Australian brown rats

[Pepperdaddy 1]

I have had Australian brown rats in my "coop" for years and I have tried traps, poison and even deterrents and nothing seems to work they avoid the traps don't eat the poison and they have huge nests I found 3 of them while I was cleaning and they were the size of the bottom of a garbage can. Is there any way to get rid of them they are everywhere I had one in a trap that was huge it was the size of a baby groundhog. I don't know how big they all are but I think they are all huge.

 

[CLSranch]

If poison doesn't work, I'd suggest a dog like a terrier or a schipperke.

 

[CLSranch]

Schipperke's were used on ships to keep rats down. I may be partial to them. We had one as a kid that would help round up the cattle when they got out, after we got them back in the yard.

 

[Pepperdaddy 1]

Would a ferret work as well or would the rats be too big

 

[CLSranch]

Pet ferret? I would worry about the chickens with a ferret myself unless you know it won't harm them. If it isn't hungry it may leave the chickens alone then kill the rats as a natural instinct like a dog would, but most dogs are introduced to chickens slowly.
I don't know how big a critter a ferret can take down but if you know your chickens are a safe I think it would be a neat experiment and awesome if it works. If they're like otters they are pretty vicious lil guys.

 

[CLSranch]

Sep 02, 2010 · The domestic ferret is not found in the wild. If a ferret were to escape and find its self lost in the "wild" it would starve. Ferrets however can kill rats, and rabbits and other small prey..but it would be because it was "fun" to.

That's what google says. that and they can kill rabbits many times it's size. Go for it and watch the chickens.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Ymmm.... Not sure Ferrets are legal to have as pets in Australia

 

[CLSranch]

Could you use something like this with a larger container?
I've seen this trap before and had forgotten about it until today, reading about someone's extreme infestation and refusal to use poison.

 

[CLSranch]

 

[CLSranch]

This guy uses a mink to run them out and then dogs to get the ones that run. On one video they did 700 in 2 days. It's really cool to me.