Storms and chickens

[HampshireGardener]

When I went to clean the run and collect the eggs as usual today I moved the small chicken shelter that sits in the straw end and raked the straw underneath it, when two rats popped out and ran up the ramp into the Cube! My DH had the presence of mind to close the door between run and coop.

 

When we opened the nest box opening and banged on the side of the Cube one rat jumped out and got away but DH despatched the second one with a spade. I hope we don’t have a recurrence as the worst thing is I don’t know how long they’d been hiding there in the deep litter. Ugh my poor chickens!

 

I’ve thrown all the food out and the hanging treats and replaced everything including the water container so nothings contaminated and my husband has screwed triple mesh over the vent slot.

 

I have no idea how they had got in as the run is completely covered in weld mesh and sits on cemented pave stones so there are no gaps. The only way as far as I could see was if they had managed to get under the winter cover and through the ventilation slot on the Cube and then couldn’t work out how to get back out as here we’re signs that they’d been digging in a corner at the sand end to get out. I’m going to nervously approaching the clean out for a while now but I’ve left the flow clear of objects that rats could hide under so fingers crossed it’s been a one off experience .........

 

Barbara

[The Dogmother]

Sorry to hear that

 

Be sure to wear protective clothing when you clear it out - I am sure that you're aware of the hazards of fate faeces and urine.

 

I would suggest that you put down bait boxes all around your garden, especially where you see evidence of rat runs - trails against fences and walls, droppings, grease areas under fences, Change your litter to Aubiose and keep it raked over with a sprinkling of Ground Sanitising Powder every week.

 

Hope that you get it sorted.

[Luvachicken]

Oh dear, that's not good

I hope your chickens stay safe.

 

I found a little stash of sunflower hearts in the little gap underneath the Cube tray and the base of the Cube itself today, when I cleaned out the girls

Whoever stashed it there won't be able to nibble on it in the freezing conditions tonight

 

Devious little creatures

[HampshireGardener]

Thank you. I have Equinola in one half of my run and sharp sand in the other. A few days ago I liberally spread Bio-Dri Sanitising Powder throughout and Diatemaceous Earth inside the coop and the nest box. I probably made the two rats that I believe were in the run at the time, the cleanest in the county!

 

We live in a rural area and have a stream at the bottom of the garden so it’s no surprise that we get rats, as do our neighbours, but this is the first time we’ve had them in with the chickens as we made the run as impregnable as possible. It is on a very large area of cemented paving slabs and the Cube is attached to the outside, on wheels so all living/nesting areas are raised off the floor (the chicken shelter that was on the floor under which the rats were hiding, I have removed.

 

I have two rat boxes and probably need to get more. The Plaster of Paris mix has not worked for me as they just keep coming back for more! Last year I seemed to be feeding rats with very expensive rat poison, again with no apparent ill effects. I am now trying proprietary poison again, so wish me luck!

 

Barbara

[Valkyrie]

Seems to be a big thing this year. We have had intermittent issues with just a couple of rats now and then over the years - even before we had chickens and were promptly dealt with. Mostly we get field mice. This time add an empty house next door for a year and the rats have had a whale of a time with 3 sheds to hide under and building products piled up and covered with canvas and no terrier to chase them. Not so much down by the chickens, but big time at the top of the garden and coming in from the empty property side. Since then shop set up underneath/by our shed, but as that's raised up on sleepers it's a bit draughty for any nesting purposes, but like Luvachicken we had the excavation signs, luckily no sign of further activity. The compost bin has been dismantled for moving purposes. It won't be the end of it, as you say there is a stream close by here also, and there will always be rats searching for goodies - especially when it turns cold.

Hope you manage to sort it out. Cheeky blighters!