chickencam Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 I have seen these devices advertised but was wondering if anyone knows what affect they have on chickens? They are supposed to be safe for cats and dogs. I think that I may have a rat in one of my compost bins and I am keen to get rid of it before it moves the family in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 never tried one of these, but if it's like the Foxwatch, then it should work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iChicken Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 We have a multi purpose sonic alarm that can be set for 3 different types of animals. When we moved into our current house a couple of months ago there were rats under an old shed. They try burrowing into the chicken run and chewing the bars, the sonic detector doesn't seem to help keep them away, though I'm not sure if this is because the noise doesn't bother them or if they find a spot where the alarm isn't activated. The shed is being removed in a couple of weeks so I've made a very small hole in the corner of the shed and laid poison inside, it took them 2 nights to find the poison and eat it. For 3 nights they ate around 100 grams of poison then last night nothing, so just waiting to see what happens. One thing I found keeps rats away from the chickens at night is if you change things around, for example place some bricks around the run, then the next night remove them and lay gardening tools around, mine only seemed to come near the run when things were settled for 2 or 3 days. I think if you want to get rid of your rats you will have 2 poison them, a sonic detector won't make them move out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lailapet Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 We thought we had rats last year. We saw big long tailed creatures running around the garage and into the eglu in full daylight and I told my landlord who phoned the council. The lady there told him she wouldn't send the rat man out to us until we were sure they were rats. They could be jumping mice and she told us to catch one in a trap so we got hold of a big cage type trap and half a sandwich. Next morning there were 3 of them caught. They had white bellies, big eyes and ears and are big mice - not rats at all though often mistaken for half grown rat babies. I thought they looked very cute but my landlord took the cage away and we haven't seen them since. The council lady was right... I wouldn't think the sonic repellers had much effect for very long... But good luck with it. Laila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 They could be jumping mice and she told us to catch one in a trap so we got hold of a big cage type trap and half a sandwich. Next morning there were 3 of them caught. They had white bellies, big eyes and ears and are big mice - not rats at all though often mistaken for half grown rat babies. Laila Aah they sound lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 One thing I found keeps rats away from the chickens at night is if you change things around, for example place some bricks around the run, then the next night remove them and lay gardening tools around, mine only seemed to come near the run when things were settled for 2 or 3 days THat is a fascinating suggestion...and I bet you are right too. Certainly when I've put poison down they havn't touched it for a few days. I suppose they wait for the "human" smell to vanish. I think if you want to get rid of your rats you will have 2 poison them, a sonic detector won't make them move out. I've found poison to be the only way. I keep baited boxes topped up around the garden. I've never had any luck with traps. Compost heaps are a magnet for rats too. Put weldmesh underneath and position so that they can't tunnel in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 Thanks for your help everyone, I would ideally like to empty the bin and move it but with the weather the way it is, I will have to wait. Where is the best place to buy rat bait from, and do they tend to eat it in situ or spread it around? I am a bit worried because I have a greedy cat that will eat pretty much anything ( except rats it would seem ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I have a greedy cat that will eat pretty much anything ( except rats it would seem ) Try some **Eradibait**. That won't harm your cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iChicken Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Where is the best place to buy rat bait from, and do they tend to eat it in situ or spread it around? I am a bit worried because I have a greedy cat that will eat pretty much anything Got mine from B&Q, it came with 3 little bowls that hold 50 grams each for indoor use. They didn't spread it around in our shed or touch the rat trap wih chocolate in the middle. I bought an outside bait box but they haven't touched it yet. I'm hoping ours have gone, no fresh droppings, no poison eaten and no trying to dig into the run for 2 nights... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
