TAJ Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 We have never seen a rat alive since we have had the chickens, but had seen a couple pre-chickens and the cat has brought in 6 dead ones in the last year. The layer's Eglu is on slabs, but the Rablu for the meat birds has been moving around the garden - a few weeks ago we found a hole into the run near the Omlet door. The rat had gone under the grey part of the Rablu and then dug out soil at ground level to make an entrance into the Rablu run - it only needed to dig about 15cm and as it dug under the grey part of the Omlet it is only when you move the Omlet you even see the dugout soil. This happened about a month ago and I moved the Rablu so the housing and first part of the run were on slabs and just the run was over grass which solved the problem. However I have been moving it around the garden again - I thought given the solid ground this week it was fine, but today I noticed the same has happened again as the soil/grass under the Omlet wasn't frozen. So please: 1. Consider putting at least the housing over slabs, 2. If fully on grass move, it frequently (more than once a week based on the above experience), 3. Check carefully for rat holes into the run - on both occaisions mine have been really close to the Omlet door, not towards the edge of the run, 4. Consider putting metal mesh under the Eglu to prevent digging if it is not on slabs. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Good advice Tracy - especially at this time of year I think Omlet now sell a piece of mesh that goes under the eglu itself don't they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 That is exactly what we had - and we also put just the eglu on paving slabs, meaning to do the rest the folowing weekend. It solved the problem, and 2 months later we have not worried about putting slabs under the rest of the run - yet at least. We did find Mice getting in through the gaps in the run, and then trying to tunnel out... But we covered the run in chicken wire - and that stopped that too - for the moment at least!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I have a persistent rat who is an avid tunneller. I am forever filling them in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I have seen rats get through the bars. I've also discovered my quail culprit. A rat has tunneled up under the slabs dug through the mortar and climbs into their run through a gap less than an inch wide. DH shot one int he quail run yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I have four metres of weldmesh on the ground that goes all the way under the Eglu, run and converter and sticks out both sides (its pegged down and has embedded itself in to the ground) I make sure I keep the bedding in the run thick enough for the girls to dig in and they have dug down to the mesh before but not hurt themselves on it It seems to be working so far.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
