Closed in Feed Area Ideas-Please Help Me Brainstorm

[schnegle]

Hello! I have ten hens in a large pole barn, enclosed. They sleep in the XL Omlet Eglu (because I have a rat invasion and I don't want them sleeping with rats at night). My newest problem is trying to keep the feed safe and away from rats. Even though I put the feed and water up at night (or earlier), the rats are still partying away in the coop all night long. I live on land and eradicating the rats is not an option. So I need to just keep them out. I need an idea to keep the food in a space that the chickens can access it, then I lock it all up at night. I want to use something that feed is not spilling out of as well. Hoping eventually the rats will move on when they can't access even a morsel. I have thought of using a makeshift shed, or even a small chicken coop and just leaving it open inside to place feed and water. I am not super handy so I cannot build something from scratch, but I am handy enough to put things together. I build the XL Omelet so I have some abilities. I also don't want to keep breaking the bank on these gals. So economic is in my wheelhouse. Any help is so appreciated!!!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Not sure where you are located, but if you have a scrap/used appliances seller in your extended neighborhood, reach out to them about buying the shell of a small chest freezer that's not worth returning to working order. Metal body, insulated against temp changes, has a seal/gasket to keep critters out, and if needed, can be latched closed. GREAT for feed storage.

Doesn't help with the rats seeking feed your birds haven't eaten over the course of the day, but it does reduce the total number of issues you need to deal with.

 

[wrathsfarm]

A little more info? Your pole barn is enclosed so how are they getting in? Dirt floor or concrete?

The answer is concrete or metal to stop them from getting in, ritual trap setting will help.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Yep I agree with @U_Stormcrow. Everyone I know with a rat problem uses an old deep freezer for feed. If you ask around there are often people wanting to give them away. They are kind of like treadmills or exercise bikes people get them thinking they need them and then they just take up space lol

 

[wrathsfarm]

Brainstorming ideas for feed access but can be closed up night.
A boxed in brooder would allow access to feed but could be closed at night.

A portable dog crate wrapped in hardware cloth?

Another brooder idea under poop boards for feed area?

Setting a tote lid under feed out in the open might help with spillage of feed. I don't have a pic but I've done this and it helps.

Diy feed bucket...

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Brainstorming ideas for feed access but can be closed up night.
A boxed in brooder would allow access to feed but could be closed at night.View attachment 3950654

A portable dog crate wrapped in hardware cloth?View attachment 3950655


Another brooder idea under poop boards for feed area?View attachment 3950656

View attachment 3950657


Setting a tote lid under feed out in the open might help with spillage of feed. I don't have a pic but I've done this and it helps.

Those are pretty brilliant actually. Thank you!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Those are pretty brilliant actually. Thank you!

No substitution for eliminating the rats.
The problem I foresee.. is if the rats can't access the feed will they turn to the birds?

 

[schnegle]

Thank you! The deep freezer is a great idea but not my issue. However, I have one currently not in use and will definitely keep that in mind for future storage! I have metal trashcans that keep the rats out of the feed storage. My issue is the rats eating any scrap feed left over from my messy birds. I do love these ideas. I do need an area that will not allow any feed to spill out. So the brooder idea where I close it is great. It goes back to my idea of buying another smaller chicken coop and being able to close it up. I also love the idea of the dog crate but food would drop out and the rats would have at it. My pole barn is huge and a dirt floor so the rats have dug all over. the bardn is too big to do any reinforcement. They have dug past the hardware cloth. I do not worry about rats hurting my hens. The hens have actually (when they first met rats), killed several rats, snakes that accidentally made their way in and a mole. But they seem to live in harmony now, with the rats. They also go safely up at night in the coop.
I appreciate all of these great ideas.

 

[Penpal]

Rodents hate peppermint and will stay away from it. I put some peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle of water and shake. Spray a perimeter around your roosting and feed area. You will have to reapply if it rains inside your barn. If you extend the area of the perimeter every few days you may be able to get them out of the barn. If you can do that you can make the barn inaccessible to them.

The spray also makes hornets/wasps leave their nests and build elsewhere if that should be a problem.

 

[StinkyAcres]

The squirrels were eating my ducks' feed so I built a simple treadle feeder and it worked. If you place the treadle feeder inside a rat-proof box (like the ones suggested above) I think it will keep all of the feed contained and the rats won't find it.