Marans and Back-crossed OE Breeding Project.

[Mwhit]

Just got a chicken related purchase in the mail….we have a terrible rat problem that just popped up.

 

[2ndTink]

How's the Ratinator going? We had some good luck with ours

 

[Mwhit]

How's the Ratinator going? We had some good luck with ours

After setting the trap last night, we caught a dozen this morning. It works great! Makes me worry about how many rats I may have though.

 

[2ndTink]

After setting the trap last night, we caught a dozen this morning. It works great! Makes me worry about how many rats I may have though.

Wow! Thats a lot! When you reset it, it's important to tie the trap door open for a few nights and give them some food inside of it so they get comfy with going in and out of their little feed room, then set the trap door again after a few freebie nights.

Rats and smart enough to learn not to go back if they perceive its a danger to them. I think this is where the snap traps and electronic traps fail. They learn it's dangerous and avoid them.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Wow! Thats a lot! When you reset it, it's important to tie the trap door open for a few nights and give them some food inside of it so they get comfy with going in and out of their little feed room, then set the trap door again after a few freebie nights.

Rats and smart enough to learn not to go back if they perceive its a danger to them. I think this is where the snap traps and electronic traps fail. They learn it's dangerous and avoid them.

I've learned to bait the snap traps like this also. I also have a Ratinator.

Here's a couple tricks I learned in my days in 'Nam.
Rats don't wiggle out from the drywall screws or take the trap with a tether.
Dusty trap= no rats here....yet.

 

[Mwhit]

I've learned to bait the snap traps like this also. I also have a Ratinator.

Here's a couple tricks I learned in my days in 'Nam.
Rats don't wiggle out from the drywall screws or take the trap with a tether.
Dusty trap= no rats here....yet.
View attachment 4178819

That thing looks gnarly! Good advice, I’ll retie it and keep it open for a few days.

I’ve stopped keeping the chicken feed out all day and switched to 2x a day feedings. Hopefully that makes a dent too.

 

[wrathsfarm]

It's impossible for me to keep feed from being wasted with all the littles but I've used tote lids for example under their feeders. Helps a little bit.

 

[Mwhit]

Update on the marans. Both of my roosters had a bad case of lice and mites while I was out of town for work. I ended up losing Hei Hei, and Ferdinand is still hanging in there.

I have him isolated and am treating him for vent gleet with an epsom salt bath and monistat.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Sorry to hear...I use this to dust my birds and nest boxes, poop boards and roosts. Nest boxes I'll clean out at any first sign, dust bottom, add bedding, and redust. I redust periodically after that.

The wife gets it from Chewy....

 

[Mwhit]

Sorry to hear...I use this to dust my birds and nest boxes, poop boards and roosts. Nest boxes I'll clean out at any first sign, dust bottom, add bedding, and redust. I redust periodically after that.

The wife gets it from Chewy....
View attachment 4197557View attachment 4197558

I’ll check that out! I think the mites combined with the wet weather we’ve had made it so much worse. They haven’t been able to dust bathe like normal.