Anti-Rat Coop??? Scared and confused.....O.O

[Gardenpig]

Eeek!! So I shouldn't use hay or straw to cover the floor of coop? What should I use? Can I use sand? Would that be ok?

 

[patandchickens]

First, take a deep breath

Mice are not going to hurt chickens; rats can (I'm pretty sure I had a chicken who was in a dog crate 'jail' for a few days get her feet nibbled by a couple rats that I know for a fact were in the bldg at the time) but honestly both of them are more of an issue for PEOPLE than for the chickens. You don't need a larger mouse population around than can be avoided, and you really don't want to be ranchin' up rats (which can become a very serious problem if they start getting into peoples' houses).

As far as mice go, some will probably get into your coop at some point, oh well -- the main thing is just to avoid creating somewhere they can set up a little hotel and have thousands of offspring, and to keep them out of the chicken food as best possible. So, if you insulate the walls, make it with TIGHT carpentry, and avoid having any other little enclosed spaces where mice might like to live (see below).

Now as for rats: are you in an area with a known rat problem? Or is there no particular evidence of rats at work there now (although that doesn't mean some may not become more interested once you have chickens?

If you KNOW you have a significant rat issue already, then you will for sure want to take extra steps to ratproof the coop. This is the one case where I would advocate burying a 1/2" or 1/4" hardwarecloth "floor" in your run (under at least 6-8" of dirt or sand, so the chickens can still enjoy themselves), and using hardwarecloth for the entire run (nothing larger mesh). Having your coop, and maybe even the run also (again, topped with sand), on a concrete slab would be even better if you can afford it. Then build everything with VERY VERY PRECISE TIGHT carpentry so there are no gaps; either put the coop directly on the ground or raise it 18" or more, so that rats are disinclined to hunker down underneath and chew their way in; and consider running metal flashing over all exposed edges and corners, at least up to 2' or so above the ground. Make sure popdoors are constructed so rats can't chew their way in, too. It can be done, but it IS a bit more work.

However, if you do NOT have any particular reason to believe there is a large active rat population around, just do what everyone else does. Use some common sense

, build the coop either directly on the ground or raised at least 18" for the reason described above, make your carpentry tight and don't create little secure spaces, try not to leave feed outdoors at night, and then just see what happens. If you start seeing evidence of rats, you can retrofit things by lining the floor of the run with pavers or hardwarecloth, putting flashing on gnawable parts of wood, etc.

Oh, and the biggest thing of all in avoiding rats (and excessive mice) is: don't let them start considering your yard a buffet. Always, always, keep all feedstuffs in SECURE containers e.g. galvanized trashcans with a bungee or chain on the lid. Preferably indoors. If you're worried about rodents, put your feeder IN the coop not outdoors, and be wary of putting any bedding that has large feed spills in it on the compost or garden as that is how I acquired MY first (and only, and AFAIK now totally *former*) rat problem

Honestly though, for most people, rats are a non-issue and mice are at worst a minor nuisance.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[patandchickens]

And there is no problem at all with using straw as bedding (tho personally I think shavings is much easier to deal with)

Pat

 

[Nite_scope]

Quote:
Pine Shaving are easier to compost and better for deep littering Straw/hay is not the best. same for using straw in the nesting box. Yes a "block" of shaving cost more then a bail of straw. But at least every time you up in new shavings the coop smells better.. even just for the day LOL.

 

[Nite_scope]

Okay to the original post. There is really no way to "Rat proof" a coop. If them litte buggers want in they will get in. You can put wire..vent covers.. up but it will not stop them Rats can chew have been known to chew threw plate steel. But as far as them really going after your birds, for a midnight snack. Highly unlikely. It is the feed they want and they have been known at times to go after eggs.

One way to detour them if you are infested with them. Build a Raised coop, you could put Cones around the legs of the coop this won't stop them dead. But will make it harder for them. Rats tend to get fed up and will move on to something more easier then to try to mess with that.. Second keep the feed picked up don't spill a bunch of it. Good house keeping is key no matter what..

 

[95yj]

any chicken that sits there and lets the rat chew on it kinda deserves to get chewed on, but a rat can and will take down a chick or half grown chicken, also their just annoying, mice aren't as bad. the only solution i'v encountered for rats is poison, lock all your animals inside, warn neighbors with dogs, make sure rats can't get the chicken food instead and lay down a bunch of poison. also the only substance known to man that a mouse/rat won't chew through is steel wool, they won't touch it, wire they'll go through in a night. Mice i'v kind of given up on keeping out, i have a few traps in the lawn mower shed but they don't mess with the birds too much.

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
Are you referring to sheet metal? You're saying rats will chew through SOLID SHEET METAL? I find this really hard to believe.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

http://www.maricopa.gov/EnvSvc/VectorControl/RR/RRBiology.aspx (plus the other links at the left)
Note that one of the links identifies different kinds of rats, and what is in your area may be different than what is a huge issue here. I have never had the rats attack my birds, even when I have seen them SWARMING around the coops. THere are plenty of other food and water sources for them thank goodness. We have also drastically cleaned up the yard and that has eliminated much of the problem for us personally.

Note that these large rats can get in through a hole as small as 1/2" diameter. That is TINY.

 

[Cattitude]

I've seen rat holes in galvanized steel sheets. Scary.

 

[tnchickenut]

I know a guy who had his OEGBs leg chewed off one night by a rat. It gets around but the whole foot was chewed off at the "ankle". His coops are just runs really, and the rat didn't have to chew anything to get in. Rats and mice do eat meat, but I think they are more interested in the feed... like someone else said. I have one coop for my silver sebrights that is just a big run with a dog house in it (they never have been IN the house... they roost ON it). Anywho... they have a resident rodent... a tiny mouse. It comes out in broad daylight and drinks the fresh water when I change it out. I tried to get the cats interested in it, no luck.
It doesn't HURT them, but they can spread disease. Sorry for the little guy but if I have to I'll put the sebrights in somewhere else and leave the run door open to let the cats get him for sure.