Broody Buff Orpington six eggs and mice

[and1223]

I have a broody Buff Orpington with 6 eggs inside a XL enclosed dog crate. She’s been inside the crate for one week separated from the others. I leave the door open during the day but close it at night. My concern is I noticed mice and rat droppings near her crate. I removed all feed and water at night now and enclosed the crate with hardware cloth all openings large enough for them to get through. Should I take the chicks when they hatch and raise them in the brooder? I’m afraid the rats will come back and attack the chicks. Any suggestions how to get rid of these pests? My enclosed run is surrounded by hardware cloth but, I see the rats crawling at night on the outside of the wire. Obviously they are managing to get in somehow. Bottom of enclosed area has chicken wire under dirt floor. I’m guessing they are either coming in that way or small corner openings.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Chicken wire will not exclude rats at all, they're small enough to fit through. Is there no apron around the perimeter of the run or if there is, how large are the openings? 1/2" should keep rats out, but mice may require 1/4" (however I don't think mice are prone to attacking chicks). If there's any gaps bigger than 1/2" in corners, around doors, under a fence line, etc, rodents will get in - so covering up as much of that would make a difference.

Putting away all feed at night should help deter them somewhat, though some may still come in because chicken coops are cozy places for them to hide under or inside.

If you're going to take the chicks after hatching, that still doesn't solve the issue of rats getting in and then killing them later (unless you're planning on raising them to teen/adult size all indoors, which I wouldn't want to do!)

 

[and1223]

Chicken wire will not exclude rats at all, they're small enough to fit through. Is there no apron around the perimeter of the run or if there is, how large are the openings? 1/2" should keep rats out, but mice may require 1/4" (however I don't think mice are prone to attacking chicks). If there's any gaps bigger than 1/2" in corners, around doors, under a fence line, etc, rodents will get in - so covering up as much of that would make a difference.

Putting away all feed at night should help deter them somewhat, though some may still come in because chicken coops are cozy places for them to hide under or inside.

If you're going to take the chicks after hatching, that still doesn't solve the issue of rats getting in and then killing them later (unless you're planning on raising them to teen/adult size all indoors, which I wouldn't want to do!)

Thank you for advise! the dog crate is big enough for them sleep inside at night. I just have to make sure the front door is secured with hardware cloth enclosing all openings. otherwise I can move mom and chicks in a larger wood crate 45" in square 24 inches high whith enclosed hardware cloth top until chicks are 6 weeks on a side porch. My question will it be more difficult for mom and chicks to acclimate with the others being separated?

 

[rosemarythyme]

My question will it be more difficult for mom and chicks to acclimate with the others being separated?

Yes, which is why it'd be ideal if she could stay in line of sight of the rest of the flock, at least during the day. Is there not enough room inside the coop to make an enclosure for the broody in there?

As far as getting rid of the rats, what I've currently been using is a bait called Rat X which supposedly isn't poisonous to other animals. Perhaps you could try using those in bait boxes or if you know where rat tunnels are, you can just drop a handful into the tunnel directly.