Minnesota!

[Cluckies]

ok, I found this on controlling rats on a poultry farm: http://www.farmers.coop/uploads/media/12-55011_Rodent_Control_Bulletin_FILE.pdf


sort of helpful. I didnt know that I should remove water at night!

I did know I am supposed to feed only enough so there is no chicken feed on the ground but.....my flock tends to scratch out feed, dump feed, etc....I have a bunch of different feeders. I have tried the long rectangular ones with the wire guards, and they tend to leave feed at the bottom.


also, because rats learn fast, you are supposed to have multiple traps for one or two nights, after that you won't catch any. So, a poultry farm might have 150 traps set each night!

that translates to probably 10 at my place.

I didn't know about the removing the water either! I change their water at night in the warmer weather to save me time in the morning...
Maybe this would work for you? if done right, there is no waste, and you can cap the ends at night to keep critters out of it.
No waste feeder for approx 3 bucks

star wars? STAR WARS? good lord, how can you be talking about star wars when I have a varmit invasion?

I got a PM today from a guy who asked if he could join me in teaching and learning. He said he likes the work I've been doing... What does that mean???

Don't answer him, sounds like a creepy internet weirdo!

 

[holm25]

You need your parent or guardian to check this person out, don't give any personal info. Be careful and cautious!

I know I am very careful!!! I trust u guys but thats about it. I just told him I would share a few ideas with him but I'm just not going to answer him anymore I didnt realize he was new til I clicked on his user. He joined BYC today and has only PMed me and thats it. His user is Ben moppy.

 

[AlezaJ]

huh.  now that you mention it, there was a rabbit in the run last night.  just one.  I don't know if they would eat the feed but would they eat the hay?

There were two open holes in the tunnels, which I've assumed are rat tunnels - slighly raised, no mounds of dirt.    

I read rats will eat your chickens feet in the dark!! and that if your hens all of a sudden won't roost it might be because of rats.

but, kopkop, they do look like rabbit poop.  gonna look that up.
thanks!

Aren't rabbit droppings bigger than that, like double that size? Unless it was a baby?

 

[Cluckies]

@lalaland I think it was you who mentioned it, I ordered some of that Molly's herbals wormer, (as my girls are molting, but are getting so very thin) now i'm not sure how to dose, the paperwork says 1 Tbsp for 6 chickens. directy? added to their food or water? How do I split that up? not sure... How do you dose your chickens when you use it?

 

[scandiafowl]

ok, spent some time on the web, and apparently these aren't rat droppings because they are round: Note: they were shiny this morning but have been scuffed up by the chickens: these are large peppercorn, or tiny pea sized who made this poop? and you can see from the feed on the ground here why I am probably feeding the greater population in Minnesota of whatever these critters are. I tried withholding feed for a day but nothing seemed to get cleaned up...probably just need to dig it in in the few areas around the feeders where it is bad.

Looks like rabbit poo.

 

[scandiafowl]

star wars?  STAR WARS?  good lord, how can you be talking about star wars when I have a varmit invasion?     

Because a good light saber can take out any dark side rat

 

[holm25]

Because a good light saber can take out any dark side rat

LOL

 

[scandiafowl]

I got a PM today from a guy who asked if he could join me in teaching and learning. He said he likes the work I've been doing... What does that mean???

Creep radar on red alert! Get out your light saber!

 

[holm25]

Creep radar on red alert! Get out your light saber!

The second I saw the PM my light saber was swing back and forth at it!!

 

[scandiafowl]

geesh, I am relieved.  there were sooooo many droppings, I was picturing a hoard.  

But.....those tunnels......rats?


and now on to star wars!  who even knew there was a new movie coming?  remember how amazing the originals were?

I'm a total Star Wars nerd.. Anything science fiction and I'm there.