Rat skirt -- do you think it'll work?

[Tala]

You can get a trap for moles that has spring loaded spikes on it and a plate that goes in the tunnle. When the critter runs over it the spikes come down.....
It works for moles, think it would work for rats?

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

I should have rats, really. There's no good reason why my messy boys leaving the doors open and this old house is full of leaky spaces, but we DO keep the chicken feed in metal garbage cans with tight lids, and our chickens got fat so we DONT put feed out for them during the day, they only eat feed when they're locked in their coop. They scratch all day through the property eating bugs and grass and occasional baby varmints. Before we had pet chickens, we had a few possum babies climb straight up our back porch, stare us down, and climb straight up the fence like spiderman late for a date. I bet rats can figure how to get up, around and through anything. So we lock up the feed and our fat little hens free range all day. Good luck!

 

[LynneP]

Your system will certainly help, and if you add barn cats to the regimen away from the chickens or have a terrier, you should be fine...

 

[msjones]

Quote:
So, maybe that neighbor's terrier is good for something! (If you read the 'neighbor extremely upset' thread -- you're familiar with my neighbor's terrier...) We have lots 3 alley cats around here, and that yappy terrier.