hot pepper for rat controll

Romoshka

Chirping
8 Years
Jan 15, 2012
76
3
91
Clemson, SC
I had a thought and wondered if anyone here had experienced with using cayene powder in chicken feed to repels rats. It is a common technique in backyard bird feeders to keep squirrels at bay. The birds seem unaffected and I suspect its a mammal issue thus rats would be repeled but the birds unaffected. Anybody try this? If so with what results? Might effect egg taste though.
 
Not a prob for the chickens, some people add cayenne pepper to promote egg production and general health. Hot peppers are a very common treat for parrots also.

You are right that it is a bird vs mammal thing. Birds don't have receptors for capsaicin, the chemical that makes the "heat", but most (all?) mammals do, so pepper spray can stop a bear, but not a cassowary (in case you are ever chased by a mean one, remember that).

IDK whether anyone has tested it's repellent effect on rats. Given how adaptable they are, they may have acquired a taste for it like many humans.
 
Well, increased egg production? Really? Sounds like a two-fer! Im gonna give it a whirl. Ill report back if it seems to reduce my rat feed losses. Will also set up some game cameras to see if I can document rat response to the new HOT feed. As far as egg production anything would be helpful now as all 55 of my hens just finished a molt and im only getting 3-5 eggs/day.
 
Well, increased egg production? Really? Sounds like a two-fer! Im gonna give it a whirl. Ill report back if it seems to reduce my rat feed losses. Will also set up some game cameras to see if I can document rat response to the new HOT feed. As far as egg production anything would be helpful now as all 55 of my hens just finished a molt and im only getting 3-5 eggs/day.
When a chicken changes its attire it isn't like you or I putting on a new suit and zipping it up. The feathers still must mature and harden before the hens get over the molt and can begin laying again. Considering the low number of hours of Sunlight at this time of year and after taking into account what breed or strain of hens you possess and their age and their overall health, it could be March before you see a big improvement. You can be sure that if hot pepper was a real egg laying miracle that you couldn't open a new bag or sack of laying pellets without wearing a haz-mat suit. BTW, gun powder is supposed to have the same effect.
 
Last edited:

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom