Found rat droppings in chicken's nest

[citychicks99]

My brother built a shed-like coop for the chickens but didn't build them a run so they have the entire yard to roam. That also means we just prop their coop door open all day. Maybe it's because it's been colder lately, but I have been finding rat droppings in their nest. This happens after I open the door because I don't see anything when I first open the door, but a few hours later, I'll see rat droppings in and around their nest. I thought the rats were stealing their eggs because I didn't see any eggs these last few days but I found that they had been laying in a new spot. What's up with this rat? Is it just cold and need a warm spot to hang out in the morning? There's no food in the nest. I just find it odd.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Possibly. The weather's gotten noticeably colder, windier and wetter lately, so rodents will seek shelter and the inside of a coop is a perfect spot.

 

[chickenfax]

I have two coops that used to be horse stalls in my barn. There is a pop door for each coop out to a chain-linked run. Feed and water are out at all times hanging inside the coop. Then I noticed holes being dug under the walls and finding rat droppings in the food and in the nesting boxes. I think they want the pine shavings for their own homes. Anyway, to make a short story long. I put up a game camera and was amazed at how many rats were coming by. They even got to the point where they would come out during the day while I was feeding and watering.
So I ended up making some trap boxes. I used the big rat snap-traps, screwed them down to a piece of plywood and placed the entire setup into a clear storage box with a latchable lid. Bore a hole in each end large enough for rats, small enough to keep chicken heads out and then baited them with chicken feed. I racked up a total of at least 50 rats that summer. When trapping, I would also take their food out of the coop but that tends to be a PIA since I don't get out to the coop to replace their food until mid-morning. Several times I had three dead rats with only two traps in the same box! I also shot about 10 rats with my pellet gun.
And then I got a couple of barn cats. Started leaving the coop doors (sliding stall door) open just enough for the kitties but not enough for the chickens. Cats took care of one rat and one mouse so far in about 2 years. But also, don't seem to have a rat problem anymore.
Also, also, the rats will drastically increase population in the winter when the black rat snakes are hibernating.
I guess the morale to my story is, if you find some rat droppings in your nesting boxes, it is unlikely you only have a "one rat" problem. These were just some of my solutions....
Bwaaaaak