OH Rats!

[GA_Gypsy]

Hey all!

Well the rats are in full swing this year. We've been killing them around our gutters, but today when i was cleaning out the coop I found rat poop all in and around their feed holder. I always let them free range during the day but still provide them with a little in the coop to snack on, especially during the winter months. But now that the bugs and grass are out, should I not put feed in the coop at all anymore? I always thought that the coop was well sealed at night but I have been proven wrong. What do you all do at night when you tuck them in? How about their feed during the day? Any safe ways to get rid of or discourage rats around the coop?

Thanks!

 

[Blondiechic]

They appear to be seasonal here but when they are here there are loads of them - my neighbours have the same thing with them and I hate them but then I see a baby one and they are so cute... I don't put any feed inside my houses at night as all my girls are out during the day - I found that when I DID put feed in there the rats would dig to get under and in, even my silkie house where i have chicken wire on the ground and then a raised floor for them, they still got in.
I would be interested to know what other people say about getting rid of them - our vet suggests using the poisons like rat sak as they have to eat lots of little bits of it so if another animal finds them then they are less likely to get sick; I hate killing anything so didn't do that but was about to call the pest man when all of our rats left!

 

[GA_Gypsy]

Well now that you mention it, it does sound rather silly of me to put feed in at night! But it's just that certain way they look at me. You know the one....like they are completely starving and haven't eating a thing all day. After I get over that, I still want to keep them away from my girls and eggs.

 

[Midnight92]

Ok I'm all new to this but if I understand right y'all do not leave food out for your chicks at night..I have been leaving it in the pen and also in the coop with them..So at night I need to pick all of this up..I can say I have not seen rat dropping anywhere around the pen are in the coop

Thank you all if you can think of anything more I need to know please let me know..I have fallen head over heals in love with my 4 girls..

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I leave food and water inside the coop because I don't open it very early, and they are not starving to get out of the coop. I have made sure the coop is rat proff and nowhere for the to hide inside. I did have signs of a rat that tunneled under the pallet I used for the stoop, obviously came from a woodpile. I left poison under the pallet in the tunnel, then removed the pallet and anything else it could hide under...haven't seen anymore signs since.
I would make sure you get rid of the rat before removing the food. They are used to eating there now, and you don't want them snacking on chicken feet when they come there hungry. Then, make sure you find out how they are getting in and fix it, rats can climb well too, straight up.