Average rat hole size?

[EggSighted4Life]

I stuffed the first hole with chicken wire followed by great stuff. New hole happened 2 nights later. Will get steel wool today. Might try the baking soda trick too, seems a good long game tactic anyway.

I have 7 week old chicks in a fully enclosed brooder out there. I don't think I should take their food do you? I don't usually get free to get outside until 7:30am.

I wouldn't take food from chicks that do have an all night light. I use a non light emitting ceramic coil because they actually do a little better sleeping through the night.

There are different types of over the counter poison. First and second generation. The less risky type to wildlife is generation 1 and use by the city I used to live in, they said the same thing... very low secondary risk to animals that ingest the dead. Those require multiple feeding and usually take a couple weeks to kill the rat. The generation 2 rodenticides are far more effective requiring only one feeding. Those were outlawed here in Ca a few months ago because of the threat to wildlife.

My issue with Gen 1 is that the rats can actually build resistance to it! Plus I don't just wanna open a buffet for them.

I use multiple types of traps. Standard snap, alligator snap, electronic zap station, even the bucket rolley can one. Since everything I catch is Juvenile I usually have to finish the deed by drowning. But mouse traps are not big enough. No I don't think any of what I describe is actually humane, thought he snap traps would be in theory if they killed instantly like they are suppose to. Also, keep them switched around and switch bait sometimes to keep them guessing. And sometimes I even bait a trap that isn't set so they get used to feeding at it until one day SNAP!

I will usually make a couple catches a couple days in a row and then nothing for about 2 weeks before I make a couple more catches. As long as you have chickens you will have an invitation to the rats. It's an ongoing battle. So don't think it's over if you don't notice activity for a week. Also will note that my catches usually happen mid day. And where I store hay is a popular place for them to try and hide.

Get a game plan and stick with it. Trapping will never eradicate them, but as long as the numbers stay down I am OK. If I see an explosion of activity I will step it up if I have to. All of my neighbors use poison, which makes it a hard choice for me not to when they are only about 50 yards away.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

The brooder has a 75 watt red reptile bulb. It's pretty dim but a little light certainly. I peek at night, usually most are sleeping or laying down but a few move around a bit.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

No good poison options locally so I'll get it another day. I'm afraid I'll end up having to tear my brooder and roost set up out. Pretty sure I know where I failed.

 

[TalkALittle]

I've been battling rats too. They can tunnel FAR. I've caught a few in snap traps but they get wise to those. I shoot them with a pellet gun, but you can only shoot the ones you see and they've learned not to come out until after nightfall. My rat terrier has gotten a few too. They have set up shop in the space below my coop floor with a tunnel into the run. Next I'm going to try smoke bombs down the tunnel and see how that works.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I've been battling rats too. They can tunnel FAR. I've caught a few in snap traps but they get wise to those. I shoot them with a pellet gun, but you can only shoot the ones you see and they've learned not to come out until after nightfall. My rat terrier has gotten a few too. They have set up shop in the space below my coop floor with a tunnel into the run. Next I'm going to try smoke bombs down the tunnel and see how that works.

That's the problem they are smart. Live trap coming up empty but no new holes either. They will get in again I know, one piece of wall that adjoins my barn under the built in brooder isn't protected enough I think.

You mentioned smoke bombs. I font know what options exist, but the ones they sell for gophers and ground hogs are actually poison gas. Nothing you'd want near your coop.

 

[Snoozeys]

I have had some success with dropping slug and snail pellets down the hole when they appear ... i use steel wool to cap the hole !!!

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I'm assembling an arsenal to deal with these things! So many great ideas here, I'm grateful.

 

[TalkALittle]

That's the problem they are smart. Live trap coming up empty but no new holes either. They will get in again I know, one piece of wall that adjoins my barn under the built in brooder isn't protected enough I think.

You mentioned smoke bombs. I font know what options exist, but the ones they sell for gophers and ground hogs are actually poison gas. Nothing you'd want near your coop.

The plan is to relocate the birds and all feed and water during the gassing and until the air is well cleared. The goal is that the smoke stay in the tunnel and the void of space under the coop. This seemed the better alternative to poison bait. I have great fear of secondary poisoning as I have 3 dogs.

 

[chickencheeper]

They can fit through quarter sized holes