Unsecure chicken perches

[Chicken Momma]

This morning, looking out of the window at the chooks in their extended run I saw an R.A.T. in the run. I rushed out and scared it off with a broom but of course all that did was provide a bit of adrenalin rush for the R, amusement for the chooks and I got soaked to the skin in a cloudburst.

 

Now it is gone midday and Mr R is still casually wandering around picking up bits of food here and there while Margo and Betty gaze on. None of them seemed concerned at the other's presence. When Betty took a step towards the R he/she did leg it out of the run but was soon back.

 

What to do? We are in the middle of the country and the Isle of Man has a gazillion Longtails so traps and poison would not really work.

 

Should I just leave it, safe in the knowledge that when the girls are closed in at night 'it' can't get into the Eglu Go?

 

Or should I get my gun........?

[Olly]

Taking the food in at night may help, but clearly if your 'longtail' is wandering around during the day, that may not make much difference. I think poison is the only answer - yes, there may be a lot of other rats around but you can reduce the immediate population in your garden/chicken run. If you can shoot it, then that's an acceptable method of disposal as well but obviously not one to be undertaken lightly. Do you know anyone with a Jack Russell?

 

I would guess that this is the 'Intruder' who has tried digging under your Go. I doubt if they could gnaw through overnight, but I would definitely want to take steps to get rid of it as they will steal food and spread disease.

[heth1986]

Blinking things.

 

I had 2 MASSIVE rats who decided that the chook food was fair game, I ended up putting traps and poison down but the clever little wotsits just side stepped them. The day I caught a young rat in one of the traps was the day I decided they had to go as there were obviously a lot more to come and I didn't want to risk losing any of the eggs or my chooks getting poorly.

 

My OH ended up sat up the garden with his air rifle to 'dispose' of the 2 huge ones, the younger ones don't seem as clever and have been caught with the traps.

 

We've had a 'rat free' run for about 3 weeks now, I've left the traps out near to the entry points, just in case, and hopefully this will nip any future problems in the bud. I've always taken the chickens food in at night but when they're wandering round in the day time, I can't see any other way to deter them!

 

I didn't like having to kill them, but at the end of the day they are vermin and need to be dealt with.

[The Dogmother]

I agree with Olly.

 

My steps would be:

 

Baited boxes (will your council deal with them or are they still in denial about the Longtail presence? )

Shotgun

Terrier (chickens shut in the run of course)

 

I might just emigrate to the IoM with a friend's ratting terriers; reckon there's a career there

[Snowy]

I agree, it needs to be 'removed' Where there is one, there will be lots more in hiding!

[Goosey Lucy]

Environmental Health will happily come out and advise you as well as put down traps/poison. Give them a call and explain that you've seen one in daylight hours and they will arrange a time to come and see you. In the meantime try and keep your hen area as clear of spilled food as you can. Don't feed any s"Ooops, word censored!"s unless they are eaten immediately. EH will be able to look around and see if they can find a nest or runs.

 

Remember longtails pass on Weil's disease which is a killer. More info here.

 

DM: can't wait to see your work permit application...

[Mrs_B]

Got to agree with the other posters!

 

I saw a rat several weeks ago and my first action was to fill the holes it made under our summer house and put down snap traps and bait boxes - I also stopped leaving any food in the runs and cleaned up any mess. I didn't want to use the snap traps really because we have a burman cat and several squirrels/birds that live in our garden and I was in fear of them getting trapped - so these didn't stay out for very long. The rat got under our Eglu - frightened the life out of me when I had to pull the bottom off and it came running out

 

I haven't seen it after several weeks now and the bait boxes have been entered and the poison nibbled on. I think taking in the food and cleaning up has really helped too - and of course filling up any holes they make! They hate anything new or being disturbed.

 

Fingers crossed you can stop them coming into your garden - definitely remove the food at night, that's what they want!

 

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[The Dogmother]

Just keep up the bait boxes and vigilance once you think they are gone.

 

Best to slab or put concrete under your eglu and run if you have a problem.

[Mrs_B]

Yes, the bait boxes will always be down now and in the future!

 

I also found putting long weldmesh sheets on the ground where I can't place a paving slab very useful for stopping the digging

 

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