4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Peachy77]

Hello. Anyone had any problem with rats whilst keeping chickens? We saw 1 in out garden last weekend. Has pest control out today, and he doesnt see any obvious signs so thinks it may be a one off. Get the chickens in three weeks, so hopeing the big fat ratty doesnt come back. dont want the neighbours to have somethingto moan about it if you know what i mean. I think aslong as food isnt left laying around we should be ok. Anyone got any advice/tips.

[Egluntyne]

I would recommend that you put slabs under the Eglu and run, to prevent them tunneling into the run. This works very well.

 

Bring in the food at night.

 

Make sure your compost bin isn't attracting them too. Put wire under it and make sure they can't get in through any gaps in uneven ground under it.

When putting food stuff in the composter, cover it with a spadeful of earth, to help prevent the smell attracting them.

 

Minimise hiding places such as piles of logs etc.

 

Clear out under and inside sheds. They hate being disturbed.

 

Keep areas along walls and fences clear, they like to run along these, and like to hide behind stuff accumulated. If there is nowhere to hide, they are lees likely to run along it.

 

If you feed wild birds, be very careful about tidying up spilled seed.

 

You can set snappy vicious traps, but have to remember to place them away from the hens, and that other animals can accidentally be caught.

 

I use bait boxes, and have half a dozen around the garden.

 

Another tip I read recently was that rats don't like change, so keep moving stuff, and they don't like the smell of humans, so leave n old glove or similar around and it will help put them off.