I Hate Rats!

[goldeneggtees]

I know me too! Might make me some money!

But thankfully, it only happened once!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Okay, so i need to know - what did you do? Did you give it some treats, too?

 

[goldeneggtees]

Nope, I think when it realized what it had done, it came to it's senses and got scared and ran away.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i guess it just got caught up in the moment.

 

[goldeneggtees]

Yep, that's what I think but it is crazy that they learned the sound of my voice meant food!

Quote:

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Howlinggood, you cant fool me...you were training that rat to come when called!!!

 

[goldeneggtees]

you got me!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Well, sorry to change the subject back to something unpleasant. i put down two more sticky traps in that aviary last night. i caught what i think may be the last baby. Didn't catch mom. The sticky stuff was smeared on one of the traps. i think mom is too big to get stuck in one of those. So not sure what to do next.

 

[Bigcreekpeafowl]

We had a serious problem with rats several years ago when we were raising cattle.
We also bought about a dozen young silkies which were about 3 months old.
The silkies were housed in a small brooder house.
About 2 weeks after we got them one morning I noticed 4 of them were missing, couldn't figure it out. Pen looked secure. Could not find anywhere were they could have got out or something that got in. Other than what looked to be mice or rat holes. Two days later 4 more were missing.

When I got home from work which was after dark my Mom and I went out and was looking around. We both heard some faint squeaking sounds inside the building. We both looked at each other thinking "rat". I grabbed a shovel and started digging around the holes. I dug up what little was left of a little silky hen. Not much more than a few feathers and bone. The rats were dragging them down the holes and eating them. I was SO grossed out!

We moved what silkies were left, put poison in the house and closed it up.
That seemed to help and moving the food source no more rats in that area.

But how awful to think how those rat's were killing those little silkies. Made me sick.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Oh no, i am so sorry! That's horrible! Pretty amazing that they were carting off 3-month-old silkies. i've heard of rats taking babies, or quail, or nibbling on the feet of chickens roosting. i know they are opportunistic eaters. Before i could throw away the first round of dead baby rats, someone pulled one of the bodies down the hole. i don't like the idea that they have a taste for blood. i should be checking all the coops for chew holes in the floor.