Chicken-safe rat poison sought

[Vicki B.]

Yes, I realize I have a heavy infestation when I stop catching in the live trap I will have to resort to poison. I just figured any I can catch and remove alive is one less to be poisoned.

 

[Below frigid]

If the trap is working keep using it! Maybe get a couple more and set them up in surrounding areas. May take a while but as long as your catching you are headed in the right direction. Terriers are great on rats! We have a Border Terrier mix but all have the instinct to hunt small critters. Of course Rat Terriers would be a good choice. My friend has them and they are great dogs. No rats at his place either. Most cat's won't tangle with a adult rat! Cat's are better with mice though!

 

[lazy gardener]

I didn't wait the 3 nights as suggested and went ahead and set the trap last night. I caught 17!! I put the trap in the plastic tray/box it came with and took them out to a field on my way to work 5 miles from the house. It is really cold and wet outside and we are picking up all feeders at dusk so hopefully I can catch a good amount of them before spring and they find other food sources. I wired the rat removal door shut as others suggested and they did not figure out how to pull down the little one way entry door that pivots open when they step on it. I have a lot of cats but I have not ever had a cat that catches an adult rat. I don't really blame them, rats can really put up a fight and bite.

I am glad you don't live near me. Why would you release rats into some person's field so they can become an infestation on someone's farm or in their yard? Please do the responsible thing, and kill any rats you catch. If you're not going to do that, perhaps you can set up feed stations so the rats can live happily in your yard.

 

[Below frigid]

I am glad you don't live near me. Why would you release rats into some person's field so they can become an infestation on someone's farm or in their yard? Please do the responsible thing, and kill any rats you catch. If you're not going to do that, perhaps you can set up feed stations so the rats can live happily in your yard.

My thoughts as well. Your not doing anyone a favor by releasing them.

 

[Vicki B.]

I choose not to kill and I don't think an open field with coyotes, foxes and a large population of raptors is hurting any human. Live and let live as much as possible and I keep disabled chickens and don't cull them because they are an inconvenience. But I won't go further with this discussion because it is very much like politics and religion everyone has their opinion and personal beliefs.

 

[lazy gardener]

I would not consider it my right to release vermin on some one else's land.

 

[Howard E]

If you can catch that many live rats, perhaps consider turning them in to a profit center. Run an ad on craigslist (may need to check if it's legal) and offer to sell live rats to the folks who keep the big snakes. At worst, they may take them alive or at least buy you a spare trap to use like the old Coke bottles you paid a nickle deposit on. Swap out an empty for a full one.

In general, my #2 rule about trapping is "if you trap it, you kill it". If there is a golden rule about trapping, that might it. Not an easy thing to do or accept for some folks......well, actually, a lot of folks......but that is generally what needs to be done. Generally bad form to set them free on someone else and in reality, not doing the varmint any favors when you do. They often suffer and die worse that way. You may not see it happen or do it directly yourself, but you were responsible for their death just the same.

The hard part for folks who value life is to find a way to do it. They don't like hurting these creatures, which becomes one of my major objections to live traps. How to make the caught varmint go away and still feel good about it. Not an easy thing to do or accept for a lot of folks.

 

[Howard E]

But aside from that, I am thrilled to hear your trap worked that well. Good thing to know!

 

[Vicki B.]

Thanks Howard I can respect your point and it is well taken. I was feeling pretty bad thinking I was doing a good thing by not watching the rats drown then the snarky comments started I appreciate your reasonable words.

 

[lazy gardener]

Not to mention, in most states it is illegal to relocate trapped animals outside the property of the person who did the trapping.