Athletic rats

[retnug]

I am not having much luck outsmarting rats. I thought I had finally made it so that they at least couldn't get any chicken feed. Then I was going through some of my video and see this:

Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[ChickNanny13]

Rat traps work, the snap ones. Glue traps are "nasty", have had birds get caught in them and try chewing off their feet to get away. Live traps don't work of me cause then I've got to figure how to dispose of them. I prefer them dead so as not to return nor reproduce more. Snap traps work for me, I have no problem disposing of dead ones, know they won't be returning.

You could remove all feed at night, chickens don't eat at night.

 

[retnug]

I as well have had little success with the live trap on the background of that video. They seem too stay away from it.

I have had some success with snap traps but more often than not they set the trap off and are thrown clear. I wonder if anchoring the trap would help it work better?

 

[Naser]

Raise the feeder higher, high enough to the level the hens have to jump to get it. If I was you I will bury a snap trap under the feeder at night and Put a cage around the feeder so the hens can't get in the trap.
The other thing you can do is to tie a fishing hook at night with a cable tie. it won't kill the rat but I doubt it will touch it again.

 

[CCUK]

Snap traps are definitely best. Fortunately I haven't had to deal with rats only mice. Bait will work but you have to keep it well away from where any chickens can get it. And the rats tend to die where you can't get them and smell.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

I have a feeder which you train the birds to stand on, the lid opens and they eat, then when they get off it shuts. Only problem is the wild birds (pigeons) have learned to open it

 

[ChickNanny13]

I tie my snap traps to a post or tree after I had a few disappear. Yup, they know those live traps & stay clear of them. Hubby built me one to try catch a mongoose, we caught a cat instead Poor thing look so sad & humiliated Think it was the neighbor's.
I use fly tape for cats ... When they take the bait the fly tape ends up on their back & they take it home ... Lets their owners know they've been a nusiance elsewhere and the kitty's not hurt.

 

[aart]

I use fly tape for cats ... When they take the bait the fly tape ends up on their back & they take it home ... Lets their owners know they've been a nusiance elsewhere and the kitty's not hurt.

That's great!!