Major Rat Infestation

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micstrachan

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7 Years
Apr 10, 2016
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Santa Cruz Mountains, California
I have seen rats around before, but feel my run is secure. I’ve been putting the feed away again every night the last few nights since I saw a rat scurry across the top of the run about a week ago.Well my first ever tomato garden just started ripening (I planted it late, but live in CA, so we have a long season) and the rats started eating them. So tonight I went out with a headlamp to sprinkle natural rat repellant and saw several rats, one of which was trying to get into the chicken coop. I don’t think killing the rats will do any good (too many and they’ll just come back); I’d rather deter them. Can someone advise me on hot wire? Is there a good article here somewhere?
Also, tonight is the first night my six week old chicks are outside. They are in one of those little prefab coops inside the run. They’re too little to put in with the big girls yet. I’m wondering if I should bring them inside. Even though I have a hardware cloth skirt, rats can burrow under it and have in the past. The little coop seems secure, but it’s just a thin sliding door. Thoughts?
 
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Thank you. Don’t worry; I would not consider poison. Too dangerous to my flock, dog, neighbor’s cats and the wildlife. Bobcats and coyotes where I live are having all kinds of health problems because of rodenticides.
Ohh good! I feel the same way about poison, that article is really good, I used it to get rid of my major rat infestation too. Darn rodents!
 
We're having a problem, too, and setting snap traps strategically in the afternoon when and where the individual rats are active has been very helpful. Ours got comfortable and would come out even when we were close by. Sunflower seeds were irresistable. A Water dish seems to be a big attractant, as well. We got 3 last week and i haven't seen one since, but have seen tracks.
Snap traps catch too many birds and squirrels, etc when unattended
But if there's a rat going back and forth to the same spot, you might be able to get the exact one you want. Make trap inaccessible to chickens, kids, dogs, etc
 
We're having a problem, too, and setting snap traps strategically in the afternoon when and where the individual rats are active has been very helpful. Ours got comfortable and would come out even when we were close by. Sunflower seeds were irresistable. A Water dish seems to be a big attractant, as well. We got 3 last week and i haven't seen one since, but have seen tracks.
Snap traps catch too many birds and squirrels, etc when unattended
But if there's a rat going back and forth to the same spot, you might be able to get the exact one you want. Make trap inaccessible to chickens, kids, dogs, etc
Oh dear. Sunflower seeds are irresistible? I have two mammoth sunflowers in the garden they have not discovered yet. I went out and dumped all the water dishes a few minutes ago. The dog alerted me to a huge raccoon, as well.
 
Oh dear. Sunflower seeds are irresistible? I have two mammoth sunflowers in the garden they have not discovered yet. I went out and dumped all the water dishes a few minutes ago. The dog alerted me to a huge raccoon, as well.
Actually, what was irresistable was WET sunflower seeds. Interestingly. I've had dry ones in a snap trap for a day and a half w/ peanuts, and no rat. I didnt have food or water in there (an unused at the moment coop) for a couple of days.
I've actually seen their tracks show they've ignored my bait station (w a little chicken food in and around it) and go to the water dish. A bunch of times.
 
I have seen rats around before, but feel my run is secure. I’ve been putting the feed away again every night the last few nights since I saw a rat scurry across the top of the run about a week ago.Well my first ever tomato garden just started ripening (I planted it late, but live in CA, so we have a long season) and the rats started eating them. So tonight I went out with a headlamp to sprinkle natural rat repellant and saw several rats, one of which was trying to get into the chicken coop. I don’t think killing the rats will do any good (too many and they’ll just come back); I’d rather deter them. Can someone advise me on hot wire? Is there a good article here somewhere?
Also, tonight is the first night my six week old chicks are outside. They are in one of those little prefab coops inside the run. They’re too little to put in with the big girls yet. I’m wondering if I should bring them inside. Even though I have a hardware cloth skirt, rats can burrow under it and have in the past. The little coop seems secure, but it’s just a thin sliding door. Thoughts?
 

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