RAT!!!!!

[Annalyse]

We’ve had this rat make SO MANY tunnels through the yard and underneath the chickens run. It’s been a couple months and we can’t get rid of it. It’s avoiding cages and traps and we’ve caught a mouse a couple months ago instead of the rat. It’s digging out its tunnels in the chicken run at night and in the morning I fill them it but the chickens when they dig they kinda make the tunnels clapse. I can’t call an exterminator because I don’t want to get in trouble with having a rat and then have to get rid of the flock. How can we get rid of him before winter? I persoanlly would like to catch the rat alive but if I have to use other ways then I’ll be okay with it.

The pictures
- you can see part of his tail in one that’s before he went into the tunnel
- there’s a picture of the rat
- that’s one of the many tunnels and holes we have in the years near the coop
- the holes go DEEP and he goes back to the same place I’m guessing is food.

 

[Acre4Me]

RAT? Your first mistake is using the singular form. You actually have RATS.

Poison is the most effective at dealing with rats. There are MANY options, some are very safe bc of how they work. Secondly, rodents go home to die, which is underground. Third, but the enclosed stations, so the poison block is held inside and only rodents can access the poison.

Ok, by now, based on your original post, you are horrified by my suggestion of effective poison. So, your first step should be removing any and all food and water EVERY night. Keeping your feed in secure containers - like metal trash cans. Cleaning up the run to verify no food. If you scatter feed or scratch, stop doing that and only feed pellets from a feeder. There are rat proof feeders you can buy, but right now clean everything up and keep the rats from accessing your feed and water. Make sure coop is rat proof as much as possible.

 

[Annalyse]

RAT? Your first mistake is using the singular form. You actually have RATS.

Poison is the most effective at dealing with rats. There are MANY options, some are very safe bc of how they work. Secondly, rodents go home to die, which is underground. Third, but the enclosed stations, so the poison block is held inside and only rodents can access the poison.

Ok, by now, based on your original post, you are horrified by my suggestion of effective poison. So, your first step should be removing any and all food and water EVERY night. Keeping your feed in secure containers - like metal trash cans. Cleaning up the run to verify no food. If you scatter feed or scratch, stop doing that and only feed pellets from a feeder. There are rat proof feeders you can buy, but right now clean everything up and keep the rats from accessing your feed and water. Make sure coop is rat proof as much as possible.

Coop is rat proof as far as I know. Food and water is never left out at night. Food goes into coop and water gets cleaned and replaced in the morning but I bring it in my house at night and put it out and refresh in the morning. I rake as much feed I can before bed. I don’t want the flock to get near the rat poison.

 

[Acre4Me]

Enclosed poison stations outside of run keep the chickens from accessing poison. Or, in the run at night, pick up in morning before flock gets let out. Some keepers will use the poison bait stations, but put a crate over it with a block on top, so that only rodents can access the bait station area, as long as there are opening on the side of the crate.

Accessing your coop: is your coop on the ground? With all their tunnels, they may be accessing the coop from underneath or from the walls. You will need to check for any droppings and access points within the coop. Rats can easily chew through wood and plastic of any kind.

You have rats bc they have a reason to be there. Food, water, shelter are the reasons they are there. Remove their reasons, and they will relocate. However, that is easier said than done.

Can you relocate their coop? Some coops can be moved with a little help from others. But not sure if you have another location to move it too. If you are able to move it, you can then set up poison stations in that area to assist in removing the rats. Alternatively, some BYCers have relocated the birds to another space (like garage) temporarily while they worked on rat problem.

Is the coop insulated? If so, that is a mighty cozy environment for the rats. Likely they are in the walls in the insulation, if there is insulation.

 

[Annalyse]

Enclosed poison stations outside of run keep the chickens from accessing poison. Or, in the run at night, pick up in morning before flock gets let out. Some keepers will use the poison bait stations, but put a crate over it with a block on top, so that only rodents can access the bait station area, as long as there are opening on the side of the crate.

Accessing your coop: is your coop on the ground? With all their tunnels, they may be accessing the coop from underneath or from the walls. You will need to check for any droppings and access points within the coop. Rats can easily chew through wood and plastic of any kind.

You have rats bc they have a reason to be there. Food, water, shelter are the reasons they are there. Remove their reasons, and they will relocate. However, that is easier said than done.

Can you relocate their coop? Some coops can be moved with a little help from others. But not sure if you have another location to move it too. If you are able to move it, you can then set up poison stations in that area to assist in removing the rats. Alternatively, some BYCers have relocated the birds to another space (like garage) temporarily while they worked on rat problem.

Is the coop insulated? If so, that is a mighty cozy environment for the rats. Likely they are in the walls in the insulation, if there is insulation.

The coop is off the ground. A whole chicken can fit under earth the coop that’s how far it is. I’ll look into the poison. As far as I know if on out been seeing the one rat but idk if the same one. When we do get the rat/s how should we fill the tunnels. Last time we filled them with water and it ran out but came back. I think I’m gonna dig out the base of the fenced run and add some wood boards so they can’t easily dig in.

 

[Red Horse]

I bought these on Amazon to use with a lidded Walmart tub and make a no-spill feeder. You can buy the PVC pieces from the hardware store for cheaper but mine isn't very well stocked and this kit comes with the drill bit size you need to make the holes. The feeder isn't totally rodent proof because they could still climb inside if the rats can get in the run, but it keeps the chickens from scattering feed everywhere with their faces/feet and creating a buffet that draws the rodents in! No more raking up little grain pieces.

https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Feed...9X5JMJ8L&psc=1&ref_=pd_basp_bia_rpt_ba_s_2_sc

Also, rats love to eat POOP! I'm not sure what you do with your chicken poop but if you have a compost pile/manure pile close by you might want to think about moving it farther away or putting it in some kind of secure receptacle so they can't get to it.

 

[BelovedBirds]

We’ve had this rat make SO MANY tunnels through the yard and underneath the chickens run. It’s been a couple months and we can’t get rid of it. It’s avoiding cages and traps and we’ve caught a mouse a couple months ago instead of the rat. It’s digging out its tunnels in the chicken run at night and in the morning I fill them it but the chickens when they dig they kinda make the tunnels clapse. I can’t call an exterminator because I don’t want to get in trouble with having a rat and then have to get rid of the flock. How can we get rid of him before winter? I persoanlly would like to catch the rat alive but if I have to use other ways then I’ll be okay with it.

The pictures
- you can see part of his tail in one that’s before he went into the tunnel
- there’s a picture of the rat
- that’s one of the many tunnels and holes we have in the years near the coop
- the holes go DEEP and he goes back to the same place I’m guessing is food.

have you tried humane live trap cages? If so, what did you bait it with? I suggest using the poultry feed, since thats what is attracting them. But it doesnt hurt to add dog food, scrambled egg, very tempting things.
Don't handle the trap with your bare hands. Rats are way too intelligent creatures. Use gloves, and cover the trap with a blanket, or fold of cardboard, make it like a tunnel. You could even put leaf litter or shavings inside the cage so that it feels less of a trap.

And heres a big point, DONT leave the trap out overnight. If one gets trapped and panics, any rats nearby WILL notice and will from then on avoid the trap. Leave it out early morning, late evening, but not night time.
It may take time, but you'll eventually get em. Dont underestimate how smart those critters are, they really are clever.

I have a rat problem too, and its taking a while to sort out, but its worth it to do it in a more humane fashion, in my opinion.

Does your pen have a mesh skirt on the ground to prevent digging? It is hard to keep rodents out, but this may help if you dont have one.

 

[Acre4Me]

have you tried humane live trap cages? If so, what did you bait it with? I suggest using the poultry feed, since thats what is attracting them. But it doesnt hurt to add dog food, scrambled egg, very tempting things.
Don't handle the trap with your bare hands. Rats are way too intelligent creatures. Use gloves, and cover the trap with a blanket, or fold of cardboard, make it like a tunnel. You could even put leaf litter or shavings inside the cage so that it feels less of a trap.

And heres a big point, DONT leave the trap out overnight. If one gets trapped and panics, any rats nearby WILL notice and will from then on avoid the trap. Leave it out early morning, late evening, but not night time.
It may take time, but you'll eventually get em. Dont underestimate how smart those critters are, they really are clever.

I have a rat problem too, and its taking a while to sort out, but its worth it to do it in a more humane fashion, in my opinion.

Does your pen have a mesh skirt on the ground to prevent digging? It is hard to keep rodents out, but this may help if you dont have one.

Exactly WHAT is one to do with a live rat in a trap??

Relocate do it reproduces elsewhere and causes problems elsewhere?? It is actually illegal to relocate animals without specific permission to do so on other’s land, including public land.

Kill it? Pretty hard to aim a .22 accurately. Drown it? Asphyxiate it?

Rats are not, in any way, endangered. They spread disease and damage property. The best solution is to have them leave on their own (no food, no shelter), or kill them outright.

 

[AGeese]

You might try sticky traps inserted into the larger catch and release traps so your birds and other animals don't get into them. They should pass away by the time you check the trap, If not either dispose in the trash or quickly dispatch with a shovel. That's life.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Exactly WHAT is one to do with a live rat in a trap??

Relocate do it reproduces elsewhere and causes problems elsewhere?? It is actually illegal to relocate animals without specific permission to do so on other’s land, including public land.

Kill it? Pretty hard to aim a .22 accurately. Drown it? Asphyxiate it?

Rats are not, in any way, endangered. They spread disease and damage property. The best solution is to have them leave on their own (no food, no shelter), or kill them outright.

If killing is the only option, a bullet is the most humane option if the aim is precise, some do it by hand with various methods but I'm sure its difficult and unpleasant to do. Drowning, poison etc are slow and painful, snap traps can harm other wildlife, same with sticky traps which are extremely painful and inhumane. You may be intending on rats, but you could get other animals.

I prefer to relocate for this reason, but only on wildlife. I'm lucky in that I'm surrounded by woodland, and close to a nature reserve and river.
The rats around here come from those places, behind my house, and only come on our property due to the food etc, so I feel it's most fair to drive them out a little way and let them go.
The liklihood is that a predator will catch them after release, and nature solves the issue. But it does give them the opportunity to survive if done correctly, and bothers no one as long as they are a distance from other homes and farms.
I understand why some people find it more ethical to kill rather than release- But personally I love them, theyre incredibly intelligent and social animals. It isn't their fault that they cause harm, they're just living and clashing with mankind. So personally my choice is always humane trap and relocate.