Rat problem with hatching eggs

[Peter_Rabbit_Farm]

I have rats in my duck coop and have been dealing with them, but there are still a few. I have 3 duck eggs left under my one hen the rats take any egg that starts to crack. They stole a chicken egg that was about to hatch when it was piping should I move the nest and mother duck until they hatch or should I wait and see how things go?

 

[sourland]

Although I have moved setting chicken hens many times successfully, I have never been able to move a duck hen without her breaking. What about giving her fake eggs, putting her eggs in an incubator , and returning the ducklings to her when they hatch ?

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

Maybe you could put some sort of dog crate over her ? To keep the rats out but she doesn’t have to move? They need to be dealt with I’ve heard of them eating chicken food from the feeders and drinking the water before, nasty things.

 

[Folly's place]

Rats will also kill birds!!! And bring in nasty diseases that we don't want to catch. Zero tolerance for rats is the best policy.
Mary

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

Ew yup definitely. Also if a rat can get into your coop no telling what else has the ability to.

Rats will also kill birds!!! And bring in nasty diseases that we don't want to catch. Zero tolerance for rats is the best policy.
Mary

 

[Flockincrazy]

I would put live traps out and catch the rats I only say live because the snap ones could get one of your birds and damage them thats why I have cats they kill the river rats and don't bother my birds my beagles have brought me dead river rats too they were protecting my birds

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

Vaguely related, stupid question is a river rat like a musk rat ? I didn’t know if that was like a regional term for it (i.e. crayfish/crawdad)

 

[Flockincrazy]

Vaguely related, stupid question is a river rat like a musk rat ? I didn’t know if that was like a regional term for it (i.e. crayfish/crawdad)

Yes its the same thing that is what my mom called them so thats what I call them i didn't know they were called musk rat's till I was in my late 20's its got to be a regional thing

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

Hah! You learn something new every day

 

[Al Gerhart]

Feed the rats and they will hang around, wouldn't you? Get your bulk feed in metal barrels and your chicken feed in a real ratproof chicken feeder and the rats will leave. But it takes a couple of days for them to starve out so I would move that sitting hen. All the more reason to just spend the money on a proper feeder before your feed attracts rats to the coop.