Britannia Ovens (esp Range cookers) your experience

[CluckyBucks]

Right, i would like to dig up the soil in the run until a few inches deep, then put some stone slabs on the floor then cover them back up with mud again. This is to prevent any further rat incidents where they can tunnel into the run itself.

 

Is this a good idea? Or do you have any better suggestions?

 

Thanks

 

xx xx

[Cinnamon]

Can you not slab around the outside of the run - save a few pennies & a fair bit of work?

 

The slabs will need to really butt up to the run edge either way as rats can burrow in through the smallest of gaps.

Also, what sort of wire is your pen made out of, as rats can get through larger holes,even chicken wire ones.

[CluckyBucks]

Hmmmm i didnt think of that, its just a standard eglu run

 

xx xx

[Redwing]

We have not had a problem with rats in our chook runs and I think thats because we put down rat poison. Knocking back the population with traps and poison is in my humble opinion the best way to go, before that we used to get activity around the runs (never in thank goodness) and now we dont see any signs at all

[CluckyBucks]

Ive been putting down strong poison and killer traps for weeks, i think ill have to buy more. Thanks Redwing

 

xx xx

[Redwing]

ooo thats not good then! are they taking the poison at all?

[CluckyBucks]

Yes they are. Trouble is, there coming in my garden from all directions

 

xx xx

[Cinnamon]

Well, they shouldn't be able to get in too easily with the run skirt,if the run is pegged down & on level ground......is it on grass or Aubiose,as Aubiose or bark is really easy for them to dig through?

 

Some slabs or even those chunky rail sleepers around the run,on top of the skirt should help

 

They are vile,aren't they?

Luckily my pen is rat proof,but they get into the shed where I keep all my feed & stuff

[CluckyBucks]

Its on grass (well i wouldnt call it grass thanks to the destruction my girls cause) and i shall consider my options, thanks for your help.

 

xx xx

[Christian]

I do sympathise Cluckybucks.

 

My two eglus are now on slabs with aubiose in the run. It doesn't stop them digging under the slabs to try and get in, but at least they are prevented from getting in the runs now.

 

The best advise I can offer is to bring the food in at night, slab the area and get some bait boxes.

 

We only have a problem in the winter when the fields are empty. The bait boxes stay out all year though.

[C&T]

I would recomend persevering with the poison.

 

I was amazed how long it took before it stopped being eaten - and would now always recomend buying more poison then you could possibly think you would need.

 

We have an abandoned house next to us, and the rats were enjoying their garden, then sneaking into ours for the chickens food. Not ideal! But poisoning them just from our side of the fence did solve the problem.

 

And as others have said - they can get through some very small holes, so trying to keep them out of somewhere without killing them is near impossible!