S & S Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 HELP Somethings been burrowing under my chicken run, i thinks its a rat, (or rats) Any one got any ideas? Is there any dog friendly poison i could use or some kind of trap, i dont fancy the idea of seeing poor ratty in a trap, does any one use any so that you dont have to see whats in the trap. Also im off on holiday on Thursday so need something asap, dont really want the person looking after my girls to deal with rats. any ideas much appreciated. ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new chick Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Get the local authorities in to deal with it. They are expert at this. So given your Environmental Dept a call Keep food in metal bins and tack up at night Also make sure you have a secured compose bin. We are now all encouraged to home compose, but some people don’t do this correctly, and encourage rats. I did try the Bait box type rat poisons, but always worried about my dog. I filled in holes and got the Local authority to deal with it. Most efficient and Mr Ratty gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S & S Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 Thanks Never thought of that daaaa!! Ive been really carefull about leaving food around and always put food in the secure bin etc and sweep up any food the girls have spread around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new chick Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 May not be you that's attracting them. My neighbour feeds birds, and they come to her bird food. I live in Rual Cheshire, so do expect some rats, but there were families under her shed!! I also feed bird but only nuts (not seed), they tend not to get on the floor. NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Have you read the section in the FAQ that's good on the subject of rats???? viewtopic.php?f=42&t=25900&view=unread#unread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 EradiRat might be worth a try. It is pet, child and bird safe. Here's the link to their site for some info http://www.eradi-products.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koo2cat Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 We had a rat problem back in the summer . Got the council in and the rats were completely gone in a fortnight! We now bring the food in at night and have bricked up our compost bin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Article on rats from the Frequently Asked Questions section **here**. If you put your poison in locked bait boxes, the dog won't be able to get at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S & S Posted October 7, 2008 Author Share Posted October 7, 2008 Thanks for all your help, sandychick - just ordered some eradibait sounds like what i need as dont want my dogs or other wildlife eating poisened rats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliechick Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 Hello guys! Well listen to this then, Im not sure about whether I have a rat, Vole or Mole. At the weekend on sunday morning I noticed that there was a little trench going into the run and under most of the skirt of the cube run. I noticed on monday morning that there was another one on the other side as I had blocked the first one up. On closer inspection I noticed the earth that was scratched up was INSIDE the run and the trench was made in order to get out. There was no loose earth outside of the run or surrounding it. Do u think its a vole coming up through the run floor attracted to the food and then tries to get out? But why didnt it just go back down the hole it came from? We keep all food in the house and i take the grub in at night. Its a funny one!! Charliechick.xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 I'd put money on it being a rat I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Kettle Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 CharlieChick - sounds like a rat to me. We too had tunnels under the run (they actually chewed the eglu under the nesting box) and after I spotted one of the little blighters helping himself to food during the day (we bring it in at night) we buried poison in one of the tunnels under the eglu - with mesh on top so chickens/cats couldn't get to it - and that did the trick. On compost heaps, cooked food will attract rats so shouldn't go on. And having your compost heap too dry - fat chance at present! - because then it becomes a cosy nesting place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliechick Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 hi guys Yeah but how did it get in????? All the scratched up dirt is in the inside not the outside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
