Rat deterrent advice?

[ChickenRisa]

Wondering if anyone can give suggestions to help me deal with my rat problem!

I have barn cats so I do not want to use poison in case one of the cats finds the poisoned rat and eats it, passing on the poison. I didn't have the for thought to use hardware cloth on my coop (I was only thinking raccoons, not rats) and don't have the money to replace all the fencing at this point. I am wondering if anyone has found any alternative ways to deter rats. I read in a chicken book that planting mint around the coop is supposed to deter rats since they don't like it, anyone have experience with that? Any other suggestions?

I am currently taking the food out every night but I have still seen the rats going for it during the day.

 

[NEChickenNoob]

Mint is a natural deterrent for many animals. But you should try to get rid of them. I have had luck against mice with this: http://fivegallonideas.com/bucket-mouse-trap/

I saw many people have the same luck with all types of rodents from squirrels to rats. Simple concept and doesn't need to be reset and can catch multiple in one night. Try it and let us know how you did.

 

[ChickenRisa]

Thanks for the link! That's an interesting concept, I would have to find a really big bucket since the rats here are pretty big. I'll have to figure out where I can put it that chickens or kids or dogs can't get to it but the rats can... Have you used it in the chicken coop? Do they try to mess with the trap?

 

[NEChickenNoob]

I put it right outside the run. You don't need a really big bucket. You could substitute the bucket with a cheap plastic trashcan. Just make sure you go with a fairly wide opening. I did some research and watched a youtube of a rat grabbing the edge of a 5 gal bucket and escaping. If you wanted to put it in your run, I would just cover it during the day and open it at night when the chickens go in for the night. Just remember, you need to have a tempting path that the rats can walk on and can't resist.

 

[TeePants]

I have found that simply picking up the food at night and bringing it inside or putting it in a tupperware works if you only have a small number of chickens. Otherwise cats are a good deterrent and you've already got that going, and as another user suggested the live bucket traps work. We've even managed to catch some in those big plastic storage bins.