Chickendoodle Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Not sure which forum to put this in ! Our dog has been repeatedly digging in the garden for a few weeks and has been sitting for hours transfixed at a point to the right of our shed. Yesterday we saw a rather large rat curled around inside our wild bird feeder (one of the anti squirrel ones with mesh around the outside) munching away at the bird food. Horrible! The bird feeder was hanging from a tree branch and the rat was able to climb up the tree and wriggle it's way inside the feeder. We have now put the bird feeder on a pole a few feet away from the tree (much to the disgust of the wild birds who liked to shelter in the branches while waiting their turn). Can't risk putting rat poison down as the rat is obviously nesting near the chicken enclosure so we have a pest control company coming out this afternoon to put some traps down. I hate rats! Just a warning to keep an eye out for a similar problem if you have a bird feeder in a tree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 We had the same issue some years ago and had a shed close to the feeder too. We use poison in a bait box to keep it away from the chickens and other pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 I hate rats too, and sympathise. We had to stop feeding the bird here for the same reason, and it seems if a rat wants something, it will get it. I use meter lengths of a drainpipe with a plant-pot in one end to put the rat poison (crushed and wrapped in paper) in, and this works well. The bits of pipe are easily hidden from view. It'll probably be best to find ways to manage them without using exterminators, but if you feed birds, you will have rats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 We've got them, too. But I have a teenager, who is a good shot...... as am I. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Same problem here, cheeky bleeder ran up the pole and was eating the fat balls. We've borrowed an air rifle, but no luck yet. I don't want to use poison, so we'll see if we get any better with the shooting. He has also been in the wir, as he can get through the bars higher up, but we've had a clear out and a move round of the varios bits of wood etc and he's not been back yet. Only seen one so far, i am assuming there are more, just the one seems brazen enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 Had the pest control man over this afternoon . He said that we are the 5th house in our area that he has been to. He thinks that the very wet weather has made the rats leave their usual area and go into gardens. We now have baited traps - apparently it may take a few weeks but once the rats eat the bait they will go away and die and the substance will mummify their bodies so there will be no smell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcountrygirl Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 we had the same thing with a rat going up the pole of the bird feeder. Hubby got it with his air rifle. Havent seen one since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 My feeder which I inherited when I moved in, is a post with a house on the top. Halfway down the post, is a...dustbin lid!!! Not attractive, but effective. No rats. However, the last 2 days I've watched a squirrel steal a whole fat ball & knaw at the contents of the coconut shell feeder. I don't know what to do now!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 The rat is no more! We were sat by the hen run having a cup of tea and we saw him emerging. Air rifle did the job. I do feel a bit sad in a way, but glad he's gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 I hate rats too, and sympathise.We had to stop feeding the bird here for the same reason, and it seems if a rat wants something, it will get it. I use meter lengths of a drainpipe with a plant-pot in one end to put the rat poison (crushed and wrapped in paper) in, and this works well. The bits of pipe are easily hidden from view. It'll probably be best to find ways to manage them without using exterminators, but if you feed birds, you will have rats. I understand the drain pipe bit but how do you/where do you fix it to the plant pot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcountrygirl Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 Hooray!!! Horrible creatures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 I had been a bit worried over past week that we had some visitors,suspicious looking tunnels etc.My fears were confirmed by a hole gnawed into shed where feed is kept.So off to B and Q and a very young sales man/boy.Do you have any rat traps?,me.Him what are they for? Bless him what a sheltered life.So O H will be setting them tonight all six so here's hoping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Set traps last night but nothing this a.m.Have been afraid to go into shed today so hopefully will catch some when there is obvious signs of activity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbug Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 I read somewhere that rats are suspicious of things new - may take a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Oh that's good to know redbug because they are still untouched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted March 22, 2013 Author Share Posted March 22, 2013 Well, the pest control man has been back a couple of times to re-fill the traps with poison. When he came last week he said that he had been called out to so many properties in our area that the council decided to investigate. It turns out that a man on our estate had decided that he liked rats and was feeding them and building them little houses in his shed. He has had a visit from environmental health who have read him the riot act so hopefully the problem will be solved once the current batch of rats have been dealt with. At over £100 a time this "gentleman" has caused a lot of people to spend a lot of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Oh good grief Some people are unbelievable! Who on earth would want to feed and encourage rats?! I think you should all send him your pest control bills! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbug Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 You have to laugh sometimes incredible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
