How the heck do I get rid of these things?!

[MatthewsHomestead]

A severe rat infestation is a complicated thing to deal with. It is all found here.......and the good stuff starts on page 2 of the thread.

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

Do invest the time to watch the old CDC videos so you know what you are up against.

Ultimately control is a combination of 3 things:

1. Remove access to food and water
2. Rat proof structure
3. Use poison bait blocks

A lot of folks shy away from using the poison bait blocks, and a lot of folks are not successful getting rid of their rat problem until they do. Just saying.

All the other things like dogs and cats, trapping, shooting, etc, won't even scratch the surface of a severe rat infestation. Their ability to reproduce overwhelms these puny efforts.

Where can I find the bait blocks besides online? Our local hardware store just seem to carry the green balls. Everyone swears by them but I think their rats just decided to come live with us!

 

[lazy gardener]

Any feed supply store should have many rodenticide options. Agreed, once you become aware of a rat on your property, you have a significant infestation. Just be sure any poison used in not accessible to any non targeted animals. Also, be sure the poison can not be removed from the bait station.

 

[Howard E]

Local feed stores, farm CO-OP outlets, some hardware stores, etc. should have them.

There are several types of poisons used and it seems to work best to use a wide spectrum approach. Again, step 1 is to eliminate all other sources of feed so they have no other options than the poison bait blocks. No reason for them to risk the poison if they don't have to?

Then assuming you do set out the poisons, and they take them........assuming you have 100 rats (real number may be many more hundred), perhaps 90% of them will fall for the first bait and die, but that still leaves 10 alive and well. So once consumption of the first one falls off, offer up a second type. That may get 9 out of the remaining 10, but that still leaves 1. Set a trap out for him. Ultimate goal is to have poisons out, nothing being consumed and nothing setting off traps. Then monitor into the future forever. Do not bother with the dinky little wooden rat traps. They are not big enough to deal with Norway rats.

Best to start out with the anti-coagulant types, but, which take several days to work. When that winds down, switch to the one bite stuff.

And as LG suggest, always serve these up from within secure bait stations. Otherwise, rats will drag the baits off for other animals to find. Keeping them secure also allows you to monitor consumption.