It’s a Rat thing

[Fluffington23]

Tonight I caught on video a rat in my run, a couple weeks ago one died by drowning itself in a bucket of water behind my shed. I have H/C a foot underneath all around underneath my run and I filled any holes I saw in the ground with moth balls, how do I prevent it from getting in?

 

[sourland]

Are there any gaps in the pen or fencing? What size mesh on the pen, and is it covered?

 

[Penpal]

I would use poison. Quickstrike fly bait is well liked. Put a little, like 1/8 tsp per rat in a saucer with a little cola or milk. Place it in the area you think they are getting in. Check it later as you don't want pets to get into it.

You could also set up a large bucket with water, a pipe over top with bait ( peanut butter) on the pipe and kill them that way.

 

[Fluffington23]

Are there any gaps in the pen or fencing? What size mesh on the pen, and is it covered?

No gaps. Everything is covered in mesh

 

[rosemarythyme]

Looking at the photo, is the lattice the run fence, or what is that? What does the actual fencing look like? Can we get a clearer shot of your run enclosure?

 

[Al Gerhart]

Looks like hardware cloth behind that lattice.

It is possible to build a Fort Knox coop and exclude the rats at great expense. The problem that you run into is the rats are highly motivated and can chew through almost everything short of steel or glass. And exclusion is the second step of the three step process of eliminating rats. Sanitation, exclusion, elimination.

I like to copy and past an old post from Howard E. who has done probably the most research on BYC on dealing with rats and at the bottom my short version of his info. These are the essentials to deal with a rodent problem.

Here is Howard E.'s past post:

"To the OP (and others like them), if you will spend the time, everything you need to know about rats and how to get rid of them will be found in the links below......

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rat-control-the-video-series.1337456/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rat-control-101.1283827/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rat-proof-feeder-review.1180514/#post-18610285

This last one is a review of a rat proof chicken feeder built and sold by a BYC member, who is a staunch advocate for the plan of getting rid of rats by starving them out. Remove all sources of feed and they will be forced to move on or starve to death. If you are firmly against the use of poison bait blocks......for whatever reason.......then this is one of the best actions you can take. Bulk food in metal trash cans.....chicken feed in metal rat proof feeders.Can't get to the feed and birds do not spill and waste feed that the rats can survive on."

And the short version of Howard's links? Sanitation, exclusion,elimination.


Sanitation, bulk feed in metal cans or barrels with tight fitting lids, a treadle feeder, clean up the avenues of movement so the rodents have no cover to protect them from their natural predators. In my opinion and experience this is the quickest, surest, and cheapest way to solve a rodent problem.


Exclusion, plugging the holes and building a Fort Knox chicken coop and not leaving an opening for free range. Tough to do and expensive but it could work for rats.


Elimination, poison and traps. Problem is that rats are smart and will quickly learn to avoid both traps and poison bait. Were you to clean them out, the lack of sanitation would mean a new population of rodents would move right in. And there is risk and no end to the process, keeping fresh bait out. However, if you have done your sanitation using poison becomes effective as the rats are starving and will likely try the poison bait. Not needed though, they will leave in a few days as long as you are not feeding the rodents with a compost pile or other animal feed. Not all will leave, your area will have a natural carrying capacity for rodents, natural feed, but that natural ability to sustain rodents is quite small and the natural predators keep them in check and under cover as the rodents hustle to find this natural food.

Do a forum search on "rats chickens" and you will find most of the old wives tales exposed and read of long epic battles against the rodents. Sanitation, exclusion, or elimination all have associated costs but you are already paying for the feed and will recover the initial costs quickly with the first method.