Lavenders_Blue Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 DH and I went out in the garden yesterday to rearrange the chicken netting in the garden. Standing by the fence, DH suddenly says 'come and look at these prints, they look interesting'. So I come and look. And I can't help thinking they look awfully much like rat prints. I can see where whatever-it-is has come in from next door's garden, under the fence, then followed the fence along 3 sides of our garden and seemingly out under our back gate So now the rat trap is baited and set. I have used a cage trap (tantalisingly baited with a chocolate coin ) just in case it's not actually a rat (snow hedgehog anyone?). Mum and Dad's terrier is on standby to do the deed when we catch him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilipCaldwell Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 I had a rat problem a few months ago, they are crafty devils I find the walk in traps the best, i didnt want to use a spring loaded trap as i was scared the chooks might hurt themselves on it, and poison is out of the question just incase the chooks get it. The cheeky rat had burrowed under the rglu and would literally run back and to for hours pinching food from the grub Get rid quick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 We had no problems until horses moved into the field next to our house. Had to put both eglus and runs on paving slabs to stop them burrowing under So they burrowed under the slabs and made a nest there I now have a bait box designed to allow the rat in, eat the wax poison (on a rod in situ) and then run off again. 2 more boxes on order to pick up tomorrow. I will win against mr Rat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 I discovered tunnels under our Eglu the day before we were going away for New Year. As soon as we got back, we set to work. Moved the Eglu to one side and found a big hole and a tunnel going a short way under the run, and a stash of pellets. Dug it all out, covered it all over again and flattened it all down. For the short term we've put the Eglu on to the patio, but the run is still on the grass/mud. No sign they've been back, but the ground is pretty frozen. In the long term I think I'll put the whole run and Eglu on slabs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 Well no sign of Mr Rat since, the chocolate coin is still in the trap looking distinctly un-nibbled. Thankfully there's no sign of any more prints so maybe it wasn't a rat and maybe it was just a one-off. Anyhow the trap is staying in situ for the time being just in case. Thankfully my coop is already on slabs so we shouldn't find any furry visitors tunnelling their way in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
