Mortified.

[Standard Hen]

Welllllll, I have been tossing this back anf forth and trying to decide how I want to approach this. I can't handle traps because then I have this big ugly rat to pick up and get rid of. Forget that. Water in the holes is out because they go flat under the coops and there are quite a few now, I would hate to have a rat jump out of one and try and crawl up my legs plus I want to make sure I get rid of them.. Forget that. I still plan on getting the peppermint oil but think I need to nip it now before it gets to out of control. All my years of horses etc. I have never had rats! Mice are everwhere living in the woods but I have always been real careful with the keeping of grain and cleanliness. I am going with poison. I am going to shove it in the holes and cover them. The last straw was the other day when I was watching the rat in the chicken pen run back and forth. This is war time and I can't handle rats! I will then pick up some peppermint oil to spray after I think I no longer have a problem.
Thanks arlee and thanks everyone for your help, I appreciate it.

 

[arlee453]

Good luck with the rats! I just got back in a few min ago from shoving some tomcat bait blocks into the tunnel I found the other day. Shoved in the blocks and kicked dirt good over the holes.

I definately don't want them getting near my chicky babies when they go out in the coop in a couple weeks! I've seen rats eat rats that were caught in traps and don't want them 'hunting' my chicks!

 

[Standard Hen]

Yes, they are disgusting and dirty and they are the last thing I want around. I remember when I was a little girl, and this is gross. I had an aunt who kept rabbitts, they were in hutches as normal. One time I was there and she was cleaning them out and feeding and she noticed blood in the hutch. She picked up one of the rabbits and a rat had started to eat a hole in it's stomach! I never forgot that ever. The rat I have seen is not huge but big enough. And we all know where there is one there are alot more!

 

[RoyalHillsLLC]

I like glue traps. I placed them all over my barn in the corners and things where nothing but a rat or mouse will go. If you know where the runs are, they will work and it won't hurt a cat to eat one that is caught in a glue board. It could get messy cutting one out of the cat's hair... but that is afer than rat bait if you are concerned.
http://www.pestproducts.com/glue_traps.htm

 

[Spring]

Quote:
Does it have to be actually PEPPERMINT?? I went to the garden store and all they had was pinapple mint, and spearmint. I got a couple plants of each and plan on planting them. I put oil on cotton balls too and put them around. Will the MINT plant harm the chickens if they were to eat any?>?????

THANKS