Chicks VS Rats VS Treadle Feeder

[Jezalilly]

I am celebrating that my youngest (who are now about 12 weeks) are FINALLY heavy enough to work the treadle so no more having food out or propping open the treadle feeder. Just in the last week of having no open food there is already a noticeable decline in rat presence (which resurged a bit in the last two months with available free food).

If your chickens get along, I have noticed that my hens will sometimes eat together, so that the littler hens know to go eat when the big girls lower the treadle. You can adjust the spring on the feeder to make it more sensitive to open. Obviously you don't want it so sensitive that a rat can operate it, but you can mess with the settings so that your little one can get in.

I already said it, but I was calling my situation "Nightmare Ratatouille." Just so awful. I could post pictures that would make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

I wish I could pay the video that triggered the motion sensor. I honestly nearly cried. I stopped counting at 19. They were flooding in from every angle... down walls, fun under the coop, from outside of chickentopia, from everywhere! I love your Nakajima for your experience. I can definitely feel your pain!

 

[Jezalilly]

You typically need to upload the video to some other site (example: youtube), and then put a link here.

 

[Jezalilly]

I keep thinking I've got it right but I don't see it. To me, it's awful. I'm sure everyone that's had an infestation can imagine. We've all had our own horror stories.

 

[kattabelly]

I keep thinking I've got it right but I don't see it.

I find the easiest way to post videos is to upload them to the gallery on here.

Then you can post them like this:

Then select the video you want to post.

 

[Jezalilly]

I find the easiest way to post videos is to upload them to the gallery on here.

Then you can post them like this:
View attachment 4249504
Then select the video you want to post.

I find the easiest way to post videos is to upload them to the gallery on here.

Then you can post them like this:
View attachment 4249504
Then select the video you want to post.

Thank you. Let's see if I can can follow your instructions. I don't know if anyone will see it, other than you lol, but here you go. Thanks for the tutorial!

VID_20251110_190548.mp4

• Jezalilly
• Today at 8:39 AM
• rat infestation

Rat infestation. Minutes after throwing down feed the motion sensor went off in the girls'...

 

[Jezalilly]

Thank you. Let's see if I can can follow your instructions. I don't know if anyone will see it, other than you lol, but here you go. Thanks for the tutorial!

VID_20251110_190548.mp4

• Jezalilly
• Today at 8:39 AM
• rat infestation

Rat infestation. Minutes after throwing down feed the motion sensor went off in the girls'...

I thought i had a different video that was even worse. It was the same day, just a few more of the horrible thieves. I think you get the point with this video though. I shudder to think how many are actually living in my yard and in the overhang of my house. They eaten holes through the soffit and I can hear them running through the eaves. We blocked the holes with steelwool and that kept them out for a good while, but they are back with a vengeance now. The hole they've created now is 3in x 8in approximately. No way to use steelwool to deter that. I'm going to Home Depot today to see what they suggest i do to block the hole. I really don't care what it looks like, it's in the backyard all the way by Chickentopia. I don't plan on moving out anytime soon so I don't have to worry about aesthetics. I'd love to hear advice on blocking holes the nasty creatures make in vinyl soffit. Thanks to everyone that has responded, and thanks in advance to everyone that will respond, for all your help. I've had such an easy time with my girls since I got them over 7 years ago that I haven't been on a wild ride of having to learn any the bad stuff with hands on experience. I researched a lot and i still do. I have been blessed thus far overall These girls are my pets and i love them all. I've lost 5 girls (broken hearted everytime)and vets think it might be Marek's which is horrible. That why I haven't brought anyone new into the flock. I've got to figure out how to make Chickentopia safe for my future girls once these two cross over the rainbow bridge.