Rat Traps or Cat?

[Below frigid]

Try the the Jawz rat traps.no brained and safe to set and dispose the rodents.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

All to true possum in the chicken coop is the same dead as a big rat. Shame but has to be done . Speaking of Snakes .I have golf balls in the nesting boxes and the only snake that ever got in ate an egg and swallowed the golf ball too . Well the egg crushed but the golf ball was bigger than the hole the snake came in .That was as far as he made it . Just as far as the golf ball would go in him . regurgitated the golf ball and tried again but he was already got . I rehomed it to the game preserve a few miles away haven't seen it since . We got plenty of snakes round here. Rat Terriers are awesome for rat control just be sure if you have watering tubs for livestock teach them not to go near them or always have a board or something in the trough so if they fall or jump in they can get out .

I knew someone who did that with his swimming pool, fake grass covered board attached to side of pool and floating in the the pool, so dogs could easily get on the board and climb out, he actually had two in the pool and it wasn't that large of a pool. Thanks, important info!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Best way? As many ways as you can afford...it is an all out assault with rats...at least in my region which is notorious for heavy rat infestations.

I'm with @Hen Pen Jem get a good rat terrier. I got mine at a rescue. He was feral the first 8 months to a year of his life. I'm an experienced dog trainer, so I was able to home train him and encourage his wonderful loving, but abused heart.

He is a prime Netflix surfer with me by day and mean rat hunter by night. (He has 14 rats kills just this summer).

I personally don't let him eat them as they carry a lot of parasites and disease. He knows to bring them to my feet or the back door for disposal.

My dad had barn cats that would take just about anything down. There are a number of feral rescue places that will place barn ready cats.

I also place out first generation rat poison, the Wafarin type that does not poison secondary animals. (The second generation nervous system toxins can).

We've used metal traps, but the rats soon get savvy. I've tried the plaster paris, but it seems to stop working too.

Lock up food in a metal can. Pick up food at night or cover it securely.

And my son is pretty handy with an air rifle.

But it is constant vigilance. If you let your guard down once, soon you've got the family and their cousins moved in overnight.

Good luck.

LofMc

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

Hey guys, please check out this poll thread that I made:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rat-traps-or-outdoor-cat-poll.1207126/
Thanks!!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Here rats are too smart for traps, and Rat terriers can't go underground into their extensive tunnels to get them. We have used poison yearly for the past 10 years successfully without anyone else being poisoned. It is the only way. Cats won't touch rats either.