Arizona Chickens

[EmmaDonovan]

Rats!!!
Well I went to let the dog out back this evening and saw something running through the garden, big ol rat….. I have some mouse traps but doubt that’ll work anyone have ideas on good trapping techniques?

Pack rats? Cotton rats? Rats are tough because they are smart and learn quickly. They'll avoid bait or traps if there's a dead rat in or near it.

Having said that, large snap traps work. Don't touch the traps, wear gloves. Set them out for a few days with bait but don't set the trap so they get used to the trap as a food source. After a few days set the traps. KFC is excellent bait. Remove any dead rats quickly (wear gloves).

I know some people have had success putting realistic looking rubber snakes around their property although it seems like rats would figure out pretty quickly that they're fake (also remember where you put them so you don't give yourself a heart attack)!

Rats love to nest in prickly pear so check those if you have any on your property.

Do you know what their food sources are in your yard? They can eat almost anything but check for sources you might be contributing like dirty grills, pet food, chicken food, dropped fruit from trees, etc. Make sure your trash can lids and recycling lids fit tightly.

 

[BenisonsChickns]

Pack rats? Cotton rats? Rats are tough because they are smart and learn quickly. They'll avoid bait or traps if there's a dead rat in or near it.

Having said that, large snap traps work. Don't touch the traps, wear gloves. Set them out for a few days with bait but don't set the trap so they get used to the trap as a food source. After a few days set the traps. KFC is excellent bait. Remove any dead rats quickly (wear gloves).

I know some people have had success putting realistic looking rubber snakes around their property although it seems like rats would figure out pretty quickly that they're fake (also remember where you put them so you don't give yourself a heart attack)!

Rats love to nest in prickly pear so check those if you have any on your property.

Do you know what their food sources are in your yard? They can eat almost anything but check for sources you might be contributing like dirty grills, pet food, chicken food, dropped fruit from trees, etc. Make sure your trash can lids and recycling lids fit tightly.

Not sure what type of rat it is, I believe it or they are living under my tool shed, and their food source is the compost pile, I ordered a 5gal bucket trap to see if I can catch them that way….. if that doesn’t work I’ll try those big snap traps

 

[City farm]

Farm life today here at the
"city farm" homestead headquarters.

The ducks love fresh water to bathe in and, we love sharing their eggs with our community.
Their dirty water makes great fertilizer and they eat flys.
️ Mental health wellness tip.
Get out in the sun with your feet on the earth.
Gardenexchangestands.org
"It's a lifestyle!"

 

[City farm]

Not sure the photo attached to the above post.. oppss. Here it is. 1

Rats!!!
Well I went to let the dog out back this evening and saw something running through the garden, big ol rat….. I have some mouse traps but doubt that’ll work anyone have ideas on good trapping techniques?

We have tried a few things and rotate every so often.
A large, tall 5 gallon bucket.
Fill with 4 inches of water. Drop about 1/4 cup of black sunflower seeds on top, they will float.
Put it up against a wall or chair away from your dogs. They will go into to eat the seeds but can't leave. Then I dump it out away from my dogs to see how many were caught about 4-5 days after.

Other method. 1/2 cup baking flower 1/2 cup plaster of Paris.
Mix real well in a ventilated area but don't breathe it in.
Put it in a cat or small dog kennel near your flock. Make sure you have water for them to drink near by. You might even see a film on top of that water source as evidence they have been drinking after they eat the mixture. It is a non-toxic way to treat the problem. If a owl or hawk eats them it won't hurt them.

 

[City farm]

Not sure the photo attached to the above post.. oppss. Here it is. 1

We have tried a few things and rotate every so often.
A large, tall 5 gallon bucket.
Fill with 4 inches of water. Drop about 1/4 cup of black sunflower seeds on top, they will float.
Put it up against a wall or chair away from your dogs. They will go into to eat the seeds but can't leave. Then I dump it out away from my dogs to see how many were caught about 4-5 days after.

Other method. 1/2 cup baking flower 1/2 cup plaster of Paris.
Mix real well in a ventilated area but don't breathe it in.
Put it in a cat or small dog kennel near your flock. Make sure you have water for them to drink near by. You might even see a film on top of that water source as evidence they have been drinking after they eat the mixture. It is a non-toxic way to treat the problem. If a owl or hawk eats them it won't hurt them.

Well good grief. It looks like 2 sets of a post I did earlier was attached. Apologies.. I guess I do not know how to navigate on here.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Yesterday I raked out the run early in the morning before the sun and chickens got up. I left the run door slightly ajar so I could carry out mini rake-fuls of poop.

Some movement caught my eye and this gray squirrel sauntered up to me like she owned the place. She informed me she had consumed all the peanuts and cashews in the Squirrelinator - which she had figured out how to escape - and inquired as to when they would be replenished.

I threw my rake at her.

Saw her twice today. This morning my roommate and I surprised her in the backyard. We caught her under a box but when we lifted it up she had teleported. Later in the afternoon she surveyed our ice run from her little hole, inscrutably planning her next move.

We trapped a male in the Squirrelinator today so at least that's good.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Not sure what type of rat it is, I believe it or they are living under my tool shed, and their food source is the compost pile, I ordered a 5gal bucket trap to see if I can catch them that way….. if that doesn’t work I’ll try those big snap traps

How is your rat battle going?

 

[BenisonsChickns]

How is your rat battle going?

Well haven’t caught him yet, had a friend loan me a bait box with poison that only affects the primary target so hopefully he’s eating that because he is avoiding the bucket trap, he hasn’t been in the coop just the compost pile so at least that’s good…..

 

[igorsMistress]

I guess we are going to lock the coop now, I’ve been waiting to see if folks reported thefts of their flocks. What a shame, I feel for Jennifer too. My ducks wouldn’t be easy to catch, but the chickens all go in the coop at night so that’s a possible problem.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

There are still some nice areas but crime has really skyrocketed around here. Yesterday I had to make a quick run to the grocery store so I went to the one nearest to our house. I usually avoid it because it's in a bad area. Lots of drug users and guys with backpacks cruising the parking lot, trying car doors and looking for stuff to steal. I only needed a few items and it was so hot outside I didn't want to be out for long so I went there. While I was there someone O.D.'d in the restrooms. Worse, that isn't the first time that's happened while I was there.