2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Princess Leia]

A couple of weeks ago we found that there was signs of rat activity around the Eglu. One or more had burrowed under the house. No evidence of them in the house and the girls haven't been disturbed AFAIK. Laid slabs under the house, but they have now dug under the flat part of the wire enclosure to gain access (the run stands on a 4 inch deep bed of hardwood chippings). Have tried the trick of stuffing steel wire wool into the hole, but they just dig elsewhere. I get the impression it may just be one rat rather than a group? The Eglu stands at the top of the garden, well away from the house, and just next to open farmland.

 

Question - has anyone used and had any success with ultrasonic repellers such as this one? http://www.rattraps.org.uk/Rat-Traps/Outdoor-Ultrasonic-Rat-Repeller

Would the chickens be affected by it?

[coco]

From what I have heard the rats get used to them. We have a problem with rats, I have found one dead one and seen one in the run at night. I have been putting bait blocks down at night where they have bee digging and even get the dustpan and brush out at night to get any spilt food up. All food and water is bought in at night. I have evne had the little beggars in my little house with the banties as there are signs of gnawing by the door. I have put a double layer of weldmesh over the ventilation holes (wooden house). Touchwood we haven't had any nightime visits for about four nights now, although I am quite sure they will be back. Rats very rarely come in ones but tend to bring family and friends with them. Good luck getting rid of yours.

[jackian]

I am the same .Below where my girls coups are I saw a rat and put poison down for 4 nights..(Out of their way i might add) 3 days and night something has polished off the lot..but not the last day and night .Nothing has gone.I am paranoid

It came from next door and went back the same way so hopefully nest not in my garden.

I shall be putting stuff down night and day for a few weeks yet.

[Princess Leia]

Well, I don't want to use bait/poison, not just because of the girls, but due to a greyhound that likes to investigate anything potentially edible. There's always the possibility that the rat(s) could carry and drop the bait somewhere in the garden for him (or the rabbit) to find.

The problem with rats becoming accustomed to ultrasonic repellers, I think only apples to the ones that are running all the time. This one has a PIR which only sets it going when there's movement. Might e-mail the supplier to see if they have any advice regarding whether the chooks will be able to hear it!

[jessie]

The last week or so I,ve had a problem with a rat that has actually nibbled around the hole at the bottom of the nesting tray. Tried traps, put out at night with no success. Have now bought a rat poison station, where the rat has to go through a little tube to access the poison, hopefully reducing the risk of the poison getting onto the surrounding ground. Before using the rat bait station there was evidence every morning of the rat digging but fingers crossed the past couple of days there has been no sign of them. I bought the rat bait station from Durham Hens, they are on ebay.

[heth1986]

I've used the ultrasonic cat repeller due to a far too nosey neighbourhood moggy and it did the trick with him... I've read a few times that birds can't hear them so don't worry about that.

 

Try a couple of traps in the holes, peanut butter with a few layers pellets on top works a treat but wear gloves whilst you're handling it all otherwise the rats will smell human and dodge them. Adult rats seem to outwit traps and bait quite easily but hopefully this will catch any younger ones.

 

Have you thought about putting the WIR on paving slabs with the woodchip on top?

 

Also, rats are supposed to hate the smell of ammonia... My OH and dog have been known to take a trip up the garden after dark and err...

[Princess Leia]

They have confirmed that this works on a frequency that chickens can't hear. It also has settings that can be adjusted so it doesn't upset the dog.

 

The dog does have the occasional pee against the trees either side of the Eglu (can't say for OH....) and Greyhound pee is quite strong. Have been lent a humane trap, so may try that first.

 

The body of the Eglu already has slabs under, might try a row of bricks beneath the skirt of the run as well. I don't particularly want to slab the whole base, but might have to consider it.

 

I could be wrong, but I don't think they are after food? There's no evidence of eggs going missing or food levels dropping, but straw does seen to be disappearing?