Rats and mice

[columbiacritter]

So far my best control method has been my cat. He goes into the run with me when I do final water change in the evening or when I chase everybody into the run after free ranging. He parks himself on their porch and waits. The last three nights when I've gone back out long after dark to chase the ducks into the coop and close the door he's had at least one dead rat or mouse. Lastnight he had a HUGE rat and two large mice/small rats. He got extra kitty yum yums when he came inside!

His other favorite thing is to tell me when there's something under the hay box. He'll get himself oriented and I'll lift as high as I can while he dives in for the kill. We've done that 4 times for four dead rodents.

His name has been changed from DK (Dumped Kat) to Rat Master.

Honestly I can't say my baiting the rodents holes has made any difference, but he sure has.

 

[lleighmay]

My newly adopted JRT caught (and ate... though I would have preferred to have just thrown it over the fence) a mouse in the kitchen last night. Time for all the mice in Carroll County to come inside for the winter

I was so proud of him I gave him a dog treat to wash it down! Too bad there's no way I'd ever consider letting him near the chickens or he could do some work out there too.

 

[columbiacritter]

Years ago I worked for a vet out in a rural area. A woman moved out to a McMansion with her 3 JRT's. Within a week a local farmer brought us one of the dogs, bloodied but alive to see if we could ID the dog. It and it's cohorts had gotten into his chicken and turkey pens. They had done thousands of dollars worth of damage to his breeding stock in a very short period of time.

The owner paid for the damages and promised to contain the dogs. I know she didn't manage that and the dogs "disappeared".

 

[tiki244]

My cat is very efficient but she stays in the house at night time. I have found regular snap traps set outside the door of the coop usually catch one or two at night. In the basement I put plastic gallon milk jugs almost full of water and the mice go in for a drink but can't get out. If I do that within a couple of weeeks I don't have anymore mice in the basement. Maybe I should do that in the coop, but I leave water down for the chickens. hm

 

[columbiacritter]

I have ducks so any water anywhere becomes a playground. I haven't done snap traps because there are so many cats around here besides mine. the thought of a cat get it's foot smashed is to much for me to risk.

 

[Bex]

(domestic) Rats & Mice are pets in this household so all of the cats have been taught early on that messing with them is a no-no. So all of our cats are worthless hunters.

 

[Jenski]

Glad to hear you have a good mouser. It is so important to keep the rodent population down, as wild rodents can introduce a variety of diseases to your flock (and your family).

Unfortunately my Beocat (once a rodent hunter without equal) is now arthritic, mostly deaf and stays in the house. I have since used some humane traps, etc., but I sure miss my fine hunter kitty.

Luckily he has a good retirement plan, plus health benefits.