Vicky40 Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Help! We let the girls out to free range in the backgarden yesterday. Hubby had given them a plate of left over spaghetti to eat on the back lawn and they were having a great time throwing it everywhere, munching away. I was really enjoying watching them through the patio doors when suddenly out of the blue along came a big fat rat. My screams must have scared it off as it didnt hang around. To be honest this was the one thing I was dreading. We have been so careful bringing in the grub at night, clearing up any spillages etc to discourage any rodents and the thought of them makes my skin crawl. So we set two traps in the garden last night - they recommended adding bacon. This morning the bacon had gone but the traps remained undisturbed! We tested the traps to make sure they were working and managed to set them off with the slightest touch. So hoping the first time was just a fluke we reset them again today. Checked just now and yep, the bacon had disappeared again! Seems we have opened a little rodent restaurant in our garden! So tonight we've reset the traps again this time with peanut butter (as recommended in a previous thread). Will wait to see what the morning brings... Does anyone have any bright ideas about the best way to catch a rat? I'm desperate to get rid... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Peanut butter will not be so easy to pinch without setting the trap off because of it's sticky consistency. Bacon can be filched in one piece, but I reckon PB will prove more tricky for them. PB always works in our mouse traps anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Has anybody tried the electronic rat catcher available from amazon? I noticed 2 rat tunnels yesterday in the garden, 1 by the garage and 1 in the garden wall. I am thinking that I should put rat poison down it but I am afraid that I may kill more than just the rat. Has anybody got any better advice that would lead to a quick kill and not compromise my hens and other wild life? I read along time ago to put in a hose pipe and flush with water to see what came out...I tried that but nothing did. Shall I spend $$$$$ on calling out rentokil? I don't want to call the council as they will blame my hens....we live in a semi rural location and I suppose we are never far away from rats...I do take all foods in at night. I have a 4 year old daughter who will soon be playing out again in the warm weather when it does arrive and I don't want any rat germs....etc! Thanks Kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 I've been plagued with a troublesome rat of late and tried everything. He could remove food from traps so sensitive that a drop of rain would set them off. I always have bait stations around the garden. I replenished them with a powerful poison and haven't seen any signs of tunnelling for a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 The Nooski was no good then Egluntine? Shame, it looked very promising, I was going to buy one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 DH shot 2 last week & didn't even offer me one....doesn't work for most people due to location, but does for us. Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Hi Eglutine.... May I ask what you used please? You are my fountain of knowledge!!! Kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 I've caught 3 rats in the last few weeks using standard rat-traps. However, I know there's still at least one roaming around as I saw it in my neighbours compost heap yesterday and again tonight in mine. I've had traps around our compost heap for a few days, and just as reported by Vicky40, the rat I'm after can lift the bait without firing the trap. He can get peanut butter and sticky chocolate spread. I have now resorted to my tried and trusted 2m length of drain pipe, blocked at one end, with rat-bait in it as well as the traps. I'm not giving up, I shall keep at it till I get him. Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
half dozen Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Has anyone got any links as to what rat poo(sorry droppings!) look like??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAZAROO Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Has anybody tried the electronic rat catcher available from amazon? I noticed 2 rat tunnels yesterday in the garden, 1 by the garage and 1 in the garden wall. I am thinking that I should put rat poison down it but I am afraid that I may kill more than just the rat. Has anybody got any better advice that would lead to a quick kill and not compromise my hens and other wild life? I read along time ago to put in a hose pipe and flush with water to see what came out...I tried that but nothing did. Shall I spend $$$$$ on calling out rentokil? I don't want to call the council as they will blame my hens....we live in a semi rural location and I suppose we are never far away from rats...I do take all foods in at night. I have a 4 year old daughter who will soon be playing out again in the warm weather when it does arrive and I don't want any rat germs....etc! Thanks Kit Shame your not closer- my dad does"pest control" I will ask what he recommends.... Barr a jack russell- can you borrow one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Half a dozen said: Has anyone got any links as to what rat poo(sorry droppings!) look like??? have a look here, I hope it helps. http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.selectpestcontrol.co.uk/Rattus_Norvegicus_Faeces.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.selectpestcontrol.co.uk/ratsandmice.html&usg=__UXaG8m3fgyzI21y7-7t117GwZuE=&h=62&w=144&sz=5&hl=en&start=21&sig2=sJoWd7LySrh5BjtlZp6ihw&um=1&tbnid=cP8u2K6JeN-JcM:&tbnh=40&tbnw=94&ei=qJI5SfWXBpeaQa6bqPoI&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drat%2Bfaeces%2Bimage%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUK279%26sa%3DN *edited to remove typos * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 The Nooski was no good then Egluntine? Shame, it looked very promising, I was going to buy one. Less than useless for me I'm afraid. A waste of twnnty quid. Others have had success with them though. Hi Egluntine.... May I ask what you used please? It is called Neosorexa Gold Rat Pack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Rat traps with peanut butter worked for me. Worked better on the youngsters though, never managed to catch big mummy rat. They obviously learn! We found out where they were emerging from under a slab and positioned the trap just where they poked their heads out. Got all 7 babies that way And although we didn't get her in the trap, big momma hasn't been seen since either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 now - peanut butter didnt work for me, but nutella works everytime! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Has anyone got any links as to what rat poo(sorry droppings!) look like??? Well, you did ask! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I'm so glad I've finished my breakkie Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Has anyone got any links as to what rat poo(sorry droppings!) look like??? Well, you did ask! well - and there was me - just eating my porridge with raisins on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I was worried about using poison in the garden - but the little so and so's were just too crafty for traps. So one weekend we covered the eglu run in fine chicken wire so they couldn't get in so easily for any food left on the run floor etc, and also put poison down. We have since seen nothing in the run, and after a lot of trays of posion were eaten (5!) the problem seems to have gone away - for now at least. While not using poison is preferable, we found it was the only way to get rid of ours... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicky40 Posted February 2, 2009 Author Share Posted February 2, 2009 Morning Cant tell if the peanut butter has worked yet as the traps are covered in several inches of snow. Just proves how intelligent rats are if they can work out how to take food from a trap without setting it off, as we certainly cant manage it. If we do have to resort to using poison can I ask what's the safest way of leaving it down in the garden? Like most people on here, I'm concerned about the dog, chickens and other wildlife. Thank you x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Lockable bait boxes. Ebay is your best bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I found these too (the pictures not the poo!) Yuk Thankfully I have never seen any evidence in my garden, which always amazes me as I obviously have the girls and also I lots of bird feeders out too. However, we do have lots of cats in the area as well so perhaps that helps a bit. Plus I often hear a fox barking at night at the moment (not sure which is worse!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicky40 Posted February 2, 2009 Author Share Posted February 2, 2009 I feel sad as have just found a black bird in the trap, not what we wanted at all Thanks for posting the bait box picture Egluntine, havent seen them before but they look just the job. All that rat poo looks but at least we all know what we are looking for now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I feel sad as have just found a black bird in the trap, not what we wanted at all I had exactly the same thing this morning (first time ever). However, the most anoying part was that Mr Ratty saw this as a tasty meal just waiting for him . He pulled the carcus into his rat-hole, the trap got stuck at the top of the hole, so he dismembered the poor black bird, all I found was the head . Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 We've just had to start baiting in and around our compost heap as there were signs of tunnelling in them. They don't seem to have gone anywhere else. When it snowed we could survey the extent of the invasion and it seems they came over the top of the compost bin from the neighbour's hedge & in through the open slit in the side of the bin. There were only these tracks (and then just a couple by the look of it) and thankfully none anywhere near the eglu. We think they may be in the neighbour's rubbish / hardcore pile. Our neighbour the other side has recently been plagued by rats both in their loft & under the bungalow, so laid poison. Now they're rotting under the floorboards and they say the smell is awful. Our problem is that we have a river standard dyke out the back of us and farm fields, so total eradication would be a miracle. We've chosen Eradibait as it's approved by the Barn Owl Trust & is safe for other animals (it works by dehydrating the rat/mouse). Owen at Green Pest Control Company was very helpful. His view is that ANY foodstuffs in the compost is an attractant, even raw onion He also said that this is the worst year he's known for rats and he's been in the business 30 years. He's been receiving a call about every 1/2 hour. We've used sawn drainpipes in the compost with packs of bait in the centre of each, plus one by the side of the bins. What we would like to know ishas anyone ever found that rats could get through the weldmesh of the eglu run? We aren't bringing in the grub as there doesn't appear to be any need but perhaps we're being naive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I think only baby or smaller rats could get through the Weldmesh but I have heard other Omleteers mention that they have found one inside their Eglu runs. I think they climb up and use the wider bits of the run to gain entry. Mice of course could manage easily. On the news yesterday they were saying that there has been an explosion of vermin in the last year and rat populations have increased by a third in a year. Doesn't bode well does it. They we trying to pin this on fortnightly bin collections and fly-tipping as some of the reasons and that a third of food purchased in this country is thrown away. Also a lot of foody type waste is put down the drains which also gives the rats more food. Hopefully if it was a national news item then something might be done. I haven't seen any in my garden but this surprises me as I feed the wild birds a lot so there is always going to be scattered seeds. I try to be as careful as possible - thankfully as yet I've not seen any signs but its bound to happen sooner or later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
