Peachy77 Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Just a quick poll Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 No - only as pets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 I have never seen rats around here but I once heard that you are never more than about 5 metres from a rat cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 nope never had them here and neighbours and myself have chickens. At old house no-one had chickens or anything but I did have a bird table and saw a rat, it was like mission impossible getting up that SHINY bird table pole.. I would never have believed it if I hadn't witnessed it. Brother gets them, he catches them in traps and kills them, he hates rats with a vengence (he has chickens too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Yes, they live in the compost/muck heap we think. The cats occasionally bring in babies (thank god no adults...so far). Luckily we have a large garden so the muck heaps are a good 100m away so no rats near the house (apart from those brought in by the aforementioned cats). So far, no rat activity near the hen house. I hope this is because a) the area is fenced off with electric netting and b) we have not a cube but a wooden hen house of a very similar design, so there is nowhere for them to hide under the hen house as it is raised about 2ft off the ground. Hopefully, this will continue to be the case. I was horrified at the tale of finding a rat sleeping in the nest box! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 I said yes but we had them before we got the chickens. They like our compost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucknette Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Never seen one or any evidence of one but Im sure they are out there somewhere near. I regulary water the compost heap so that its not nice and dry for them. Lots of bird tables round here in the gardens so they must be out there. Nette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 (edited) None at home.. yet But huge rabbit sized ones at stable yard.. yuk! Edited May 30, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Yes: occasionally before I had hens, and all the time since having hens. They love the cosy little gap under the Eglu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 We had one in our compost heap at the end of the winter but then it moved out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 no and we've had chickens for 2 years now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 No, in the sense that I have never seen any or seen any evidence of any, despite having bird tables, horses and chickens. The muck heap is kept well away from the house and I make sure all food is kept in metal bins. We have lived here for 16 years and never had a problem - touch wood. However, they must be around, it's just that they don't make a nuisance of themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Must qualify though. It was before we had chickens and we knew there were some outside around by the drains. As they say you are never far from them - think they are all around us unfortunately. Haven't seen any in a long while though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Yes, now and again - and we haven't got chickens yet. There is a stream nearby and lots of farmland. They have been nesting under a neighbour's decking so she had to call the Council. I gather they are no more. We had 4 pet rats too - lovely creatures, but you get to love them and their different traits (one was gay much to the others horror, but educational nonetheless - Pixie the Perve, Truffles intrepid explorer of chimneys and nut thief, Flash with a Harry Potter zigzag and cleaner of other rats and bedding, and Dinky, the tiniest who ended up the fattest, snorer, but terrific jumper) they die all too soon.Truffles was the oldest at 2 and a half years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Had mice in the shed, garage and compost bin but no rats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegg Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Yes, but they have been about on and off before we had chickens. Neighbours had rabbits and we live near a railway line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Nope - mice, but had them before the chickens. No rats as far as I know, I'm sure there are some around but they don't make themselves visible or cause any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Not until horses moved into the field next door to us. Have slabbed the run area now and no more unwanted visitors tunneling into the run! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
