harveypup Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 I seem to have a problem with a rat(s) Obviously I want to get rid of them but I am reluctant to use poison because of the large population of cats around here. I am wondering about using traps but am scared of catching the aforementioned cats They tunnel under the eglu at night - have tried blocking them and take the food in at night but they seem to like living there. Help!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 We have mice and l cant use poison because im worried about the chooks getting near it.So at some point im going to order a human trap there not alot to buy and you can use them over and over again.Put the trap in a big tub and let it go were there is land farm or woods.If a wild bird eats the poison it will die so l did not like the thought of that.The other traps that kill them straight away l dont like so for me id go for a human trap.Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 What about a bait box? then no other animals can get to the poison and should get rid of your rat problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 l think argos sell them now as well.I think there better then lose stuff heres what l found they do one for rats as well. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0425939/Trail/searchtext%3EKILLER.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 So at some point im going to order a human trap Remind me not to come and visit you! I have heard that poisoned rats will slink away and hide to die in a hole so are not a risk to wildlife or pets but I am not sure how true that is I put a length of wire mesh underneeth my eglu and run to stop rats tunnelling under Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eland Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 I spotted a rat in my garden the other day, much to my dismay! I didn't want to use poison either and wasn't too keen on those awful metal traps. I found something called a Rat Zapper on the internet (http://www.ratzapper.co.uk) and so far so good. It uses an electric current to kill the rat (or mouse). It's quick, clean and safe and you don't have to touch the rodent - just tip it into the bin! Worth taking a look... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 I have heard that poisoned rats will slink away and hide to die in a hole so are not a risk to wildlife or pets but I am not sure how true that is. Yes, that is exactly what they do. In our case, they all tunnelled into the base of our compost heap, so well away from birds-of-prey or anything else that might scavenge a dead caucus. I, of course, found them when I turned the compost out and into our second bin - very dead and very smelly, but no longer of no danger to my chooks or any other animals. One thing to be careful of, don't lay poison bait near your house if you have raised floorboards. The rats will attempt to find a last resting place under your house, as it's cosy and relatively warm. A couple of years ago I had the extremely unpleasant task of lifting floorboards in my Dinning room to locate and remove a decomposing rat who somehow got in (I think while some building work was going on). It curled up near to where the hot-water pipes came up from under the floor. The smell in the Dinning room was, well, lets say, not nice . Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 So at some point im going to order a human trap Remind me not to come and visit you! Why you say that im not infested with mice ive only seen 1 but l know there proberly is more there always is but then were there is food l suppose there always will be.I was worried about one of my chooks getting to the poison as some one l know used it and she found one of her chooks dead a few days latter so it dose worry me abit But ive got children and l wont have no risk to there health or my animals.I like the bait boxes because there contained but its the amount of hours it takes for the animal to die that also bothers me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggregiousness Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 (edited) I appreciate your desire not to cause undue suffering but I do think that if you have rats you have to tackle the problem aggressively or you will soon be overrun. I have had my chikkies for only 3 weeks but bought a bait box and poison on day one. At the first sign of a rat I will be using them. Provdided you position the box carefully and dispose of all carcasses you should find your pets will be safe. Edited September 12, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 So at some point im going to order a human trap Remind me not to come and visit you! Why you say that im not infested with mice ive only seen 1 but l know there proberly is more there always is but then were there is food l suppose there always will be.I was worried about one of my chooks getting to the poison as some one l know used it and she found one of her chooks dead a few days latter so it dose worry me abit But ive got children and l wont have no risk to there health or my animals.I like the bait boxes because there contained but its the amount of hours it takes for the animal to die that also bothers me. Don't take offence....Redwing was pretending to be worried about your human trap I think and was having a tiny tease, hence the quote to highlight it. We all know you meant humane. Just a bit of forum fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Don't take offence....Redwing was pretending to be worried about your human trap I think and was having a tiny tease, hence the quote to highlight it. We all know you meant humane. Just a bit of forum fun. Thats right Tara, only a tease, I didnt want to get caught in your trap x I have rats and mice *looks proud* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 So at some point im going to order a human trap Remind me not to come and visit you! Why you say that im not infested with mice ive only seen 1 but l know there proberly is more there always is but then were there is food l suppose there always will be.I was worried about one of my chooks getting to the poison as some one l know used it and she found one of her chooks dead a few days latter so it dose worry me abit But ive got children and l wont have no risk to there health or my animals.I like the bait boxes because there contained but its the amount of hours it takes for the animal to die that also bothers me. If you don't want to use bait use a snap trap death is instant.personally I prefer bait and boxes not sure on the legality of releasing vermin on other peoples land. all land is owned by some body forgot to add if your neighbours complain to the council about a rat problem and the rats are on your property and you can't show that you're taking steps to control the problem the matter will be out of your hands but you will get the bill the Council will bait reguardless I 'm currently baiting the alottment I brought 6 bait boxes and 20kg of bait used abou 4 kg in a month found 1 dead rat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 I have rats and mice *looks proud* I bet that keeps your terrier busy No obvious problems with mice, rats, cats or foxes around here. Well, not when my demon border terrier is on guard. Mind you, the chickens are only safe because of the wire between them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 He is interested but hasnt caught any yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 No offence taken redwing l know this is a friendly fourm sorry to be a kill joy I like the idea of the http://www.ratzapper.co.uk/zapper-classic.html that was posted on here.Ive booked marked it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 They do look interesting don't they, I am also quite tempted by them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggregiousness Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Had a look at the ratzapper. It certainly looks less gory than a trap - just a bit concerned about my cats - they could certainly get their heads into a 4 inch square opening. It's much bigger than the opening on my bait box. I wonder if they can give any reassurance? Also - hedgehogs could be caught too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eland Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 As mentioned I bought the Rat Zapper Classic and am very pleased with it... It's definitely too small for a fully grown cat to get into so no worry there - the rat has to go right to the back before it triggers! I did quite a bit of research and it gets very good reviews, which I can now say I fully agree with. There are two negatives: 1) It's not cheap! Sells for between £40 and £50!! Although no poison needed; 2) The standard version uses 4 AA batteries which are depleted fairly quickly (depending on quality). Other than that I couldn't be happier - no poison and no squashed rodents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 ...I didn't want to use poison either and wasn't too keen on those awful metal traps. I found something called a Rat Zapper on the internet (http://www.ratzapper.co.uk) and so far so good. It uses an electric current to kill the rat (or mouse). It's quick, clean and safe and you don't have to touch the rodent - just tip it into the bin!Worth taking a look... Sorry to disappoint, but I bought one early on & found it useless in 2 respects; 1. It seemed to be triggered incorrectly, perhaps moisture or something, rendering useless until reset. 2. Rats won't go near something new for a couple of weeks, and that, together with the incorrect activation, meant they were breeding faster than I'd be able to catch them. Never did zap a single one, whereas bait boxes do the trick, (and so do "mousetrap ones" if you know their exact run & it's away from other wildlife). (Humane ones are pointless unless you know what to do with a distressed, angry, spitting rat every morning. A quick kill is more humane surely?) By all means someone post that a zapper has worked for them, but I was very disappointed.....sorry, are you saying you've caught some Eland? Hurray if you have! A good method is to have bait boxes set around all the time, it's been much easier to keep a step ahead this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 No offence taken redwing l know this is a friendly fourm sorry to be a kill joy I like the idea of the http://www.ratzapper.co.uk/zapper-classic.html that was posted on here.Ive booked marked it I think Old Specked Hen got one of these and I am not sure it was a success, you may want to check with her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveypup Posted September 12, 2009 Author Share Posted September 12, 2009 Wow thanks for all the replies I think I am going to go with the bait boxes then. Hopefully that will do the trick. Watch this space Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eland Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Sorry to disappoint, but I bought one early on & found it useless in 2 respects; 1. It seemed to be triggered incorrectly, perhaps moisture or something, rendering useless until reset. 2. Rats won't go near something new for a couple of weeks, and that, together with the incorrect activation, meant they were breeding faster than I'd be able to catch them. Never did zap a single one, whereas bait boxes do the trick, (and so do "mousetrap ones" if you know their exact run & it's away from other wildlife). Still early days but have caught my first rat within a week - it's true that rats need to get used to a new object before exploring further but once it's been there for a while that shouldn't be a problem. Mice are less picky! Not sure how many rats I have around here but will let you know how I progress... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 got mine from here. I use the roban whole wheat (the blue one) and the bait station with the tubes but that was so the plot holders could see that we are controling the rats it's the cheepest place I could find bait boxes you can also use them with traps in side http://www.regencypoultry.com/rat_mouse_fly_trap/poison/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackieb Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 We saw a rat in the garden within a week of getting our chooks, we called in the local council rat man who laid poison in a safe place where our dogs couldn't get it and no charge. He also told us that he had been to our neighbour a couple of times so not to worry as it wasn't the chickens that had caused the problem. After a few weeks he gave us the all clear and removed the poison trays but I had to call them back within a couple of weeks because the dogs had obviously sensed something under the shed, so we are on our second attempt at getting rid of the rat(s). I think everyone has rats about but we are more aware of them because of the chickens. Call the council, they will advise and lay poison in the safest place free of charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 not all councils do it for free ours charge some were around £70+ for domestic more for commerical Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
