Rats eating from food dispenser

[autumnr]

Rats have been eating from the chickens food dispenser and I have no idea if there is anything I can do to stop it. They don’t bother the chickens or the eggs and I haven’t seen any inside the coop. We have set traps and caught a few but in the countryside they just keep coming. We now have the food dispenser hanging and they just hop up. I don’t think I can hang it any higher or the chickens would find it challenging to eat. Any suggestions?

 

[kcult]

These pieces, added to a sealable container, are supposed to be mouse proof, but rats may be a different story.

I got them from https://revolutionarychicken.com/

 

[Folly's place]

Wild rats can bring diseases that are dangerous for you, so another reason to make this impossible. And when rats invaded our coop, they ate eggs and killed some chickens at night.
Making the coop rat proof is essential, and not having any food out where they can get to it.
Rats are very smart, you won't ever trap them all! It's a situation where bait stations, set up in safe areas, are generally necessary. Most rodents will return to their burrows to die, so most won't be found and eaten by anyone else. Be careful about which bait you use, some are 'safer' than others.
Mary

 

[RojoMarz]

We have had an elbow feeder. Chipmunk were found inside it (during the day), so I would imagine rats could also get in. We got rid of that feeder and got a Ratproof Feeder instead.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Can you put rat poison out where your Chickens cannot get to it to try to kill them if they are that plentiful? I had a shrew problem and the neighbors cat has helped me out with that. I didn't want my own cat so it comes over and kills them. Not nearly as many this year since it has been doing that.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

I think like this, if it's poison: NO because it may die where a chicken can eat it. Traps not because chickens could get caught. I just ordered this:
RinneTraps - Flip N Slide Bucket Lid Mouse Trap |Humane or Lethal| |Trap Door Style| |Multi Catch |Auto Reset| |Indoor Outdoor| |No See Kill| |5 Gallon Bucket Compatible| Made in USA (1)
I only have mice but not sure is a rat would fall for it. I definitely would put it in a run with older chooks. Curious chicks could find away.