Helps rats r eating my babies

[aart]

Eventually poison and traps will help,
but ASAP get those chicks enclosed in 1/2" hardware cloth pen or crate.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Good luck with getting those nasty critters!!!!

 

[purslanegarden]

Yea maybe they can hang out in the larger coop or home but for the nights, until they get bigger, maybe they can go into rat-proof containers or cages . Even a wooden box that has ventilation holes.

 

[Howard E]

Just so you know what you are up against. The good stuff starts on page 2 of the thread, and do watch the video on rat proofing so you know what it takes to keep them out and to get rid of them once you do. Mary has it right!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rats-when-the-army-went-to-war-on-them.1216226/

When one goes back in time and studies poultry husbandry books from 100 years ago......and you study the housing they built and problems they found to deal with, it is interesting that the only two predators that are mentioned much are hawks and rats. It seems rat proofing a chicken house has been a big deal since civilized man started keeping chickens.

 

[50-45-1]

I used a baby monitor a couple times to catch a night marauder
in the long run tho you are going to have rodent proof your coop.
Hardware cloth around the base dug down a foot deep in the ground. All cracks and holes repaired or covered.
Good luck, they will keep coming back until you have none left.

 

[Howard E]

It is a bit more complicated that burying hardware cloth.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rats-when-the-army-went-to-war-on-them.1216226/page-2

Review the rat proofing video found at post #14. Watch the part about rats digging and tunneling in from below and you begin to understand why the floor of choice for chicken houses has always been a cement floor. That is the best "foundation" and point of beginning for a rat proof structure.

In the modern era, the next step to deal with a severe infestation is to use metal siding. One of the very few building materials they can't chew through.

 

[Folly's place]

My friendly rat invader chewed through 1/2" plywood in one night, and was smiling at me through her new 'doorway' to the nest boxes first thing in the morning! Only poison works!!!
Mary

 

[kempkalm]

Or if no bigger chickens are in the pen. Mabey the chicks will wake up enough and try to run away.

There is no mama in with them. I will try the Christmas light idea I like I that. Ty

 

[Shadrach]

I've got rats.
This year I've got lots
It may not be possible for you, but I build coops on legs that make the floor of the coop more than the height of a chicken. This helps.
It also helps not to leave food unattended in the coop.
I can't use poison here. I'm in a National Park and rats are food for some of the other predators like Hawks and Owls. It's a no win situation.
In the UK where hops are grown for beer there are people who make a living shooting rats. Maybe you have such a person near you.
Making your coop rat proof is the best solution. They will chew through wood and cloth.
I recommend weld-mesh fencing cut into panels fixed to the outside (particularly to the underside of the coop0 Even mink have trouble chewing their way through this.
Sorry to hear about the chicks, I know what that's like.

 

[Kat2141]

There is no mama in with them. I will try the Christmas light idea I like I that. Ty

When we saw the one on camera, it was very nervous, but that could be because our girls were older. But the light may have helped.