question about rats.

[powaychicks]

I am so glad you posted this question today. We actually just got back from the feed store and was talking to them about rats getting into our coop. Maybe you guys can help me make the right decision for our run. first we have a small coop with a very small run at the bottom. We recently moved to a new house with an acre yard. The girls have been loving it up until a huge hawk came into the yard. Luckily my daughter was there to scare it way. They are terrified now. We do not allow them to free range as much now for fear we will lose one. Now about the rats. Let me start of by saying I hate rats! We finally have gotten the coop rat proofed... I think...Crossing my fingers!!! They have been relentless for weeks. We want to build a larger run now for the girls since we are fearful of letting them free range all day. The guys at the feed store all said to just get a chain link dog run. It's the most affordable but now we are back at the rat issue. They all said its no big deal if there are rats and just to hang the food and we should stop worrying so much about it. You all seem to think having rats around is a much bigger deal. We just don't know what to do. We had a handyman quote us on a run and he said it would be $1,000.000!!!!! That is freaking insane. Better be made out of galvanized gold for that price. We can build a run ourselves for half the price but its just a time issue. Is the chain link a bad idea???
Would love your advice because we gotta get on this very soon!

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Quote:
Exactly!

Store the food in a metal trash can with bungee cords or a metal toolbox like aprophet mentioned or something that rats cannot slide into or chew a hole in.