Are rats dangerous?!!

[Ozkan]

I don't think they'd attack during the day, but I don't have experience with rats. Only know what keeps them out.
Good luck.

Thanks I’m getting an eglu coop will that keep them out ?thanks

 

[50-45-1]

I did not know what an eglu coop was and looked them up. Wow what a price tag!
Can i ask what kind of set up your chickens have now? A picture might help.
Im not sure the wire on the eglu is tight enough to keep them out either.
You may purchase it and still have rodent problems. if you could show us what you have there may be some simple improvements that solve the problem.
I love little silkies, it would be a shame if the rats injured them.

 

[Ozkan]

I did not know what an eglu coop was and looked them up. Wow what a price tag!
Can i ask what kind of set up your chickens have now? A picture might help.
Im not sure the wire on the eglu is tight enough to keep them out either.
You may purchase it and still have rodent problems. if you could show us what you have there may be some simple improvements that solve the problem.
I love little silkies, it would be a shame if the rats injured them.

I did not know what an eglu coop was and looked them up. Wow what a price tag!
Can i ask what kind of set up your chickens have now? A picture might help.
Im not sure the wire on the eglu is tight enough to keep them out either.
You may purchase it and still have rodent problems. if you could show us what you have there may be some simple improvements that solve the problem.
I love little silkies, it would be a shame if the rats injured them.

Hi 10 ft by 10ft chain link dog run with shed as coop

 

[Ozkan]

Here’s the number if the picture of my set up:

 

[lena_]

10ft by 10ft dog run

That would be quite a difficult coop to secure. I would suggest for you to get a roll of hardware cloth and cover the bottom of your coop with it.

 

[Birdinhand]

as folks have mentioned, they kill chickens, eat eggs and spread diseases... and start fires! rats and chickens don't mix, they start out as a small problem and gradually become embolden and replicate once they find an open source of food which can be as little as simply having access to the chicken droppings.

any gap more than a half inch is enough for a female adult rat to get through and if they can get to food, they will turn that food into lots of babies, like upwards of 15 per litter, every 6 weeks. hardware cloth is a substantial up front cost but takes care of the issue once and for all. you could simply attache it to the fencing/frame you have now, using zip ties or the metal clips often used to secure the seams in various cages made of hardware cloth.

 

[50-45-1]

I like the shed coop and would tip it on its side and compleatly encase the bottom with hardware cloth, and continue it up the base by 2 feet.
The dog run will keep them safe from larger varmints.
You will have to keep your feed in something rodent proof and only feed what the chickens will eat so none is left over during the night.
I think what you have will work with some fortification. Rats will knaw thru wood but not hardware cloth.
Make sure they are locked tight in the shed overnight.
Good luck!