Can you move your broody bird to a secure cage or a cat carrier so the rats can't get behind them? Its best to move them at night so they won't freak out and eat the eggs.. I had rats get behind the nests and steal the eggs, but never out from under the broody hens because I moved those when they showed they were determined to be broody. I have rat proofed the coop now with metal everywhere there were holes - except the doors. I also rat proofed the roof area so they couldn't use it to sleep in at night - and removed all the branches overhanging the roof. My rats are ground/roof rats - and they are huge! My cats are afraid of them. The only thing that will kill them is my dog, if she can catch them - or the Tomcat Rat snap traps, put them in something only the rats can get into...I need help. I have noticed eggs missing from under my broody silkies this has been going on for months and I thought they were eating the eggs. Well when I looked and there were 5 eggs missing from under her from just last night, I recovered 4 of them and 1 was right up next to a hole under the ground.
DO I have a rat problem and how do I take care of it without harming my chickens. My worthless barn cats aren't doing there job and ever since I lost my faithful flock protector dog in 2011 she used to get the rats my other dogs won't. Now I have a problem. If it is rats they are taking the eggs from my broody silkie hens every time my silkies go broody.
