Auto door randomly closing during the day

[Foot-tapper506]

I discovered a big pile of fresh earth in the run and thought/hoped it was a mole. WRONG! It appears to be rats, very large ones judging by the size of the hole I have found nearby disappearing underneath the paving around the shed within the FR area. I have put two traps out with bait, and although the bait has been taken, I have caught nothing. Very clever rats I am dealing with! I am going away for the weekend and I am worried the chook food will have to remain out. Any ideas? I wondered about moving the coop to a different part of the garden and closing the FR area and opening up the rest of the garden for them temporarily but dont want to encourage rats to other parts of the garden. HELP!

Edited November 26, 2010 by Guest

[Redwing]

I'd put some poison down personally - I know its not nice

[Foot-tapper506]

I did try that for the first night, those little blue bits of corn, but I got so worried they would spread it about in the FR area (which is where the rats are) and get picked up by my girls that I didnt do it again. I threw it down the hole as far as I could reach and then covered the hole with a wooden table top. Should I chance doing that again? They only seem to be in the FR area, presumably because the chook food is there.

[The Dogmother]

If you use a proper bait box with the bait wired inside, then you shouldn't have any problems with the bait being scattered around. I'd also suggest that you take the hens' feed in at night to discourage any visitors.

[Egluntyne]

Some advice **here**

[Nobby65]

i have the same problem the rats are under my shead (10 foot by 20 foot so i cant move the shed). i ve just called my council pest controler and i am having a visit from pest contolor monday morning. ive lifted this from there web site

 

 

Do you have a rat problem?

 

 

If you think you have a rat problem you will need professional help in controlling the infestation. The first indications of an infestation are likely to be:

 

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Sightings of rats.

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Damage to property from gnawing (particularly door bottoms).

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Finding of droppings (oval in shape and between 1-2cm long).

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Holes appearing in the ground.

 

For domestic situations in the District we offer a free treatment for rats

 

Our experienced pest control officer is fully qualified and trained and will carry out a full survey to determine the extent of the infestation and the appropriate control measure that is required. This is likely to include the placing of poison in safe areas which must be left undisturbed until a revisit is made.

 

Handy tips on how to avoid rat problems:

 

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Do not leave any food waste outside overnight.

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Keep all household rubbish in a bin with the lid firmly shut.

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Do not allow areas of your garden to get overgrown or pile up with rubbish.

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Get faulty drains professionally repaired as soon as possible.

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If you feed domestic pets outside pick up excess food before dark.

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If you feed the birds in your garden do not leave food out after dark.

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Make sure your property is in good repair.

 

My advice is to get an expert in from the council luckly its free in my area but check with your local coucil

 

hope this helps

regards "Ooops, word censored!"by65

[Foot-tapper506]

Thanks for this advice "Ooops, word censored!"by. I have just ordered a bait box and some poison, so I will give that a go first, but if that doesnt work then I will give the council a ring.

Here's hoping!

[CluckyBucks]

Hello

 

I can sympathise as i am having the exact same problem as you right now.

 

But.... i bait my rat trap with nutella so the rats cannot actually pick it up, low and behold.... success!! Triumph on the first attempt, i would recommend baiting your traps with chocolate spread just goes to show that not even the scheming rat can resist nutella

 

Good luck with it!

 

xx xx

[Foot-tapper506]

I did try peanut butter the first night and a whole brazil nut the second night jammed into the hole - NOTHING! although the nut trap had been 'sprung' and nut was lying nearby, but still the wily old thing had escaped! I will have a go with Nutella while I am waiting for my rat poison and bait box to arrive....

[CluckyBucks]

Honetsly do in the past week i have caught two rats, plus the snow hides it do they dont expect a thing

 

xx xx

[greyhoundgirl]

Me too. My son was in our sitting room this afternoon and quote:" Mummy I just saw a rat go down the side of the house".

He was right too, brazen hussy just poking it's nose from behind the flower pots.

 

I've thought for a while that they were nesting under the shed. Guess I have to sort it now. Phoned the council straight away and they are coming in the next couple of days, and it's free too.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Got vermin here too

Definitely mice in the garage, they are pooping all over the place and have gnawed their way into the unopened (or at least it was) sack of ex bats crumbs and pooped all in there too Sack of crumbs now removed from the garage and residing in the utility room.

Also evidence of animal footprints in the garden, they look too far apart to be mouse prints so I suspect rats - we had a problem with them last winter. Snap trap now set and temptingly baited with homemade gooseberry jam (hope rats like jam!)

[mrs chook]

same here!!

 

from my post 'what a day'

 

 

Last eve we went to shut everyone in and had a 'visitor' which I shooed out with a stick - thought it was a fairly big mouse, but on closer inspection this morning think we have a rat/s under the shed, so must've been a young rat now have bait box outside shed near the tunnel and hope that it will be safe for dogs and chooks as inaccessible. I just hope no ratties go into shed/run to expire now

 

Bait box outside of shed and two humane mouse traps in shed just in case - I don't mind freeing a wild mouse up the field but I'm afraid if it definitely is ratties then bye bye