Henhathnofury Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 I wanted to ask you all about something very odd. Some time ago, we discovered a rat had nested and produced babies under our new coop. We caught seven babies and also the parents, in live traps. Some time ago we found some fresh rat poo and realised that there must be a baby still loose. It refused to go in the traps despite delicious bait. Then one night, as I was going out to put the girls to bed, I found one of my Croad (Cathy) still up. She was sitting very happily with her wing a little out. Almost under her wing and sitting down - to my astonishment - was a rat! It soon fled when it saw me. Now Cathy has had a bit of a rough time with the other chickens, who peck her still and generally often leave her on her own. She also went broody which was really severe. She likes nothing more than a cuddle and actually never wants to get down again. It's sad, really. I know this rat has to go but it seems to clever to go into any traps. Is it possible that Cathy has 'adopted' it? I am not scared of rats at all but know that it is not an ideal situation. But I went out today and found them both feeding from the same bowl. They did seem really really happy and it was the oddest thing I have ever seen. You don't need to tell me that I have to get rid of the rat. I am trying to at the moment. But has anyone had any similar experiences? Strange animal relationships? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Oh ny word - you need to get some photos of that. I don't have any advice though - I guess she does have to go but how cute !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Does the little rat really have to go? I suppose it should when it is able to fend for itself but it seems sad for both the rat and your chicken. Perhaps your little hen needs some chickies to look after I've kept fancy rats as pets and also did once adopt a wild baby rat who grew into a very nice pet that lived in my garden. She used to come when called. Rats are extremely intellegent and do, often form inter-species relationships though nornally it is the other way round as in the rat being the Mummy to other babies, often kittens. I did read somewhere, however of an elephant in a zoo that kept a rat as a personal pet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted May 17, 2011 Author Share Posted May 17, 2011 I do love rats and yes, I feel sad about it. But we would be taking it to the woods where we released its family. I think that's where it really should be. It's strange but catching them, I have learnt a lot about the species. They tend to scream when you approach but with one, after I gave it some food - it came to the bars the second time I went out to it. They are a highly adaptable species who have bad PR. Sadly though, they can contaminate water and if provoked could bite. Cathy may love it but if my enormous Speckled Sussex gets it...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 No help at all with your dilemma but what a lovely story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 It is a lovely story, and I think is the reason for my very strange dream last night- that when I went out to feed my hens, they had all turned into white rats! The dream has stayed with me all day, and I keep thinking about your dear little hen and her friend. What a shame they have to be parted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jddm Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 oh what a sweet story. I like rats too, are you sure it has to go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billathome65 Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Ratty has to go it's not a good relationship 1 rat equals more rats to come and a lot of hassle. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Sadly, Bill is right. It has to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 Exactly. They are a social species. If it is a female, it will find a mate. If it is a male, it will scout for a place to eat and bring back a partner. I just cannot catch the critter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted May 19, 2011 Author Share Posted May 19, 2011 An update: I was having no luck with chocolate and peanut butter and then had a brainwave. This little rat has grown up on chicken food - so I laid a small trail leading to the trap. Result! It is indeed a young rat. Have given it a breadstick and some cucumber (for water content) - it is happily chomping away. Later, when OH gets home - he will go to the woods with a packed lunch. Sadly Cathy came out, looked at the rat and is now sitting in the coop, looking sad. Awful. Must give her lots of love and treats today... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Correct me if I am wrong - but isn't it illegal to capture rats, then release them elsewhere - re distributing the problem? I think you are supposed to contact vermin control once captured - who will then dispose of the rats. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 That's what the pest control chap who dealt with my rat problem told me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted May 19, 2011 Author Share Posted May 19, 2011 Pest controllers will tell you a lot of things - especially scare stories. They make money from it, after all. But this from a well-respected pest control company who supply humane traps (after all, would those traps be for sale if re-release was illegal. What would be the point?) http://www.rattraps.org.uk/Rat-Traps/ratcontrol.aspx Once you have caught a rat if you cannot bring yourself to kill it humanely you will need to take it up to a minimum of 2 miles away to ensure it will not return. Try to find a place where there is likely to be food and shelter e.g. a thick hedgerow would be good. Release it carefully so has not to harm it and to give it a fighting chance of survival. Two other things: My OH only says that he is taking the rat to the woods. How do I know he is actually releasing it? It is against DEFRA regulations to feed chickens s"Ooops, word censored!"s from your kitchen. (Um....how many of us are innocent of that!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 would those traps be for sale if re-release was illegal. What would be the point? So that you can release any accidentally trapped non target species such as hedgehogs, red squirrels etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billathome65 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 henhathnofury2 You may think i'm a horrid person but if it where me it would be a dead ratty. As Egluntyne stated the idea of these types of traps is so that any other none target species such as hedgehogs, red squirrels etc. are not harmed. The reason DEFRA have the rule on s"Ooops, word censored!"s is that s"Ooops, word censored!"s encourage rats etc. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted May 19, 2011 Author Share Posted May 19, 2011 Bill I understand your viewpoint entirely. However I am Quaker and I really can't kill anything. Our neighbour has used lethal traps - caught no rats but killed birds and mutilated frogs. So she actually wants us to use humane traps. Frustratingly she has blamed our chickens despite the fact that she puts CHEESE ON THE FLOOR for the birds. Also, she found a rat's nest in her compost pile, which she still throws everything in. I understand the Defra rule but I am afraid that kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s no more attract rats than chicken food does. A rat's natural diet is cereal-based - so they will be attracted. I don't give s"Ooops, word censored!"s (of course not) but if I did I would watch the chickens eat it all up and take away any wasteage. We are actually very vigilant with our pelleted food - taking it in at night, storing in metal bins etc. But we live next to huge fields adjoining a school. The school has had numerous complaints because their grounds are so unkempt - lots of logs, rubbish etc. The rats are coming from there and they have a regular pest company that deals with their infestations. The rats who come to us are usually young - scouting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted May 19, 2011 Author Share Posted May 19, 2011 I meant to say - my post is somewhat confusing and contradictory - that kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s LEFT FOR SOME TIME will attract vermin, not quickly devoured food from dinosaur-footed chickens.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 henhathnofury2 I think you and your OH are doing exactly the right and kind thing. People get far too worked up over rats which are just animals like any other and very intellegent ones at that. Like all wild animals, survival of the fittest sorts the numbers out. If we humans were more careful with our rubbish there would be a lot fewer rats, grey squirrels, foxes etc. etc. Perhaps there should be fewer humans too in order to maintain eco diversity and preserve the planet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billathome65 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Whatever you do will be right for you. Good luck and sorry chucks been feeling down since you caught ratty. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
