I would think it would depend on the sze of the rats, but if they are anything like as large as our roof rats, no way would I expect a chicken to take them on. Most cats won't (we are lucky in that both of ours will)--they generally need a ratter dog. Our JRT will take them on, but they are usually not where she can get to them--they spend most of their time up in trees or bushes.Has anyone seen a buckeye hunt rats? I live in the city and the fat urban rats have been growing bolder in hanging around the coop in broad date light! (I move the coop often--they can't get in, but burrow underneath to get food that drops through the hardwire cloth floor.) I have been thinking about getting a cat to scare the rats off, but I would rather get another chicken! My flock of three birds (RIR, buff orp, and ameracauna) seem to ignore the rats. Maybe a buckeye would teach my other girls to hunt vermin.
Use live traps or bait stations with a secondary-poisoning-safe bait such as Just One Bite.
