Rats are taking over!

[The Moonshiner]

Yeah she did! Apparently she learned it in Hawaii and became very skilled at it.

We never managed to find a way to kill them that could keep up with their reproductive rate. We had to remove their nest, disturb their greasy little trails and put the feed in every night.

Ya I've found its almost impossible to rid them quicker then they reformulated. Anything that works they soon get wise to so.....
I guess before I go to shoveling rats I should hit the arcade and brush up on my Whack A Mole skills.

 

[JPadronMiami]

Ya I've found its almost impossible to rid them quicker then they reformulated. Anything that works they soon get wise to so.....
I guess before I go to shoveling rats I should hit the arcade and brush up on my Whack A Mole skills.

 

[Growley Monster]

A galvanized garbage can makes a great storage place for the feeder. Feed morning and evening, all they can eat in 20 minutes, then put the feeder away. Feeder on a smooth floor that can be swept will help to deal with the birdies flinging feed all over the place for the rats and mice. During the day I hand feed my free rangers. Currently I only give them food by hand when they let me pick them up. It has really helped to tame these skittish Brown Leghorns. About half of the free rangers I can now coax into being picked up and all the rest will eagerly take flight and alight on my arms, hand, or shoulders for a handout. Before, those guys would all run from me like I was Colonel Sanders. But the whole idea of free ranging is to have them forage for most or much of their nourishment. I have a couple of acres of mowed property that they can patrol for bugs and seeds.

 

[Growley Monster]

Another idea... if you live where you can't shoot varmints with a firearm, maybe you can use a pellet gun? Might be worth looking into.

 

[JPadronMiami]

Another idea... if you live where you can't shoot varmints with a firearm, maybe you can use a pellet gun? Might be worth looking into.

I had been thinking to get a pellet gun, however when i started changing how I fed not leaving feed in the bins after the chickens had their rations i see less and less rats now, however they are still around, my son is getting better at target practice with his bow and arrow since these rats will come around even when we're in the runs! bold little rodents.

 

[MichaelDJ]

That is a great idea where it’s legal. I couldn’t discharge a firearm in suburbia. My neighbor would live trap them and his wife would be ready with a shovel when he opened the trap

It's a pellet gun.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

It's a pellet gun.

You must be a good shot!

 

[MichaelDJ]

You must be a good shot!

Pretty much.
It's a scoped .22 cal break barrel. Very accurate. Nailed one yesterday at just about 10 yards.