janeears Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 We appear to have some unwelcome visitors visiting our back garden ................ rats! Our cat has proudly brought in 3 young ones which has totally freaked us out! I've ordered some ERADIBAIT because, on closer examination, my husband has discovered 2 'holes' which we're assuming our their entrances/exits. Obviously, with dogs, a cat and children we need to be so careful about how we solve this problem - but what do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I assume you're bringing the chook's food in at night? It may be worth taking it up earlier in the afternoon too to let the chickens clear the ground. I think poison is the way to go with rats just my opinion. Or traps but obviously be careful with pets or little ones around. You'll clear the rats up in no time especially with the cat helping out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 If you cat is already bringing in the babies, then you must be very careful. I work in conservation and my take on things is that rat poison is never a good thing. If unlucky, it goes into another wild (or domestic) animal and kills them too - including birds of prey. But ultimately, it goes into the eco-system. It also takes 1-5 days for an animal to die. There is an alternative. Firstly, you flood the tunnels and then block them up. They will vacate another way. Leave no food or even bits of food around at night. A live trap is very effective, baited with peanut butter and/or chocolate. But then you will have to either release them (in a wood away from houses. preferably) or kill them. We have had a problem but with a live trap we caught the whole family and broke the cycle. They breed quickly and so you do need to act quite decisively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janeears Posted April 15, 2011 Author Share Posted April 15, 2011 Thanks for the prompt replies. Two different opinions - equally valid. The reason we opted to try the Eradibait was that it stressed it did not harm other creatures/children and was safe to use in parks/schools etc. Yes, we are removing the chooks' food in the evening but it doesn't seem to have stopped the visitations!! I'll think carefully about our options.................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I use Eradibait now too as it is approved by the Owl Trust. I still use it in a bait box though to be safe. I have live traps but have never been successful catching anything other than our semi tame hedgehog Brenda - she was not amused Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janeears Posted April 15, 2011 Author Share Posted April 15, 2011 I bet, Chucky Mama!! We also have a visiting hedgehog so a bait box is an excellent idea. Many thanks for this added extra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Just in case you are thinking of using the snap rat traps. I caught a robin in one when I tried them - never quite forgiven myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janeears Posted April 15, 2011 Author Share Posted April 15, 2011 Oh no! How distressing . I'll go to our local country store and investigate bait boxes tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 We caught a huge rodent in our live trap - he filled the whole thing and his enormous claws tried to reach out and let himself out. I found my chickens standing around him watching, as if it was an episode of Jeremy Kyle. The squirrel was not happy. I released him quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 we have a bait box, although no poison at the minute as I don't think we have a problem I am a biologist and know about poisons getting into the food chain and bioaccumulation but it's only a real problem if something else eats the bait (a bait box helps) or something eats the dead mouse/ rat. These animals tend to go back to their nests to die so only usually get eaten by their own kind. So this doesn't really bother me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 I found Eradibat was totally useless... they weren't interested in eating it at all and eventually went soggy. I had much better results with Neosorexa Gold and Tomcat both in block form - they go on the little rods in the bait box so they can't carry it off and leave for other animals to find. I'm pretty sure that other wildlife is safe (or I assume so judging by how many Tawny Owls we have every night!) with this solution. I don't like snap traps as unless they are safely under cover you WILL catch robins! They are just too nosy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 I don't like snap traps as unless they are safely under cover you WILL catch robins! They are just too nosy. You can get snap traps in covered boxes, so robin's can't get in. Have to say - I didn't have any luck with it, but they are available. Had a lot more luck with poison though - again, one that is supposed to be friendly to any predator eating the dead/dying poisoned rodent, and using bait boxes so only rodents ate the poison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 I found Eradibat was totally useless... they weren't interested in eating it at all and eventually went soggy. I had much better results with Neosorexa Gold and Tomcat both in block form Ditto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Just a quick note on Live traps. We use one to keep our mouse population in check, store them carefully. We had left ours in the greenhouse over winter a few years back and caught a few (unintentionally), unfortunately they didnt end up being quite so humanely dealt with as we were intending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jossy Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Hi everyone. Watched a family of rats running from our compost heap in and out of wir last night.. I do lift the foodin at night... Took it in earlier last night! I just wanted to know if we use a live trap how many traps do we need to catch them all.. I've seen at leat 3! Getting traps today! Thanks jos x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Just a quick note on Live traps.We use one to keep our mouse population in check, store them carefully. We had left ours in the greenhouse over winter a few years back and caught a few (unintentionally), unfortunately they didnt end up being quite so humanely dealt with as we were intending. Good point. Mice particularly don't last long without food and particularly water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I would just get a couple of traps and put them in their 'route' you've seen them use. Keep setting them until you stop catching them. Well done on spotting them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jossy Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Thank you 2 traps it is! I'm off to get them now. Set them tonight Fingers crossed I catch them. I want to use the compost! But I won't touch it in case they run out... Eeek!! What a big wimp I am lol Thanks again Xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I feel your pain Jossy, I am a total wild rat phobic (have kept rats as pet quite happily though ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 We had rats at one time and I was loathe to use the anticoagulant type poison, eradibait wasn't taken and the electric traps caught voles I borrowed a friend's jack russel for a weekend and that did the trick. The odd one seen afterwards I shot. Nothing now for over a year. Take your hen's food out overnight,by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I have to confess to having shot my most recent rat visitor - very quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jossy Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Lol I think the neighbours would have something to say if I shot them.. I got one trap in the end as it was £17.99! Got it set with peanut butter. It must be smelly as all the hens poked their head through the netting trying to get at it and both dogs went straight to it lol. I could do with a jack Russell.. my two big vizslas just sit and look at them .. Stupid dogs xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Just wondering what are you proposing doing with them if you catch them in a live trap? You can't let them out nearby as they'll just come back and releasing them elsewhere is just moving the problem onto someone else... I'm fairly sure I've read that it's illegal to release rats into the wild once caught so it will need humanely dispatching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Karlotta is right - it is illegal to release rats that you have trapped into the wild, and it is also illegal to drown them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
