Rats 😖

[B_Chickle01]

So we realized we have a rat problem in and under(all coops are raised off ground but tunnels in dirt under them) coops! I haven't seen any inside small coop but bigger ones. By time we realized it was an infestation cause we never saw or had to deal with rat issues! My neighbor had an exterminator I saw leave his house twice in late Sept.. and boom here they are over here.. Which is around the time I started losing chickens so Im convinced it has to do with these dirt neck rats! Back on track sorry lol We have been setting traps and have been catching alot but its not quick enough for me and Im concerned because of how quickly these damn things multiply..I saw majority of peoole with infestation’s end up resorting to poison.. i’m just not a big fan because of dangers of wild life and neighborhood pets eating rats that are poisoned..so I saw someone on here with the clever idea of setting up traps and position in little pet carriers.. that eliminates anything bigger then rat from ingestion but what about mice or rats after ingesting this and they leave pet carriers? Im afraid of rats ingesting and then potentially wandering off and dying in run or coop where chickens can access the dead rats!! Any ideas or advice?! I need them gone asap! Im worried my silkies always liked to hang out under coops during hotter months for shade and now with this issue thats not happening! And they’re going to be able to free range again soon as were in upstate ny and soon all the foliage will grow back in which is when they are allowed to have full access to all 4.5 acres!

 

[638858]

Can be made with any cylindrical object that fits the bucket you use, cans and bottles, pvc pipe, I had some rollers laying around, balanced and with bearings, rolls super easy.. but as long as you provide something cylindrical that will freely spin, it will work great.. smear some peanut butter and sprinkle with hen scratch, fill bucket halfway with water, and provide a ramp or 2 and start drowning rats/mice tonight.. with NO POISON !

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Check with your exterminator. Mine told me they now have poisons that do NOT affect any animal that eats the poisoned mouse or rat. Good luck!

 

[638858]

Are they rats or mice? There is a difference, sound like mice to me.. field mice most likely they get big but not near as big as rats. I have had great success with bucket traps for over 25 years. Very easy and safe to make and to use.

 

[638858]

Very simple and cheap to make and it works !!

 

[Folly's place]

Poison will be the only way, sorry. Set bait stations where only rodents can enter them, near their burrows. Also put bait blocks down into the tunnel, with concrete blocks on top, so nobody else can get into them. Most of the rats will die in their tunnels, reducing the risk to other critters. And keep your own pets away from these areas!
We've had to use poison twice over thirty years, warned the neighbors, and found a total of two mice once above ground.
And carefully choose what baits used, some are 'safer' than others.
You might have to change baits after a week or two also. Rats are VERY smart!
Mary

 

[MadGardener]

I've had great experience with bucket traps for mice as well. I find a little antifreeze in the water keeps things less funky if you forget to empty the trap. Though is poisonous so use with caution around other animals.

I'd try it with rats, little to lose but time.

 

[Smileybans]

I’ve never gotten a bucket trap to work on a rat. They’re too fast and figure out after one go of it that it isn’t worth the food. They can also jump out of the bucket. I’ve used five gallon buckets but seen those rain barrels used for rats. Maybe that would work?

 

[Al Gerhart]

Having chickens eventually leads to wild bird and rat/mice problems.

Do a forum search for Howard E., who in my opinion, is the best rodent expert on the forum. I copied and pasted one of his replies from several years back that has the meat of the solution for you. People tend to run one of two ways, willing to invest in an expensive feeder or willing to fight a battle with rodents and find another way. Only you can say which you have more of; time or money.

Here is Howard E.'s past post:

"To the OP (and others like them), if you will spend the time, everything you need to know about rats and how to get ride of them will be found in the links below......

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rat-control-the-video-series.1337456/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rat-control-101.1283827/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rat-proof-feeder-review.1180514/#post-18610285

This last one is a review of a rat proof chicken feeder built and sold by a BYC member, who is a staunch advocate for the plan of getting rid of rats by starving them out. Remove all sources of feed and they will be forced to move on or starve to death. If you are firmly against the use of poison bait blocks......for whatever reason.......then this is one of the best actions you can take. Bulk food in metal trash cans.....chicken feed in metal rat proof feeders. Can't get to the feed and birds do not spill and waste feed that the rats can survive on."

End of Howard's post.

And the short version of Howard's post? Sanitation, exclusion, elimination.

Sanitation, bulk feed in metal cans or barrels with tight fitting lids, a treadle feeder, clean up the avenues of movement so the rodents have no cover to protect them from their natural predators. In my opinion and experience this is the quickest, surest, and cheapest way to solve a rodent problem.

Exclusion, plugging the holes and building a Fort Knox chicken coop and not leaving an opening for free range. Tough to do and expensive but it could work for rats.

Elimination, poison and traps. Problem is that rats are smart and will quickly learn to avoid both traps and poison bait. Were you to clean them out, the lack of sanitation would mean a new population of rodents would move right in. And there is risk and no end to the process, keeping fresh bait out. However, if you have done your sanitation using poison becomes effective as the rats are starving and will likely try the poison bait. Not needed though, they will leave in a few days as long as you are not feeding the rodents with a compost pile or other animal feed. Not all will leave, your area will have a natural carrying capacity for rodents, natural feed, but that natural ability to sustain rodents is quite small and the natural predators keep them in check and under cover as the rodents hustle to find this natural food.

Do a forum search on "rats chickens" and you will find most of the old wives tales exposed and read of long epic battles against the rodents. Sanitation, exclusion, or elimination all have associated costs but you are already paying for the feed and will recover the initial costs quickly with the first method.

Good luck and remember, it isn't just the stolen feed, disease and predators come with rodents.

 

[SilverBirds]

Are they rats or mice? There is a difference, sound like mice to me.. field mice most likely they get big but not near as big as rats. I have had great success with bucket traps for over 25 years. Very easy and safe to make and to use.

I've also used the bucket method. It's pretty effective.