If you’ve noticed rodent activity around your chicken coop, you’re probably wondering:
Can chickens get sick from eating rat poop? Unfortunately, the answer is yes — and the health risks can be serious. Rodents in your coop don’t just eat feed and create messes; they can also transmit dangerous diseases through their droppings, urine, and fur.

In this article, we’ll explore the dangers of rats and mice in your coop, how chickens are affected by exposure to rat feces, and natural ways to repel rodents using herbs — including how my Nesting Box Herbs and Cooling Herbs can help protect your flock.

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🐔 Can Chickens Get Sick from Rat or Mouse Droppings?

Yes, chickens can get sick from eating or pecking near rat or mouse droppings. Rodents often carry bacteria, viruses, and parasites that pose a real risk to your flock.

🦠 Common Diseases Spread by Rat Poop in Chicken Coops

Here are a few illnesses your flock may be exposed to through contaminated droppings:

• Salmonella – Found in rodent feces; causes lethargy, diarrhea, and drop in egg production
• Leptospirosis – Bacterial infection spread via urine or contaminated water
• Coccidiosis – Rodents can introduce this parasite by contaminating feed or bedding
• Avian Influenza – While not common, rodents can track viruses into your coop from wild birds
• Hantavirus – While rare in chickens, this virus can be carried in rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. Chickens may not show symptoms, but it poses a serious risk to humans cleaning contaminated areas in the coop. Use proper cleaning protocols and protective gear when cleaning up signs of rodents.

These diseases can weaken your chickens’ immune systems and spread rapidly if not addressed. Chickens may also eat spilled feed contaminated with rodent feces, putting them at direct risk.

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🧪 Can Chickens Get Sick from Rats That Have Ingested Poison?

Yes, and it’s a serious risk many backyard chicken owners overlook.

If a rat or mouse eats poison (rodenticide) and then dies in or near your chicken coop, your flock could ingest secondary poison by pecking at the carcass — especially if your birds free-range or are curious about dead rodents. Chickens can also peck at poison-contaminated droppings left behind by rats before they die.

⚠️ Symptoms of Rat Poison Exposure in Chickens:

• Lethargy or sudden drop in activity
• Pale combs and wattles (due to internal bleeding)
• Blood in droppings or from the vent
• Sudden death without prior signs of illness

This is one reason I never recommend using chemical rat poisons around coops. Instead, focus on natural rodent deterrents like sealing gaps, keeping feed secure, and using herbs that repel rats — like peppermint, rosemary, and lavender (found in my Nesting Box Herbs).

🧹 How to Prevent Rats and Mice in Your Chicken Coop

Prevention is the best protection. Here are simple, effective ways to keep rodents out of your coop and away from your feed, nesting boxes, and flock.

✅ 1. Keep Chicken Feed Covered and Elevated

Use rodent-proof feeders and store feed in metal bins with tight lids. Elevating feeders can also deter climbing pests.

✅ 2. Seal Gaps and Entry Points of Chicken Coop

Mice can squeeze through holes as small as a dime. Use hardware cloth to seal holes around the base, vents, and corners of your coop.

✅ 3. Clean Up Chicken Food Scraps Daily

Don’t leave treats or scraps overnight. Clean up uneaten feed or spilled grains every evening.

✅ 4. Use Herbs that Repel Rodents (Yes, It Works!)

Certain herbs are natural rodent deterrents — and they’re safe for your chickens too! Many of these are already found in my Nesting Box Herbs and Cooling Herbs.

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🌿 Herbs That Naturally Repel Rats and Mice

Did you know that many common culinary and garden herbs naturally deter rodents thanks to their strong scents and essential oils? Here are some that do double duty — they support your chickens while helping keep pests away:

🌸 From Nesting Box Herbs:

• Peppermint – A powerful scent that masks food smells and repels rodents. Mice hate it!
• Lavender – Not only calming to hens, but also off-putting to rodents due to its strong fragrance.
• Rosemary – Excellent for respiratory health in chickens and discourages rodents from nesting nearby.
• Parsley – Mildly deterrent and nutrient-rich, perfect for your flock.
• Chamomile – Known for its soothing effects, also has subtle pest-repelling properties.

❄️ From Cooling Herbs:

• Peppermint (again!) – Found in both blends, it’s one of the best herbs for natural rodent control.
• Lemon Balm – The citrusy scent is unpleasant to rodents but loved by chickens.
• Hibiscus – While not a strong deterrent on its own, it adds nutrition and flavor chickens enjoy.

You can sprinkle these herb blends around the coop, inside nesting boxes, or even mix them into bedding, scratch grains, or fodder to enhance both their benefits and scent.

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💡 How I Use My Herbs to Deter Rodents

In my own coop, I’ve been using my Nesting Box Herbs in nesting areas and corners where mice used to sneak in. Not only do my hens love scratching through them, but I’ve also noticed a sharp decline in rodent activity, especially when I refresh the herbs weekly.

In summer, I switch to Cooling Herbs, which are especially helpful when chickens are dealing with heat stress. The added peppermint and lemon balm keep the coop fresh-smelling — and rodents don’t stick around when those oils are in the air.

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🐀 Can Chickens Get Sick from Rat Fur?

Yes — even if your chickens don’t eat rat droppings, rat hair and fur can carry harmful pathogens, bacteria, and parasites.

Rodents often nest in warm, hidden areas of the coop — like under nesting boxes or in bedding — leaving behind hair, dander, and oils from their fur that can:

• Contaminate feed and water
• Irritate the respiratory system
• Trigger skin issues or feather picking in sensitive hens

Rats and mice often groom themselves in bedding areas, shedding fur and spreading bacteria, mites, or even fleas without you seeing them.

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🕷️ Parasites Chickens Can Get from Rats and Mice

Rodents don’t just carry disease — they can also bring in external parasites that cause discomfort and illness in your flock.

🪳 Common Parasites Rodents Can Introduce to Chickens:

• Mites – Tiny blood-sucking pests that cause feather loss, itching, and anemia
• Lice – Lay eggs at the base of feathers, causing irritation and drop in egg laying
• Fleas – May cause scabbing, stress, and transmit bacteria
• Ticks – Though less common, mice can carry them into the coop

Once these pests get into your bedding or nesting material, they spread fast — especially in warm or humid weather. That’s another reason I always recommend using herbs like peppermint, lavender, and rosemary (which naturally repel parasites and support calm, clean nesting areas) in your nesting boxes and bedding areas.

You can find those in both my Nesting Box Herbs and Cooling Herbs blends.

🛑 Signs You Might Have a Rodent Problem in the Coop

Worried that mice or rats are sneaking into your setup? Here are some signs to look for:

• Droppings near feeders or nesting boxes
• Scratching or rustling sounds at night
• Feed disappearing quickly with no sign of waste
• Nibbled holes in feed bags or coop corners
• Disturbed nesting material or eggs

If you spot any of these signs, it’s time to act fast — not only for your chickens’ health, but also for your peace of mind.

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🐓 Extra Tip: Make Your Coop Less Inviting to Rodents

• Use deep-clean bedding methods like pine shavings over straw, which rodents like to nest in.
• Keep compost and trash bins far from the coop.
• Set up natural deterrents like owl decoys or motion lights.
• Add herbs into nesting boxes, bedding, and near coop entryways regularly.

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🛍️ Where to Get Rodent-Repelling Herbs

Looking for a simple, safe way to keep rats and mice out while supporting your hens?

Check out my handcrafted herbal blends here:
🪺 Nesting Box Herbs for Chickens
❄️ Cooling Herbs for Chickens

They’re made with real herbs I trust and use in my own flock — and they’re perfect for year-round coop care.

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🐭 Final Thoughts: Keep Your Coop Clean, Dry & Herbal

So, can chickens get sick from eating rat poop? Yes — and it’s not worth the risk. But by keeping a clean, rodent-proof coop and using natural herbal solutions, you can protect your flock and keep your coop smelling fresh and inviting (to chickens, not pests!).

Start small. Sprinkle some herbs in your nesting boxes or near known rodent entry points, and see the difference for yourself.