Daytime rats eating chicken feed. Not allowed to use rodenticide in my area due to owls, Hawks, coyotes and domestic dogs of course.

[Gerald1969]

Once a rat has seen a dead rat or 2 the big ones won't go near it. RATX can be placed in a tray under the crate the same way and coated in something sweet and will kill them in a couple weeks. I definitely recommend you use treadle feeders if you have rats(not sure which ones best though sorry)Predators can get inside thru those big rat tunnels and kill your chickens

Thank you so much! I will go out and purchase the RatX today.

 

[Finchbreeder]

My Jack Russell was the best rat catcher ever. RIP Janee.

 

[RoyalChick]

After getting advice from users here I decided to try this option! It works pretty well because I had the same problem. The rats come day and night! I put bricks on top of the milk crates to keep the chickens from tipping it over if they happen to jump on top. So far this has been working very well for us here. If I’m correct, I believe we have trapped around 11 of the rats putting a huge dent in the colony… We haven’t been seeing them on our property or on camera as much. This is what has been working for us.

How do you get them to go in? Mine would walk around or over. And they certainly wouldn’t approach the trap inside.

Once a rat has seen a dead rat or 2 the big ones won't go near it. RATX can be placed in a tray under the crate the same way and coated in something sweet and will kill them in a couple weeks. I definitely recommend you use treadle feeders if you have rats(not sure which ones best though sorry)Predators can get inside thru those big rat tunnels and kill your chickens

I so want RatX to work but mine won’t eat it. They nibbled a few pieces that I coated in chocolate syrup but now seem to have learned how to lick the syrup off. What did you use to make it irresistible?

I would love to find someone locally with a dog, ferret or best of all pet mink who could come and get these rats. But I haven’t found anyone.

I am deploying Al’s rat proof feeder. I can confirm it is rat proof. I am still training the chickens to use it.

I am also trying to make the environment less comfy for the rats. I am spraying lemon oil per the recommendation of @LaFleche.
When I find a burrow outside I am filling it with rodent proof foam and covering it with a block. And inside I am filling burrows with used cat litter (smell of a predator might be unattractive??).

Finally I am using a product called Evolve - it is a rat contraceptive (cottonseed oil). They seem to love it and I am hoping it will at least stop them multiplying!

This is war!

 

[McChooky]

How do you get them to go in? Mine would walk around or over. And they certainly wouldn’t approach the trap inside.

I so want RatX to work but mine won’t eat it. They nibbled a few pieces that I coated in chocolate syrup but now seem to have learned how to lick the syrup off. What did you use to make it irresistible?

I would love to find someone locally with a dog, ferret or best of all pet mink who could come and get these rats. But I haven’t found anyone.

I am deploying Al’s rat proof feeder. I can confirm it is rat proof. I am still training the chickens to use it.

How do you get them to go in? Mine would walk around or over. And they certainly wouldn’t approach the trap inside.

I so want RatX to work but mine won’t eat it. They nibbled a few pieces that I coated in chocolate syrup but now seem to have learned how to lick the syrup off. What did you use to make it irresistible?

I would love to find someone locally with a dog, ferret or best of all pet mink who could come and get these rats. But I haven’t found anyone.

I am deploying Al’s rat proof feeder. I can confirm it is rat proof. I am still training the chickens to use it.

I am also trying to make the environment less comfy for the rats. I am spraying lemon oil per the recommendation of @LaFleche.
When I find a burrow outside I am filling it with rodent proof foam and covering it with a block. And inside I am filling burrows with used cat litter (smell of a predator might be unattractive??).

Finally I am using a product called Evolve - it is a rat contraceptive (cottonseed oil). They seem to love it and I am hoping it will at least stop them multiplying!

This is war!

Flood their tunnels with water

 

[RoyalChick]

Flood their tunnels with water

Done that. It doesn’t make them go into traps or eat the RatX bait.
I have also killed a few in their tunnels with dry ice but somehow a few escape that and create new tunnels.

 

[McChooky]

Done that. It doesn’t make them go into traps or eat the RatX bait.
I have also killed a few in their tunnels with dry ice but somehow a few escape that and create new tunnels.

Do you have hw cloth apron around your coop?

 

[McChooky]

If they have other food sources chances are they won't eat it

 

[RoyalChick]

Do you have hw cloth apron around your coop?

Yes. 24".

 

[RoyalChick]

If they have other food sources chances are they won't eat it

Which is why I have switched to a rat proof feeder. Doesn't seem to make RatX any more appealing to them.
Have you any experience of making RatX palatable?

 

[TOMTE]

Which is why I have switched to a rat proof feeder. Doesn't seem to make RatX any more appealing to them.
Have you any experience of making RatX palatable?

Rats are incredibly intelligent. They'll take a few nibbles of a new food and then leave it. If it gives them a stomach ache or other negative symptoms, it's likely they won't touch it again. That's one reason why RatX only works on super hungry rats; they're less likely to test it first, thus they'll get the full dose. Your rats have probably recognized that RatX isn't safe to eat.