Oh Rats!

[max13077]

At least they were! I drove into the driveway this afternoon from work and was sitting there looking over the mail. A movement by the chicken coop caught my eye. It was a rat in my chicken run! I slowly got out of the car but they(I saw three) run into a hole under the coop. The G D things were sitting on the ramp going into the coop!! I was mad.

I went in the house and got the .22. I was sure since they'd seem me they wouldn't come back out. I hunched down in back of the car and waited for a second. All the sudden here comes one out of the hole! I leveled the gun on the hood(it's a 88 chevy, I don't care if it gets powder burns!) The rat stepped out from behind a post and I squeezed. He popped in the air and fell back down motionless. I stood up sure that the sound would keep the others in the hole. But again, one came out to inspect the carcass of the one I'd shot. Again, POP! This one rolled a little and hobbled back into the hole. I know he was hit, so I assume he'll croak.

I didn't see the third one after waiting for ten minutes. I don't want them there! I set a couple traps near the hole and under the coop. Other than that, what can I do to make sure they don't come back?

 

[Momma_Cluck]

traps..... otherwise, not a whole lot more than target practice!

 

[whitecra]

Make sure your chickens can't get in the traps.
Chris

 

[rooster0209]

Do your best to not have food around but that isnt a guarantee either.

I could lend you BB & PC. We had rats in the grainery when DH hauled the grain out. Left the door open and those two went in to investigate and dead rats were everywhere the next morning

 

[max13077]

I don't think they are getting into the coop itself. All the food is stored in there. I think they may be getting the food I occasionally throw out in the run for the girls to eat. I've stopped doing that cause I saw a rat a couple weeks ago.

I think I'll just fill in the hole with concrete. I would dump boiling water down the hole but it's right under one of the cinder blocks that support the coop. Since the grounds frozen, I don't want anything happening if it unthaws fast and buckles or whatever.

 

[CarlaRiggs]

I'm not sure why you're asking what to do about rats.... seems that your solution seems to be working just fine!

Carla

 

[chellebyerly]

Thats some great shooting!

congrats!!

and I love your signature line!

 

[sandypaws]

great shot