NEEDADVICE-RATS EATING CHICKS-GETTING DOG TO HELP-ADVICE PLEASE

[jen61871]

Hi
I am having trouble within the year since the farm next to us put cows in with rats. I'm 100% sure it's rats. I have seen them. I have lost at least 20 chicks/young chickens either chicks that are hatched outside with mama hen or chicks old enough to go outside that I ordered or incubated to rats.
We have been killing them but have decided we need a dog. Now this is where I need you all's advice. I know I have lot's and lot's of research to do, but personal experience is the best.
I assume I start with a puppy? Dog species recomendations? It will eventually be off a leash and we have 6 acres of land so how do I go about teaching it to stay where the chickens are. And the BIGGIE-kill the rats and any other bad animal but not my chickens????
Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated.
Also I live in PA. Can I get a puppy and keep it outside almost all the time in the cold if it has a nice warm insulated doghouse?
Thanks so much in advance!!!!
Jen

 

[Birdsong 82]

I don't know if a dog would necessarily help a rat situation. Maybe help with larger predators Any breed would need to be trained around chickens before being near them attended or unintended. Are the rats getting inside their coop or run? Or are they getting them out in the yard?

 

[AllenK RGV]

Jack Russel or rat terrier? There is a rat hunter guy on youtube. He gets hired to have his dog bag and tag those rats. Harden the pen if they are night time losses with hardware cloth to exclude the rats(cheaper than fully vetting a dog) and faster than the training you need.

 

[imnukensc]

Sounds like you need a rat terrier.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

a dog will not kill rats your better off using poison

 

[AllenK RGV]

a dog will not kill rats your better off using poison

Sorry to disagree I have had two that were pure naturals at it rats/mice. One 90lb German Shepherd Collie mix, and one absolute mutt terrier/pinscher/rottweiler mix who we trained to take the cats dang mice away when he brought them inside. Mice and rats never survived her crushing bite.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Sorry to disagree I have had two that were pure naturals at it rats/mice. One 90lb German Shepherd Collie mix, and one absolute mutt terrier/pinscher/rottweiler mix who we trained to take the cats dang mice away when he brought them inside. Mice and rats never survived her crushing bite.

that you trained without training they will not kill rats Ill stick to poison

 

[AllenK RGV]

that you trained without training they will not kill rats Ill stick to poison

Young playful dogs like squeek toys, rats and mice are good for a squeek. They are easy to train especially if it is a high energy type breed. Make a rat house with a 4x8' board 1 inch off the ground. Bring the dog over and tell them where to sniff out those rats. The dog will be frustrated because it cant get to the rats........do that 4-5 times. Your dog is now trained. Lift the board and watch the fun.

I reject poison as a viable alternative to a dog or cat, as if you free range a large breed like Bhrama ect when they locate that poisoned animal they might grab a free treat. It can further directly impact other species who clean up corpses. To each their own though, what works well for me might not work for you.

 

[Rose Quartz]

You can get pre-trained dogs. There's a guy here in Nova Scotia that does it. I imagine they're quite expensive though.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I guess I was wrong. Didn't realize they were dogs that specialize in that. But if they're inside the run they will stay there for protection I would think. That's how they avoid my cat when I had a problem. I think the cheapest and easiest solution would be hardware cloth but that's just my opinion . That's what I went with