RAT WAR!!

[Lazy Farmer]

Rain and Rats go Hand & Hand!
They move indoors to seek shelter. Or Barn full of feed provides safe harbor and unlimited sources of nutrition for their colony and off spring.
I refuse to provide a disease carrying rodent share my farm destroying everything from boxes to electrical wires and contamination of feed for our many animals we care for.
View media item 7893523These little Satan offsprings are my main focus at the moment.
This big female was live trapped last night in my barn right next to the chicken feed cans.
View media item 7893525We are switching to metal cans because they are slowly knarling Thru the Rubbermaid cans.
View media item 7893524This one is a female. I call them the "Rat Factory Queen's".
One female can make so many Satan babies.
Usually just catch big males. Females usually stay in the nests and wait for delivery of dinner.
View media item 7893527This is a photo of a homemade Rat Bait House.
We have several around the farm. This one had all the bait ate and gone. Took the photo to share an inexpensive solution to pest control.
View media item 7893532Drilled a hole in the side of the bucket bottom.
Wedged a strip of wood inside of the housing. I screw down lightly a couple of TOM CAT BRAND RAT BAIT BLOCKS sold at TSC in a economy size pail. The bait has a hole already in it. 2 screws, 2 washers and seal the top of the bucket with the lid. Keep them away from areas with small chickens.
This bucket had the bait placed in it only 3 days ago. They ate it already.
The rats dehydrate from the bait forcing then to leave to find water somewhere else.
View media item 7893528I will win the battle as long as I don't give up.
Rats beware! Farmer Connie don' t play that!​

 

[Tootsie]

I am having a problem too with the Norway Brown rats looks like your first pic. I bought 2 bait station traps after they ate the baby chicks but looks like they have not touched the bait it has a see through window on top.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Rats are smart. Hide the bait house where you can't see it. If they eat it all up, place a new one in a new location. They are savoy. I have to put my live traps in a new spot after every catch. So far about 15 rats caught alive. Once, two at a time..
I loathe rodents.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I bought 2 bait station traps after they ate the baby chicks .

This is where my War on Rats was started. They won the first battle... But I will win the war!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rats-fall-asleep-lose-your-feet.1177276/

This led to a couple of chickens turning cannibal after they got the taste of blood from injured chickens.
It has been a nightmare. Good luck with your endeavor. Thanks for your share!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

This pretty little lady is my solution to pest problems. She got me this one last night. We'll be hunting more of them tonight. She's not out all the time or they'd all already be gone. She also disposes of groundhogs and rabbits that try to go after my garden and possums and coons that chow down on my chickens. She's a Good Dog.

 

[Sara Ranch]

From what I have read/learned about rats is that they are SMART. And they remember. And they genetically pass down their memories to their newborns. (Hey, that's what the documentary said about NY rats!)

Variety. Eliminate temptations as much as possible. Keep working the problem - don't be complacent. Not even for one night.

 

[Sublight]

I have been fighting this war myself. Ive been trying to perfect a no spill feeder.
I tried the one with the 3" PVC 90, but my rooster couldn't get his head in. His crown stopped him. I figured hunger would get the best of him, it didn't. He refused, he was not eating, so I changed my approach.

Im trying to get rid all of their food.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Trapped 6 more rodents since my first post.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I have been fighting this war myself. Ive been trying to perfect a no spill feeder.
I tried the one with the 3" PVC 90, but my rooster couldn't get his head in. His crown stopped him. I figured hunger would get the best of him, it didn't. He refused, he was not eating, so I changed my approach.

I'm trying to get rid all of their food.

I feed the poultry with 5 gallon buckets with 3 1/2" holes in the sides. At first the holes were only 2 inches. The roos wouldn't stick in their heads because their combs would touch. Now bigger holes, they chow down. Less spill and no poo in the feed.
The rats are taking advantage of my sloppy pig trofts. Catch 22 I suppose.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Rain and Rats go Hand & Hand!
They move indoors to seek shelter. Or Barn full of feed provides safe harbor and unlimited sources of nutrition for their colony and off spring.
I refuse to provide a disease carrying rodent share my farm destroying everything from boxes to electrical wires and contamination of feed for our many animals we care for.
View media item 7893523These little Satan offsprings are my main focus at the moment.
This big female was live trapped last night in my barn right next to the chicken feed cans.
View media item 7893525We are switching to metal cans because they are slowly knarling Thru the Rubbermaid cans.
View media item 7893524This one is a female. I call them the "Rat Factory Queen's".
One female can make so many Satan babies.
Usually just catch big males. Females usually stay in the nests and wait for delivery of dinner.
View media item 7893527This is a photo of a homemade Rat Bait House.
We have several around the farm. This one had all the bait ate and gone. Took the photo to share an inexpensive solution to pest control.
View media item 7893532Drilled a hole in the side of the bucket bottom.
Wedged a strip of wood inside of the housing. I screw down lightly a couple of TOM CAT BRAND RAT BAIT BLOCKS sold at TSC in a economy size pail. The bait has a hole already in it. 2 screws, 2 washers and seal the top of the bucket with the lid. Keep them away from areas with small chickens.
This bucket had the bait placed in it only 3 days ago. They ate it already.
The rats dehydrate from the bait forcing then to leave to find water somewhere else.
View media item 7893528I will win the battle as long as I don't give up.
Rats beware! Farmer Connie don' t play that!​

I reloaded the bait buckets on a Thursday (day of the photos) and by Saturday morning they were empty again!