Helps rats r eating my babies

[kempkalm]

The last two nights a rat has gotten in the pen with the brand new chicks. Can't tell how they're getting in. But two days in a row when we opened the pen a dead baby was in there chewed up. What can I or should I do?

 

[sumi]

If you don't have a cat, dog or other animals around that are likely to eat dead rats, you can put poison down in a safe place. Otherwise I'd suggest place a trap or two just outside the chicks' brooder, or in a place where you won't accidentally catch a chick. Peanut butter on traps works well and I found chocolate spread to be a favourite with rodents too. Best of luck!

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry! Any opening larger than 1/2" diameter needs to be closed, and are there tunnels into the pen from underneath?
Only poison bait will get them all!!! Set out bait stations that only rodents can enter, check them daily, and put any dead rodents in the garbage, not outside. You need to change the bait type every week or ten days too. Inside the coop, a bait station inside a closed live trap will be accessible only to the rodents, not to the chicks.
I lost eggs and three nice pullets to rats last year, and had to fix everything, and use bait.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

These rats will be at work during the day too!
Mary

 

[kempkalm]

If you don't have a cat, dog or other animals around that are likely to eat dead rats, you can put poison down in a safe place. Otherwise I'd suggest place a trap or two just outside the chicks' brooder, or in a place where you won't accidentally catch a chick. Peanut butter on traps works well and I found chocolate spread to be a favourite with rodents too. Best of luck!

We already have done both of those suggestions but I think you anyway.

 

[ClintonChickens]

Do you have a light on in the coop at night? When chickens sleep in complete darkness they are dead to the world. Mabey a small light will be enough to keep mom from going into zombie mode and wake up if she hears something chewing on her chicks.

 

[ClintonChickens]

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

 

[Kat2141]

It took a LONG time for the rat that was coming into our coop (revamped horse stall) to go into the Live trap we had. It was soo irritating because I had a camera set up to watch the floor. He never bothered the chickens but sure enjoyed their food. I did see how he got in where a floor board didn't quite meet the wall and I dropped a block of poison in the hole and covered the hole. A few days later I found the half-eaten block in the aisle way of the barn - 40 feet away - under the edge of another stall. That bothered me because then I was afraid to use more, thinking the girls might find it when they are free-ranging. Good luck with your challenge. Let us know if you come up with a good way to get him.

 

[Folly's place]

That's why it's important to use those bait stations, so the rat can't drag the bait blocks somewhere else.
When you see one rat, you have a colony!!!
Mary

 

[Kat2141]

Do you have a light on in the coop at night? When chickens sleep in complete darkness they are dead to the world. Mabey a small light will be enough to keep mom from going into zombie mode and wake up if she hears something chewing on her chicks.

that's a good idea - we have a strand of LED Christmas lights in ours on a timer. Cheap to use and throws some light without making it too bright.