Egghead68 Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Something is burrowing into my chicken run past the anti-dig skirt and electric wire. I think it is a rat. I have blocked up the holes (new ones appear or they get reopened) and have now put down extra barriers round the outside of the run (bits of paving stone and wood and tarpaulin). I have started taking the food in at night. Any other ideas appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shemybelle Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Hi I had rats at a previous property (not related to the chickens) and the best way to deal with them is to poison them. They are very clever and will find ways around traps and blocks. Lots of people buy poison. I had environmental health deal with my rat problem. It was sorted very quickly. I used to feel bad about killing rats and mice, but the way I see it now is that it's the only way, especially with rats. They are dangerous. I'm sure others will advise good brands of poison. Lx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 Thank you. I really don't want to poison them if there is any alternative. I'll try to get a humane trap and put it in the run at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 Some advice here. An excellent article here with info about the issues around releasing a live caught rat. here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muzzboy Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 I had rats a month ago holes appearing around run bought some rentokil rat poison from hombase and after 3 weeks the poison was no longer taken and no more holes guess rat has died I also remove the chicken feed at night not to attract any more rats I think that's the trick as rats are never far away from us good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 There are lots of reasons to get rid of rats, and you should just bite the bullet and poison them. The two main reasons I have here are the chickens and the thatched roof. I use Storm and the Rentokill blue grains poisons. I crush the storm nuggets and mix it in newspaper with the rentokill. Don't touch it with your hands... scrumple the newspapar up and drop it into a plugged off drainpipe length of about three to four foot long (a plant pot is a good plug). Lay it somewhere close to the chicken run, and slightly elevated so the rain can't seep in. Seriously... don't be sympathetic to a rat, it will absolutely not return the favour. You will have to continue this indefinitely, and check the traps every week or so to replace the poison. Lay them at different times, so there will always be some, and when they appear not to be being eaten... keep laying them. There is never 'a' rat... there are always lots, and if you have holes, they are in there. This sounds horribly callous, but put a hose down a hole and run it. They will come out, and if you have a friend with a Jack-Russel... all the better. Sorry for sounding so vindictive and crude... I'm not, but I hate hate hate rats, and am always delighted when my cat drags one home, or I can dispose of a dead one. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 Another query (actually 2) re rats Yesterday I saw a little tunnel, about 2 - 3in wide and 2- 3in deep into the hen's 'day run' (a heavy wooden/mesh ark) Do you think that's a rat? If so, I guess I reluctantly need to poison them Stu mentioned his cat - I'm very worried that, if I use poison, the cat could catch/eat a poisoned rat (the cat likes killing and eating local wildlife) Any advice appreciated here also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Rat holes are generally tennis ball sized, so this is probably rats. It's easy to protect your cat from eating the actual laid poison, but it is possible they might catch and kill a poisoned rat, especially near death. However, cats have 'good noses' and will actually leave killed food if it doesn't come up to par. You can make this even more likely is you feed your cats, and they are more inclined to become sporting hunters, as opposed to hungry ones. More often than not... our cat will kill something, drag it home and leave it, before taking off and eating from the food bowl. Sometimes it eats a bit, and has been fine so far. I like to think this is it making a distinction between good and bad, but I expect that's wishful thinking. There are no guarantees though, and there is always a small risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 Bought some stuff from ebay - a rat trap (breakback type) in a box that can also be a (locked) poison bait station. Figured I'd see what I caught before putting poison down The daft cat is very well fed but still insists on chewing local wildlife so poison is the last resort. But I have some now if needs must. Thanks for the advice - appreciated Edit: just been to put the trap down and see the critter has dug another hole on the other side of the run Hoping the trap catches something tonight (I know rats are supposed to be nocturnal, but people have mentioned daytime sightings - am i only likely to catch them when it's dark?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shemybelle Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 Hi It's very difficult to trap a rat. They are very intelligent and are highly suspicious of anything new in their environment. It might take you a while to catch them, and I'd think it's more likely to happen at night. If you see a rat during the day, then you can be pretty sure you have a big infestation. Good luck! Lx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted July 13, 2012 Author Share Posted July 13, 2012 Thanks everyone. I bought a humane trap but something is just eating the bait and not getting caught. I will lay paving stones around the run inside and out. If that doesn't work I'll have to resort to poison (but really not keen). The articles Egluntyne linked are very helpful. I have woods nearby that I think would be a good place to release the rats (if I ever catch them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 I wouldn't fancy carrying a vicious rat any distance in a live catch trap. In any case it is illegal if they are not native born, ie the black rat. Also you have a duty of care to the caught animal, ie you are obliged to check the traps regularly, to release the caught animal swiftly and to release it in an environment where its needs can be met. As rats are disease carrying vermin, it makes more sense to poison them. By releasing them, the problem is being passed on to someone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 I agree with what Egluntyne has said. Also, on a practical level how many times would you have to do this? Rats, like mice, don't usually live a single life - you would have to go on doing this again and again, assuming you were able to trap them all. I'm afraid poison is the best answer, I have two cats and they catch and eat wildlife but I still wouldn't hesitate to use poison in a safe baitbox if I had a rat problem. I think the risk is fairly low that they would actually eat a poisoned rat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CassieP Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 I'll second the poisoning. I used to have pet rats and love them but wouldn't think twice about shooting/poisoning a wild rat. They're vermin and cause nothing but trouble. Cassie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 For some reason I was convinced there would be a dead rat to dispose of this morning - but nada On the upside there was no new signs of rat activity either I really sympathise with Egghead's wish to not use poison, but can't imagine releasing an angry rat happily (and the village would probably lynch me if I was seen!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shemybelle Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 The trouble with waiting for the rats (and there will almost definitely be more than one) to get used to the traps enough to get caught is that while you wait, you are feeding those rats and therefore encouraging them. They also have the chance to breed in that time. The thought of being overrun with rats horrifies me. For my own sanity and out of respect for my neighbours who don't deserve to be subjected to rats just because I choose to keep chickens, I would put down poison without hesitation. Lx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rhode Island Red Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Poisoning works well, but I personally prefer the snap trap (peanut-butter for bait works a charm) I had a rat problem about 2 years ago. I placed out 2 snap traps, checking them twice daily, and I managed to terminate the existence of 8 of the little ... monsters But please, please, please be careful to make sure that your chickens or children where applicable cannot get snapped upon by the snap traps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 well I finally caught 'something' in the snap trap, but am not sure it's a rat - seems I haven't seen that many rats this close to! This is about 3in long (body), mid brown with a grey tummy Is it a rat? It looks smaller than I'd expect - a field mouse? (I feel a bit daft that I don't know) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 That sounds more like a mouse. Rats are surprisingly big I've had rats in the garden before (think we might have them visiting at the moment). They are wiley little devils, so far I have put down cage traps, snap traps and secure bait box, all of which ratty and his friends have studiously avoided My latest move is to buy a Grandpa's Feeder to try and prevent food spillage which attracts the rats. I currently bring my feeders in at night, but I guess there is sufficient food on the ground to attract rats - the hens certainly do a good job of chucking it everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shemybelle Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 That's almost definitely a mouse. They're not as clever as rats so are less suspicious of traps. But at least you know the traps work! Lx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 yup had another look before I disposed of him - pretty sure it's a rather well-fed mouse Not sure what the rats are coming back for - have also moved all the food out overnight and have been feeding the hens well away from the coop so there's less to interest the them will give it one more go before getting out the poison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 I have never succeeded with those snap traps when it comes to rats. I have caught the odd vole and sadly 2 robins (I now tuck them beneath a bit of old carpet so the birds don't go near them) but never a rat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
