Guinea or Barn Cat or get ride of 🐀???

[LittleFalcon]

After catching the rats you are going to want to move them somewhere VERY far from your house as rats can travel long distances. If you want, you could also humanely euthanize a couple and give them to your chickens. It is good protein for them and they probably kill a few every couple weeks. Though, like cats, chickens mostly go after mice. Rats can be very dangerous, and I don't mean disease. They are strong, fast and highly intelligent, not to mention they have huge teeth that could do some damage to a cat or chicken, they can even kill weasels. I had a boy that figured out how to get out of his cage but he never tried to leave.

 

[Folly's place]

My barn cats, including our current one, just don't do rats. Mice, sure, but not rats. Traps only get a couple, then the others avoid them. We have had to use poison in bait stations twice here, once in the barn, and once at the coop, both times successfully.
Al's treadle feeders would be nice, but not for our bantams and chicks. Having the coop as rodent proof as possible is very important!
Traditionally, in Europe, ferrets were used, and small terriers (ratters). They never would get the entire colony either; rats are so very smart!
As pets, domestic rats are great. Wild rats, definitely not.
Mary

 

[LittleFalcon]

It is not a pleasant experience being bit by a rat. As a breeder I have been bit several times. Mostly by new mamas when I go to check the babies. I have never gotten sick but they do hurt quite a bit so make sure to where some really thick gloves if you catch one.

If you do use poison, be sure to use one that has ZERO odor. Rats have very keen smell and if they smell it they will not eat the poisoned food.

 

[LittleFalcon]

The best time to go after rats is late fall, winter, or early spring.

 

[lovesfarms]

When I was younger the neighbor farm had a rat infestation
They poisoned them and they tunneled into our cellar (farm house) the only way I could out smart them was totally cover the traps in chopped corn (cattle feed). Mom dumped the traps and I reset them every night. You can't imagine the amount of rats we got... And the damage they did!

 

[Danny188]

Look up 5 gallon bucket mouse trap.