Potential neighbor issues (rats)

[SammyJo425]

It still wouldn't hurt to share eggs with the grumpy neighbor.

If I thought it would help or if they would appreciate it I would. But my girls work way too hard to give eggs to someone who would force me to get rid of them anyway. Despite the love and joy they bring to my autistic 6 year old son as well.

 

[DickMidnight]

But my girls work way too hard to give eggs to someone who would force me to get rid of them anyway

you’re guessing that this is true. besides, she can’t force you to do anything as long as you’re not breaking the law.

 

[DukesDucks]

How about you make a call to ensure you know your right and responsibilities. You could ask in general terms without identifying yourself - just looking for general into. Then as long a you are doing everything correctly, ignore the grump.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Since people tend not to do a forum search I like to re post some great advice from a regular poster on these forums. If you follow his advice you can solve the rodent problem or at least prevent them from hanging around your coop.


Here is Howard E.'s past post:

"To the OP (and others like them), if you will spend the time, everything you need to know about rats and how to get rid of them will be found in the links below......

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rat-control-the-video-series.1337456/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rat-control-101.1283827/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rat-proof-feeder-review.1180514/#post-18610285


This last one is a review of a rat proof chicken feeder built and sold by a BYC member, who is a staunch advocate for the plan of getting rid of rats by starving them out. Remove all sources of feed and they will be forced to move on or starve to death. If you are firmly against the use of poison bait blocks......for whatever reason.......then this is one of the best actions you can take. Bulk food in metal trash cans.....chicken feed in metal rat proof feeders. Can't get to the feed and birds do not spill and waste feed that the rats can survive on."

And the short version of Howard's post? Sanitation, exclusion, elimination.

Sanitation, bulk feed in metal cans or barrels with tight fitting lids, a treadle feeder, clean up the avenues of movement so the rodents have no cover to protect them from their natural predators. In my opinion and experience this is the quickest, surest, and cheapest way to solve a rodent problem.

Exclusion, plugging the holes and building a Fort Knox chicken coop and not leaving an opening for free range. Tough to do and expensive but it could work for rats.

Elimination, poison and traps. Problem is that rats are smart and will quickly learn to avoid both traps and poison bait. Were you to clean them out, the lack of sanitation would mean a new population of rodents would move right in. And there is risk and no end to the process, keeping fresh bait out. However, if you have done your sanitation using poison becomes effective as the rats are starving and will likely try the poison bait. Not needed though, they will leave in a few days as long as you are not feeding the rodents with a compost pile or other animal feed. Not all will leave, your area will have a natural carrying capacity for rodents, natural feed, but that natural ability to sustain rodents is quite small and the natural predators keep them in check and under cover as the rodents hustle to find this natural food.


Do a forum search on "rats chickens" and you will find most of the old wives tales exposed and read of long epic battles against the rodents. Sanitation, exclusion, or elimination all have associated costs but you are already paying for the feed and will recover the initial costs quickly with the first method.

Good luck and remember, it isn't just the stolen feed, disease and predators come with rodents.

 

[Zud]

Hey, wondering how your rat battle is going.
We had a terrible time with rats (before chickens) when we lived in Bushwick due to displacement when construction began behind an empty lot across the street. This was several years ago, but things have only gotten much worse since COVID.

We moved up to City Island, and we don't really have rats in the residential areas, but I've had neighbors suggesting that my chickens are attracting mice. They aren't. My coop and run are pretty much Fort Knox, and we have zero evidence of any pests. All the food is stored in metal containers, etc. When the chickens are out in our yard, they've actually been catching and eating any mice they come upon (which was weird to see the first time). We offered to give the neighbor a tour of the coop and run to assure them that we're doing everything possible to prevent attracting pests and that we've always had mice.

You absolutely have to combat a perception issue with neighbors when you introduce something new. I'm sure the rats were there before the chickens, but the neighbor may have forgotten that with something new to blame for them.

I'm curious to see how you've pest proofed your coop to protect your chickens from the rats. They're sneaky.

I'm also trying to start a NYC area thread so folks keeping chickens, etc, in the area can help one another with city specific issues. Check it out, if you'd like: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nyc-area-folks.1558317/