and they will be in.

John B. · Dec 21, 2010

I used the foam to seal off the ribs in my shed at the foundation. Works good!

JayinNY · Dec 21, 2010

I dont think they can climb up metal, I had one get into a half full garbage can of sunflower seeds I left the lid off of, he couldent get out. I grabed it and threw out the open garage door, and it landed in the back of my pickup. 5 hours and 3 miles later when I got to the farm he was still running around back there. The box isent empty there was a bale of hay in it and snow loose hay ect. I cant believe it couldent find a way to climb out. Either dumb, or to full from eating my bird seeds! I dropped the tail gate and shooed it out.

S2710 · Dec 21, 2010

I had a real bad mouse problem and the way I cured it was a woods cat showed up and I started feeding it everyday just a little to keep it here and not enough to fill it up. I have no mice no ground squrrels and no rabbits. I have poison out and nothing touches it. Life is good with no mice and I also am a cat HATER but some times you have to BEND. Bob

jrh009 · Dec 21, 2010

They make inside and outside closed cell foam inserts for all steel types of siding. If you installed a drip flashing or have a bottom horizontal member that you are fastening the steel to just insert the foam closure before installing the bottom fasteners.

The foam gets squeezed in between and creates a seal. They come in pieces matching the steel sheet widths. You can also keep them in place with sealer tape or a light bead of silicone caulking as some times the steel may over lapping an uneven masonry or concrete foundation.

You have to make your supplier look up the accessories that go with your siding. The sales guys usually don't want to spend the extra time on these items.

D.B. in Mi. · Dec 21, 2010

I appreciat all the differant ideals. Not sure what I will use, but now I know what my options are. This is going to be A nice winter project, while work is slow. Thanks again and Happy Holidays to everyone.

wolfman · Dec 21, 2010

Mice are kinda like politicians. They aggravate you
year round.

D.B. in Mi. · Dec 21, 2010

(quoted from post at 18:52:42 12/21/10) Mice are kinda like politicians. They aggravate you
year round.

That is true.

JDseller · Dec 23, 2010

My barns have a "L" shaped piece of steel that is put on first and then the siding sets on the short piece of the "L". There is no gap for the mice to get in. The foam that is for air seal will not stop mice from coming in. They just chew through it and in they come.

O.T. Mice deterants

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