SueChick Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Hi - thought I'd share our recent nasty experience with the horrible rat species because we had a close call recently regarding a rat actually gnawing around the hole in the egg box and nearly getting one of our ladies. There was this huge commotion in the middle of the night and all 3 ladies were screaming and burst their way out of the door of the Eglu into the run. We couldn't see anything at the time and couldn't understand it. Then when we're doing cn extremely deep clean due a suspicion of red mite (it's all happening to us this year!) we turned the Eglu over and there were gnaw marks over the bottom and around the egg box hole. We have now got a metal grill to go over the hole to still allow drainage but prevent the horrible rats! When we lifted the slabs up that the Eglu was standing on (again checking for possible mite infestations), we had a horrible shock! Out popped a rat and ran across the garden with 3 chickens and 2 cats in hot pursuit! It had made tunnels under the slabs without us even knowing it was there! This just goes to show how sneaky they are at hiding because we did not have a clue it was there and saw no signs of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 The same has happened to me, unfortunately with fatal results. Whatever it was that got in - not sure if it was a rat or mink etc - gnawed round the hole in the nesting box and killed one of my bantams. I now stuff the hole with scrunched up chicken wire to hopefully prevent this happening again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueChick Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share Posted April 10, 2012 Oh no that's terrible! I'm guessing it's more common than I thought then. Nasty creatures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearls007 Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 I've been putting poison out in a bait box because of a rodent hole in a flower bed next to the house. I think it has worked....the kitchen stinks with what I assume to be the smell of rotting rodent. It has died somewhere under the floor, but ripping up my beautiful stone floor isn't an option so I have had a scented candle lit in the kitchen for the last few days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Horrible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millie Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I am very sorry to hear this. I have always wondered why the "drain holes" are so large and unguarded. At the moment i only have tape over the nest box hole to keep the shavings in. What does everyone else do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubababe Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 OMG that is horrible...for all of you. millie » Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:37 amI am very sorry to hear this. I have always wondered why the "drain holes" are so large and unguarded. At the moment i only have tape over the nest box hole to keep the shavings in. What does everyone else do? I tend to put shredded newspaper in the bottom of the box then cover with shavings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millie Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I tend to put shredded newspaper in the bottom of the box then cover with shavings. Thanks for that idea scubababe, unfortunatly have already tried this, what happened with me is the girls used to drag it out of the cube around the garden, i also caught them eating it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubababe Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 OK thinking out of the box now...what about the shredded paper but put a piece of netting over it, then the shavings! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FINE-STRONG-BLACK-FLEXIBLE-HDPE-2mm-INSECT-FISH-MESH-SCREEN-0-6x0-5m-PLASTIC-NET-/290659988778?pt=UK_H_G_Garden_Plants_Landscaping_Garden_Materials_ET&hash=item43acaf752a Just thinking it will create the barrier against them nicking the paper or have you tried a piece of un-shredded newspaper? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millie Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 (edited) Thanks scubababe, tried the unshreaded paper, soon gets shreded . Good idea with the netting, they possibly wouldnt be able to get their beaks through those holes, but dont think it would stop a rat or other slinky intruder. Edited April 18, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I use scrunched up chicken wire to fill the hole and stop anything getting in. Wire wool also works but is messier to deal with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I've got a cork (champagne / fizzy wine size I think) blocking the nest box hole on my eglu, it needs to be pushed in from underneath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubababe Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I've got a cork (champagne / fizzy wine size I think) blocking the nest box hole on my eglu, it needs to be pushed in from underneath. oooo thats a good idea...don't have any spare Champagne corks lying around....looks like I'll have to add Champagne to the shopping list The sacrifices I do for my girlies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Potts Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 My Classic was second hand and came complete with rat nibble of about inch around the hole in egg box. So, the Classic sits with the egg box hole exactly on top of a ball of scrunched mesh, to allow drainage through but make it difficult to gnaw upwards and into the house; they'd have to chew metal first. Wood shavings cover this. The wire ball/Classic sit on two panels of mesh, about 1m square each and placed on top of each at slight angle. Mesh hole is about half inch square but it is a really rigid sheet. Classic footprint means it covers the mesh so it isn't too unsightly. I have two house bricks that sit one each either in the curved part underneath, again to deter visitors and not really noticed. I like the WIR to look tidy, but it looks a fright at the mo as am in midst of intros and have removed some perches/blocks while their feet adjust to gripping, but had to add hiding places. All came from Wickes, all quite cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickanne Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 A sheet of wire mesh about 40cm squre under Eglu would do. I've got slabs. I've tended not to shut their bedroom door at night now it is milder but you have made me change my mind. I already have mouse traps in the shed next to the run because T & L have access to the compost bins and seem to treat the compost mice as pets not food! Can deal with mice but anything bigger freaks me out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChookieCaz Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 I wondered if a rat can get in an Eglu Cube? This evening, I checked on the hens and a rat escaped out of the back of the run. When I looked into the Cube, I found blood on the roosting bars! I don't know where the rat hid, whether or not it got into one of the peanut feeders/grubs and if it bit a hen either in the run or in the Cube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinning Top Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 I don't know but before we bought our Cube I asked why the ladder doesn't reach the ground and the Omlet lady told me it was to stop rats climbing up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubababe Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 I don't know but before we bought our Cube I asked why the ladder doesn't reach the ground and the Omlet lady told me it was to stop rats climbing up... Hmmm Will have to redo the ladder into the cube now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChookieCaz Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 After my posting, I checked the hens and could see no obvious source for the blood. I went down to see them again during the last quarter of an hour and there doesn't appear to be any fresh blood so I'm mystified as to where it came from. The hens appear to be lively enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Perhaps the blood belonged to the rat? Maybe he got a bit pecked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChookieCaz Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I did wonder if the hens might have argued with the rat, although it was able to run away alright and the blood is on the roosting bars, so hope it hasn't climbed the run mesh to get in the Cube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
