Do Parrots attract Mice? + How to get rid

Parrots do not attract mice per se, but it’s the surroundings that are alluring to mice. The leftovers and the seeds act as bait for mice. Hence, leaving the parrot’s cage in a mess or not cleaning the leftovers will certainly attract mice.

Don’t be disheartened that keeping a parrot will mean inviting rodents. As long as you take adequate care in maintaining and preserving the bird’s vicinity clean, things should be fine.

What do Mice find attractive in Parrot Cages?

Mice will grab the opportunity to eat anything they deem edible. As omnivores, they will eat anything that crosses their path. But they do have their preference in food, such as grains and seeds. And they will usually find these foods in parrot cages.

Well, because they are parrot’s likable foods too. And this is the main reason why keeping parrots would mean having a possible mice-problem.

Mice find the parrot’s cage alluring because of the food and water lying around. The trays of seeds, bowls of veggies, and water are no less than a feast or a buffet to mice. The longer you keep the leftover items in the cage, the higher the chances of mice paying frequent visits to your bird’s cage.

That’s not all. Besides the food, mice find the cage also attractive as a shelter. This situation usually happens if you place the cage outdoors and haven’t equipped it with a mouse-proof system.

Mice usually like cages in dark, dry, warm places and an abundant supply of food and water.

Can Mice cause trouble to Parrots?

Yes, indeed! Mice can bring along several risks for your parrot. What are they? Let’s find out.

  • They carry bacteria and other diseases which can be contagious for birds and humans alike. They can pass on these risks by contaminating food and water or leaving behind droppings and urine.
  • Besides, mice also carry fleas and mites that can infest your home and your bird, of course.
  • Other than being a threat of passing on diseases, they can be perilous too. If you have a nesting parrot, their little ones could be in danger. These rodents can devour the eggs or the little hatchlings. 
  • Your bird could end up starving if the mice eat up all the food.
  • Being excellent chewers, mice can chew down on the cage, the bird’s toys, and containers, causing destruction.

Signs of Mice infesting the Parrot Cage

The most obvious sign to see if mice have invaded your bird’s cage is witnessing one. You could stumble upon them on one of your trips to the cage. Other than that, here are some signs indicating mice infesting your bird’s cage.

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  • Fecal wastes around the dark places where mice can hide. Their droppings are tiny little black pellets. 
  • Scratches and bite marks on wood, cages, perches, cage walls, or nest boxes.
  • Pungent smell like Ammonia.
  • Shreds of paper or other materials in the bird’s nest.
  • Parrot making sudden noise at night when they should be sleeping.

What’s the solution to Mice problems in My Bird Cage?

The first method to get rid of mice problems is to clean the cage. Remove the leftovers from seeds and veggies and clear the water. Once the cage is empty, clean the cage, food containers, and water bowls well with disinfectants.

Once you are done-and-dusted with a thorough cleaning, the following are few ways to banish all the mice in the vicinity.

  • The easiest means to do away with mice is by placing mousetraps in certain places except in the bird’s cage. You can use the humane mouse traps where you catch and release the mouse. Or you can use those that trap and kill. 
  • Another reasonable option is using poisons and baits. Follow the instructions on the product package and keep them away from children. Also, do not place them in the bird’s cage as that would threaten the bird.
  • If the above two options don’t work, call an exterminator. 

Try not to employ an outdoor cat to kill the mice, as they could even kill your bird too. Instead, you can gather cat litter and scatter it in places where mice tread often.

How to fend off Mice from attacking my Parrot Cage?

Keeping the parrot cage clean at all times is the best possible way to prevent mice from infesting your birdcage. You have done everything to get rid of the mice. Now all you need to ensure is to keep everything tidy so that they don’t visit again.

Make a conscious effort to routinely clean the cage and remove seed casings and seeds out of the bowl. Also, try not to leave fresh food in the cage overnight.

Another helpful tip is to place the bowls and trays at a place where the mice can’t reach. For instance, placing them on the cage floor will be easily accessible. But if you hang them from the cage roof, mice may not reach them. Also, mice can climb up mesh and timber, so keep the utensils away from those places.

If you have a small cage, you may hang all of it from the roof or a cage stand.

Storing parrot food in sealed containers is a good habit too.

If there are any openings in the cage, you may want to cover them up as mice can cram through them. They find it easy to enter a parrot cage. So, it’d be best to add a metal sheet layer at the cage’s base so that they can’t climb up.

You can also cover the cage floors or avoid placing the cage right on the ground. Instead, you could put them on a concrete floor or paving stones to prevent the mice from burrowing from the ground.

FAQs

Q.  Do Mice Eat Parrots?

A. Mice are freeloaders and do not prey on live birds or animals. So they probably won’t eat a bird as big as a parrot. But they can surely prey on parrot eggs from a nest and may even defend themselves from a parrot if they see the bird as a threat.

Q. Do Parrots Eat Mice?

A. Yes, parrots can eat mice. Like mice, parrots are also omnivores, and they usually eat meat from snakes and mice. Some species of parrots don’t feed on flesh altogether. The alpine species from New Zealand, called the Kea, loves to eat meat.

Conclusion

Let’s sum up what we have understood by answering the question at hand. Do parrots attract mice? Well, not directly but through their food, water, and shelter. As long as you keep the surroundings of the cage clean and don’t leave leftover foods overnight, you can keep the mice at bay. Another important aspect is the place where you keep the cage and how. Try not to keep it in a dry, dark, and warm place and mouse-proof it as much as you can.