Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[darthwenger]

My house backs onto a working farm (so I'm afraid rats/mice are always going to be a problem) also my neighbour has goats and the other side has ponies/horses so that is also going to attract rats/mice. But recently, everytime I've gone near the Eglu especially at night, a rat comes shooting out from underneath and runs under the fence.

 

I've lifted up the Eglu and its been tunnelling under the Eglu. Have other people had the same problem and is it advisable to place the Eglu on concrete slabs. I'm thinking of putting the whole Eglu on slabs due to the run becoming muddy when it gets wet and then covering the slabs with a layer of wood chips (run has wood chips in it at the mo, but when they get wet the wood chips and mud just become a mush)

 

Also, are the chooks warm inside their Eglu, as the weather was snow last night and I'm worried the chooks are warm enough (sorry! its my first winter with the chooks)

[Egluntyne]

I would put it on slabs.

 

I occasionally find evidence of rats attempting to tunnel in, but so far they have not succeeded, because of the paving slabs.

 

Article about hens and rats **here**

[C&T]

Glad to see this popsting today - and sorry to jump in...

 

But we got our new at the weekend (vey exciting!), and this morning found evidence of "rodents" tunnelling under the eglu and into the run. Was not impressed! Poor chooks - just getting used to their new surroundings, and have rodents tunnelling under thier house whilst trying to sleep!

 

Have people put the whole eglu and run onto concrete slabs to avoid this problem?

[Egluntyne]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Yes...My Eglus and runs are on slabs.

[SnowWhite]

I'm going to take a different approach to this problem (and I realise that it might not be popular - so apologies all round if that's the case)

 

I hate rats, they spread germs, they carry diseases that can be passed to my other pets and to me, they eat food intended for my cats, rabbits, birds, chooks etc and they cause damage. My answer is to poison them

 

Putting the run on slabs will stop them from tunnelling in, but it won't stop the presence of rats. I've probably seen more whilst living in town than I ever did in the country. My cats are now to old and lazy to be effective ratters so I've decided to get a few of those rat bait boxes and leave them around the garden to trap the little blighters before they make themselves at home in my back yard. Hardly humane I know but I think it is the right thing to do? Anyone?

[Egluntyne]

I agree. I have half a dozen bait boxes around the garden.

[Guest]

MIne are on slabs and I have never seen rats or mice.

 

BUT

 

I put down bait a few weeks ago and it is being eaten......so they are about!!!! Just becaused you don't see them doesn't mean they aren't there!!

 

Louise

[C&T]

Thank you! I will go and find some concrete slabs and rat bait at the weekend. Sounds like a job for OH!

[Christian]

If you can, bring the feeders indoors at night, as it is the food they are attracted to, not the chickens.

 

I use slabs under my eglus and runs and they still try and tunnel underneath. They can't get in though!

[C&T]

If only my didn't feel the urge to throw at least 2/3rds of her food all over the run it might help! eats so nicely too, I'm hoping it might rub off!

[lindyloodles]

I saw a rat in our eglu run once, couldn't quite believe it was there so opened the door to have a closer look. Between leaving the window and opening the door the thing had disappeared. Had a VERY close look but couldn't see any holes where it had burrowed in, no gaps under the run mesh that it could have squeezed through (weighted down with bricks all round), so I decided I must have been daydreaming. Until an hour later when I saw a furry face sticking under the shed door. Off to B&Q for a bait box....which has remained untouched. The eglu and run have been moved now to a more permanent position, and I am beginning to think the critters are back, if only due to the amount of pellets that are being eaten. Surely half a grubful should last more than 2 days for 2 chickens?? Am thinking that slabs are a good idea.....