Need Help Trapping Rats, Please

[leadwolf1]

I think that might take down the barn, coops and house if you're not careful....those tunnels can run for miles!

pour gas down the rat holes and set it afire

 

[redhen]

Thanks guys!

 

[2DogsFarm]

Not all poisons are anti-coagulants, some of the newer ones are neurotoxins and that is by no means a "peaceful" death.
Both are also toxic to any animal that consumes them either primary or secondary as the warning labels state.

But you need to pick your battles and I pick poisoning the rats over having them destroy my coop with gnawing and getting fat on the layer pellets.

The last straw for me was having their little beady-eyed heads pop up from the holes when they heard me filling the feeder in the morning!!!
Nocturnal, my arse!

 

[Greyfox Farm]

Try a rat-version of a "weasel box". Build a simple wooden box with a hole about 2" in diameter in one end and place a simple rat trap behind the hole and bait the box. I put hardware cloth on the other end so the scent of the bait gets into the air. For weasel you use dead meat, but for rats you could use something less disgusting such as grain and peanut butter. Mr. rat gets the scent, can't get in any other way, and sticks his head into the box, steps on the striker and gets his neck broken for the effort. Be sure to use bait outside the box as well so he gets used to eating a free cheap meal. When the easy feed is gone he'll want to keep eating and be comfortable with the set-up, so he won't be too concerned with sticking his head into the hole. The only down-side to this is that you'll often have the trap fire from mice instead of rats. Just keep re-setting it and be patient. Chickens live when predators die. Happy hunting.

 

[silkiechicken]

Squirrel trap. LOL

Caught only 3 this way, but dang it felt good. LOL Shot them with a pellet rifle.

"hunted" with an air rifle from the back ok vehicles before too and have gotten a few that way too.

 

[sonomachx]

Dying of poison is not necessarily humane, but I agree to control a heavy rat problem it is probably your best approach. There are a few safety measures that should be taken though. 1) If you use poison, make sure it is confined within a bait station and that the rodents can't run off with it. While it is true that the amount that will kill a rat will not usually harm a dog, if they get into an entire brick the consequences can be devastating. I have personally watched a Mastiff die of rodenticide poisoning (it was brought to the emergency clinic too late) - not pretty and not peaceful. 2) Use only anti-coagulant type poisons. If in doubt read the label, if it mentions vitamin K as an antidote, it is an anticoagulant type. If a child or pet gets a hold of one of these poisons they can be helped by medical professionals. 3) Do NOT use bromethalin poisons. These are potent neurotoxins for which there is no antidote. IMO these should be illegal since absolutely nothing can reverse the damage once it starts. 4) Keep the remaining box of poison safely protected and out of reach. Pets will go to great lengths to find the stuff and eat it. The same attractants that makes the rats want it makes most dogs love the stuff.

 

[redhen]

Ugh! I just dont know what to do! I am so afraid of using poison.. and what is a bait station? I thought when you set out poison the rats/mice eat it and get sick and go look for a water source.. no?
So that means they they CAN be found and eaten by other animals...or am i misunderstanding, as usual..

 

[leadwolf1]

Nope, you are right. Take a look at what kind of poison. Some are formulated that if a non-target animal is poisoned, they throw up and the poison doesn't stay in their system. Rats can't regurgitate so, it kills them. I really like the snap traps better....I can put them out when all my other animals are safe and in bed

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

It can be a tough hurdle to get over, using poison, but where there are rats and mice there will next be snakes..even worse. Just remember, rats will chew the legs off your chicken while they roost...now would that be a horrible death...I drop a chunk down the rat hole, they'll feed it to the litter and most will die in the hole. I've never seen one scurry to water lie dead in the yard or anywhere, maybe their friends eat the remains who knows. Maybe all the info about rats going for water started in a lab environment because the rat went into hemodynamic shock and thirst is a system..albeit a very late symptom. Good luck with your decision and may your chickens stay safe.