Help! Rats!

[aart]

I switched to one of these feeders and that really helped. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LM6TRRC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also put a dog crate inside the coop that had active rat traps in it, so that my dogs/chickens could not access them but any rats/mice going into the coop could. We had no rodent problems for years, until a vacant house close by went under construction, and between the new feeder and the traps we've really gotten things back under control. Good luck.

That feeder is pretty interesting...never seen one before.
Tho not sure I buy it's totally chicken spill proof,
but can't tell how deep the feed is in reservoir.
Is it easy to take part to clean?
How big is the opening for chicken heads?

Snap traps in wire crate is a good idea too...how much success did you have with it?

 

[JurassicBawk]

I put about 8 12oz size cups of food in it at a time, and that lasts my 4 EEs a week. Before I was filling up their feeder about twice as much from them spilling and whatever else getting in it. The reservoir is set back a little and narrow, so they have to turn their heads a bit sideways to get the food. The pulldowns do block the food, but I dont think anything can reach them anyway.

While taking pics I discovered my little rescue Polish pullet has figured out how to stretch and get that food. I watched for a bit and saw maybe 3 pellets fall out, but she was mostly blindly aiming for it with no precision.

The traps in crate caught me 2 little mice and one large rat. It’s quieted down since the house next door got remodeled, but I may keep it in for now since I have a second lower regular feeder out for the Polish. Maybe they’ll figure out the big feeder and can use it, but I am giving them high protein food for now since they got scalped before I got them and need feather help.

 

[cmom]

I wonder if the OP managed their rat problem. It doesn't look like they have been back on since that post. My suggestion, put a bait box in a place where the rats can go but other critters can't. This is what I use.

This is when I discovered my rat problem in a coop.

 

[KingTorta69]

hello! Just after a bit of advice please
I have had my chickens for about 18 months. I had a bad rat investation about 4 months ago, I tried everything and eventually bought a treadle feeder and stopped feeding the wild birds and this seemed to do the trick.
Anyway yesterday I saw 2 rats by the coop and I am devastated they are back!!
I now have a kitten so was considering sprinkling the used wood pellet cat litter around where I have seen the rats, do you think this could be harmful to the chickens?
Any other suggestions?! I’m really not keen on poison as I have children and dogs
Thank you!

When its day if you spot rat holes around and the hole is in an area were your chickens cant get to ill buy some poison that i use, it comes in like gallon shape and there like pellets that are poisoned disguised in food put some in the rat holes make sure they go down there and cover the rat holes than check a day or 2 later and see if there still around