Advice on rats in the coop

[1eyejer]

I just discovered we have a rat problem in and around the coop...what is the best course to take??

 

[Lofty Dreams]

flood holes with water and raise feeders and waters of the ground

 

[eggboy]

Rats can live an extremely long time underwater so flooding does not help.

Try trapping them a snapping trap (only outside the coop) or a Havahart trap in or out of the coop (if you have a gun) I wouldn't suggest poison because even if you have one of those boxes that rats can get in and chickens can't the rats can easily take the poison and hide it somewhere that the chickens can get to it. You could also try hunting them with a B.B. gun if you don't have any close neighbors.

 

[dwegg]

I had a rat problem also and now I take all the feed bins in every nig and put them out in the morning before work.