Smart Autodoor

[feleena4]

I have a rat problem

 

I noticed a few weeks ago and began removing all food at night, stopped feeding the wild birds and generally have been scrupiously clean in the run. ( Large, home made run with eglu attached)

 

Now my neighbours have spotted them and called the council. I'm relieved in a way because I have been sneaking around the garden putting down traps in the dark. I called the council too and a pleasant chap arrived on Friday and gave me advice.

 

He told me that the rats will never go whilst there is top quality food avaliable (i.e. layers meal). He has put baited boxes down and advised me to purchase a humane style squirrel/rat cage and then I can kill the rats myself.

I also have 8 gorgeous quail who have been very lucky not to have been killed by the rats, again because they are feasting on the quails food.

 

A couple of things the chap mentioned worried me.

1. As the owner of chickens etc., it is my job to keep vermin under control and I can be fined if neighbouring properties have any damage to their possessions in sheds/garages.

2. I can be made to get rid of my beloved chickens.

 

My ears are burning just thinking about what neighbours are probably saying. Close by there are ducks I've heard calling in some-ones garden, there are numerous rabbits/guinea pigs in gardens and almost everyone feeds the birds so what am I to do?

 

Any advice would be really appreciated.

 

I've been so looking forward to spring and adding another 2 chickens to my coop but I think this will have to be put on hold.

 

 

Help!!

 

[Olly]

Rats are everywhere. You've been doing the right thing by removing food at night, etc. The rats are just as likely to be feeding from your neighbours' bird table or compost heap. It's right to take action if you find that you have a rat problem, and most people on here find that poison is the most effective way to control them, but unless you were behaving completely irresponsibly, I don't think anyone could say that the rats were in some way your fault.

 

If you were neglecting the problem and rats were freely feeding on your hens' food, then I suppose it could be an environmental health issue, but you're doing everything you can to deal with it - I wouldn't worry. I haven't heard of anyone being fined in these circumstances. Keeping hens doesn't mean that you're suddenly responsible for every rat in the neighbourhood!

[Tricky]

You have done the right thing by calling in a specialist as Rats are notoriously difficult to trap.They are very intelligent creatures and will smell a trap a mile off. When I saw a rat in my Eglu run one day I purchased a steel trap and placed some treats inside.I was amazed to watch the rat look around the trap before digging underneath it and making the food fall through the cage.!! He would not enter the trap at all. In a way Im glad he didn't because how then do you kill it?

It is illegal to catch a rat and set it free some where else so you would have to kill it.

 

Poison seems to be the only way.The rat catcher will place poison down and come back over a period of weeks to check the bait id being taken. When it is no longer being taken then it is safe to say that the rat is dead.

 

The answer has to lie in prevention.It is not the chickens that attract rats but the food that is often left lying around and the environment. Three things that will give you a problem with rats are a food source, a water source such as a garden pond or drinker left on the ground, and somewhere to shelter,such as a nice compost or pile of logs etc. (dont put waste food ina compost)Sounds like that could be any one of your neighbours! The only thing that surprised me with your issue was being advised to buy a trap. Others may have different experiences but I would advize that you save your money and let the bait do its job.

Anyway, good luck.

[Egluntyne]

Some advice here :

[Duncan08]

I have been sorting out a mouse invasion, which is completely different to rats.

 

Personally I think if I were you I would get a professional in to do it for you. And would be looking to go for poison. I set humane traps for our mice and set them free in the conservation area not far from where we live. But as advised already you cannot do that with rats and I wouldn't like to have to deal with a live one

 

All my chicken gear, feed and bedding was being stored in a presumed rodent free locker. Unfortunately it wasn't and they made themselves quite at home. Now the bedding, feed, corn, mealworms are all stored in lock tight plastic storage bins.

 

I firmly believe that the Auboise was a huge attraction for them. When I cleared it all out I had almost a full bale, I had tried to save some of it, but it was riddled with debris so the lot went in the garden recycling bin. I would definitely recommend keeping your bedding in a secure place.

 

I have also changed to the hanging feeders in the WIR as I find that the girls do not knock so much food out of it, saving on waste, but also avoiding contamination of the bedding in the run.

things like veggies & fruit, and chips, (girls love chips!) are given to them in metal dog bowls rather than thrown in for them to scratch about for. (I actually started doing this to cut down on mess and smells) I have hanging balls that I stuff with leaves for keep them interested, (for about 10 seconds)

 

Good Luck, hope you get sorted soon.

[feleena4]

Thanks everyone for your advice

 

The Council chap called back yesterday and checked his baited boxes but the rats hadn't touch anything.

 

I have been letting my girls free range and give them a feed of mash a couple of times a day so theres no food about.

The only drawback with this method is (as most of you know) that my garden will soon be wrecked by their digging!

 

Wish me luck...............

 

[hilda-and-evadne]

The Council chap called back yesterday and checked his baited boxes but the rats hadn't touch anything.

 

Rats are suspicious of anything new. I would not have expected them to touch the bait boxes so soon after their sudden appearance.