Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[crazygal]

was awaiting me when I checked for eggs this lunchtime- a rat was asleep underneath the roosting bars in the droppings tray

 

So, I've despatched the chickens to have a play in the garden, I've shut the eglu door and put a rat trap baited with blue cheese in through the egg port. (and now I've scarpered).

 

Not a great surprise, we caught a rat in one of our compost bins yesterday...but it just really grosses me out. urggh it had such a horrid tail- is anyone else a wimp like me when it comes to rats??

 

Our area seems to have a big rat problem at the moment anyway- friends of mine have seen them in broad daylight on bird tables etc, my next door neighbours had them in their house

[BarbaraJ]

I havent got an eglu but have seen pics, how on earth did it get in or was the door open?

[crazygal]

the eglu door was open, so either it got in through the droppings tray at the back or just squeezed through the run mesh I suppose

 

am now wondering whether rats can kill chickens or hurt them?

[Treekeeper]

Rats can and do kill or injure chickens there are many threads on this and other forums about the critters. Most poultry keepers would want rid of them ASAP. You need to look round for their tunnels and bait in a sealed box near their runs so nothing else can get at it.

 

Good luck with getting rid!

[hilda-and-evadne]

was awaiting me when I checked for eggs this lunchtime- a rat was asleep underneath the roosting bars in the droppings tray

 

Ewww - I wouldn't have thought there was enough room for it, under the roosting bars.

 

Thank you for mentioning this - one more thing that the urban chook-keeper has to deal with.

[Gallina]

I would imagine the rat tunnelled its way into the run, and then just walked into the Eglu. If it hasn't gnawed its way through the bottom of the Eglu, I can't see how it could have got into the droppings tray any other way if it was pushed in properly.

 

But do make sure you shut the hens away every night while you have this problem, and maybe even check the droppings tray. Rats do dreadful things to hens when they are having their semi-comatose sleep.

 

And always take the food in at night.

[Egluntyne]

Gosh.

 

I would take Gallina's advice.

 

How odd that it was asleep. Are you sure it is not dead? They usually scarper at the first inkling of a human being around.

[kaylis1980]

im not squeamish but i really dont think i could have hacked that

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That sure is a nasty surprise . I hope the trap works.

[crazygal]

update- we could not catch it- and no it was not dead unfortunately. My husband was poking it with a bamboo stick through the egg port to get it to go towards the trap, I'd had it in with the trap for about 3 hours but had put it on the roosting bars, so we moved it down onto the droppings tray.

 

Then it jumped out of the egg port with my husband standing there- I promptly screamed, the cat legged it, and the poor chickens made a right fuss as it ran across the grass.

 

 

I am not making this up by the way.

 

I have just coaxed Molly and Clarice into the eglu, shut the door, removed the grub (but there is lots of spilt food over the run floor), have checked for tunnels, can see none, can only assume that the rat could squeeze in through the gaps in the run mesh.

 

Am now wondering how they will be locked in tonight- I've no idea what time they've been getting up, as since the clocks changed I'd left the eglu door open for them. Anyway, I cannot have rats co-habiting.

 

Worried about what rats might do to chickens. What can we do when we are away?? Eglutine you use bait boxes don't you? I think we need a permanent rat trap (because obviously we can't leave a sprung rat trap around what with chickens, cats and children.)

 

edited to add- I don't think it can have gnawed into the eglu as it was desperate to escape once my husband started prodding it, otherwise it would have made its own escape rather than flying though the egg port shudder.

[Jules.]

Eww. I hope you get rid of the little horrors soon.

[Classy Chick]

My chickens have eaten one of their eggs today! What can I do to stop them doing this again? Sorry to butt in on your conversation but I am really worried and hoping one of you might be able to help please x

[Gallina]

Did you actually see them do it? I ask, because I put an egg down in the garden ready to take in, and within minutes a magpie came down and broke it and started to eat it, but when I moved closer the magpie flew off and my hens finished it off.

 

And was it a proper egg? The hens will eat those with soft shells, but this isn't a real problem.

 

If it was a proper hard egg, then you need to take one of the remedies suggested on this forum, such as filling an egg-shell with mustard. Someone may be able to suggest something better.

[redhotchick]

Gross. You were brave crazygal. I would not have got that close. As advised above. Do bring food in. Clear up any spillages. Lock hens away.

Have you called pest control? I'm not sure what method they would use in your area, obviously it would have to be a chicken friendly method. Good luck.

Would anyone consider bringing the hens in to sleep in a cat carrier overnight for example? I'm considering doing this come bonfire night and wonder if it would be an acceptable and /or a reasonable method of protection without stressing them.

[Egluntyne]

Eglutine you use bait boxes don't you? I think we need a permanent rat trap (because obviously we can't leave a sprung rat trap around what with chickens, cats and children.)

 

Yes I do. I got them from **The Trap Man**.

[crazygal]

Thanks Egluntine I will have a look at that link. edited to add- have taken a look- can I ask what you put in the bait box?-

 

 

UPdate on the rat situation- I actually SAW it last evening- it took a run up the side of the run and squeezed through the mesh .

 

Chickens were safely locked in the eglu at this time. Horrid thing took a drink (I stupidly took away the grub but left out the glug- won't do that tonight) and was eating the spilt food.

 

Plan of action- we put a trap in the run overnight- damn thing managed to get the bait but not get caught we have found this happened in our compost bin too- cunning things, but third night lucky we caught one in the bin, so we will be putting the trap in the run again tonight. The trap is in the compost bin at the moment.

 

I am loath to go into the garden - quite pathetic I know but yesterday's experience has freaked me out oh and we have emptied the droppings tray of hemcore so its not so appealing a home. And I am going to put a cat litter tray under the grub to try to pick up the spillage, and then bring that in at night as well.

 

Guess this is all a learning curve.

[Olly]

Oh no - well, at least you know how it is getting in, now. I think the steps you have taken are all good ones.

 

I think unfortunately poison - properly used - is the only way to get rid of the problem. Have you phoned your local authority for advice? I know there's usually a charge but it might be worth calling in the professionals to get rid of them longterm. How horrid for you.

[Snowy]

Oh dear, I do feel for you! It is so easy to become complacent and then you spy your first rat! I have had to be so much more observant now, keeping the garden clear of potential hiding places and looking out for signs of them.

 

Try peanut butter in your trap, shove it well down into the bait holder. I caught 4 last week with peanut butter. I also used some cooked, leftover sausage and got another 3! You do need to make sure it is well anchored though, they are very good at reaching in and lifting the bait out of the trap!

 

Try Tomcat 2 in your bait boxes - that seems to be the preferred bait at present.

 

Our pond area had become very overgrown and we suddenly had a family of 8 move in! Spent a day last week clearing all the overgrowth and filling in any hidey holes. I know Mummy rat is still about as we caught Dad and 6 babies, but haven't seen any sign of her since. Rats are very wary of anything new, so best to hide or disguise the trap somehow. I put it right by the entrance to their hidey hole so as soon as they poked their snouts out it got them.

 

Funnily enough I haven't seen them anywhere near the chicken run, they were pinching the food off the birdtable! *phew*

[Cinnamon]

We have a bold rat at the moment too

 

He saunters across the lawn at about 8.30pm, heading for the hen pen.Luckily he can't get in there,but I worry that he could get into the shed & I will find him there one day

He is massive - biggest rat I have ever seen

[crazygal]

glad to hear I'm not alone with Mr Rat (thought I wasn't unique- but its good to hear others experiences!)-

 

thanks Snowy for that information- I don't think we have been fixing the bait down sufficiently to catch them.

 

so I had a nice trip to the local DIY shop this afternoon and had a long chat with the owner about different ways of catching rats. Unfortunately the only bait boxes they had were ones where the rat eats the poison and goes off somewhere to die- I REALLY can't have dead rats round the place not knowing where they are because of my cat and children, so I've got a couple more traps and some peanuts.

 

Apparently putting several on the trap as well as in the hole bit will encourage the rat to stay on the plate??

 

urggh I've been pelting the rat with stones this afternoon to get it to scarper- keep thinking I'm going to get my ankles bitten when I'm at the washing line.