Laura007 Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 a large peice of land not for from where we live is being dug ove for a new fire station to be built. well, since its been started we seem to have a visitor in ours and next doors garden. a rat. i think there is only one, but it is taunting me!!!!!! it seems to have a liking for the chicken feed. we are taking the feed in at night when the chooks have gone to bed, but any suggestions for the day????? the main food is in a metal dustbind so that s ok, its the bit in the run. they give me the creeps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Put down some poison or baited traps laura Ideally call the council and let them deal with it. If you explain that it has come from a new development, they will be sympathetic. You'll never have just one rat..... so keep the traps down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 We have problems too Laura. Rats are getting into both my runs now & I have to trudge all the Grubs in every night,which ia a right pain in the you know what! Brian is building 2 new rat proof pens so hopefully we should be sorted soon...........but however much we bait they still seem to be there We have had rats before,but never as many as this year.The Hubby once shot a dozen in a day. On the plus side for you,at least you will have firemen near you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Baited poison boxes worked well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 I've got some mouse ones down indoors at the moment - the cats will keep bringing in mice, then letting them go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Baited poison boxes worked well for me. spot on - worked for me too. I now have a collection of 4 plastic bait boxes (under a fiver each). I haven't had to have them out for months - but before that the rats used to stand in the chicken run, eating from the feeders, grinning at me. Poor old Reggie and Ronnie rat, I actually got to rather like them. but now they are gone ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted December 22, 2007 Share Posted December 22, 2007 I have rats under the Eglu again.... I thought I had made it rat-proof by putting huge and expensive metal grids underneath. It worked for a while: the rats tunnelled in from the sides and back of the Eglu (they know to avoid the skirt), and were trying to get up in the run but bumping their heads. But they obviously did some observations from on top, and made a new, longer tunnel and were in. I don't think it is possible to stop rats getting under the Eglu. They are just too clever. I find it much easier to keep an eye on the Cube, and of course there is nowhere nice and warm for them to nest. It feels too cold and miserable to go and dig the rats' nest out, so I will block the holes for the moment. They seem to be looking for warmth rather than food, because they haven't touched the pellets my messy eaters left on the ground. (Needless to say, I bring the feeders in each night.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 22, 2007 Share Posted December 22, 2007 Paving slabs work. The whole run has to be on them though....not just the edges. They try...but can't get in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted December 22, 2007 Share Posted December 22, 2007 I don't think my hens get out of the run enough for me to put them on paving slabs. Digging holes is one of the few pleasures they have. I froze to death yesterday while the hens had some fun out. Isn't winter awful? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 22, 2007 Share Posted December 22, 2007 Just a suggestion....why not put them on slabs and then give them a tubtrug or similar full of sand/earth.compost to dust bathe in? It works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura007 Posted December 22, 2007 Author Share Posted December 22, 2007 its nice to know i am not on my own!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eileen Posted December 22, 2007 Share Posted December 22, 2007 Is it safe to put out rat poison around chickens? I'd be afraid the girls would eat it. I've just discovered a rat nest under my eglu - a nice little hoard of chicken feed and some rat droppings. Yuck. Time to bring the food in at night, I guess. My hens spend the winter in a big net enclosure around the eglu with straw on the muddy ground that used to be my front garden. I think I'll get some paving slabs tomorrow if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted December 22, 2007 Share Posted December 22, 2007 Is it safe to put out rat poison around chickens?I'd be afraid the girls would eat it. . I bought plastic rat boxes (you can get wooden ones). Mine cost me just under £5 each and I bought them, and the poison, online. They have a sort of tunnel through with a box at the side for the poison. You peg them down wherever you want them. The chickens can't get into them so they can't eat the poison, so you can put them in the run no probs. I always put the food in at night. I think that is the best way to try to prevent rats - if the food is out they are bound to come. It has to be out during the day, but the rats aren't quite as brave in the day (although Reggie and Ronnie used to lurk about and eat from the feeders in the daytime). So my advice would be a baited rat box in the run - it only needs to be there while you have the rats, if you find the poison isn't touched for a few days you can assume the rat has gone and take the box in). And always put the food inside at night. thats my view anyway, for what its worth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 22, 2007 Share Posted December 22, 2007 I use similar bait boxes. The hens can't get at the poison . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...