Rats eatting flesh off birds.... options for stoping this?

[Judy]

Quote:
Most rat poison is warfarin, a blood thinner, and will certainly kill other animals that eat the dead rat. You must, indeed, be sure you use the correct one to keep your other animals safe.

I had to go outside and read the label to be sure I got the "bromadiolone" correct. I discovered rats have been sneaking in where I had it stored and working on it. Or maybe roaches or something else, I don't know. But I do know the chickens can't get in there.

There are a lot of other approaches to rats -- other poisons, a garden hose down the hole after cutting off most access points, etc. But when a real infestation is looming, I know of nothing more certain than this product.

 

[cgmccary]

PeepsInc: My friend has 1000 birds + goats dogs cats geese & lots of others. I have 150 birds geese goat dogs cats & others. We both use "Just 1 Bite" bars to eliminate rats & mice. My coops are all off the ground,so I get mice on occasion,but I've never seen a rat. His coops sit on the ground & the rats like to tunnel under them. Neither of us have ever lost a pet,bird or livestock using the bars. I've even seen the barn cats eat the dead rats with no visible negative results to the cat. The green pellet poison is useless. All the rat has to do is eat green grass to neutralize the poison in the green pellets. So my best advice would be jack your coop & block up under it if you can & get some just one bite bars. Most hardware stores have it.

I agree with PeepsInc. I also asked a poison expert about secondary kills (a predator eating a rat killed by poison) and he said what PeepsInc has noticed about cats -- it does not cause secondary kills. I had a rat invasion a couple of years ago. My birds were outside on the ground so I put the rat bait/poison bars in places nothing else could get to them and also where rats were likely to cross. I made "bait boxes" with a hole large enough for the rat but not big enough where a dog or cat could not get to the chunks. It worked and the rats were eliminated.

I also used to have a Miniature Pinscher that would take out rats and mice & acted like it was his calling (but any "terrier" dog or dog historically bred to be a ratter will do).

Not all cats are ratters but if you find one that is, the rats will clear out.​

 

[tnchickenut]

Well, thanks all... never heard of "just one bite" - I'll look into it.

I did buy a pricey electric rat trap today then (DUH) realize... indoor use only. I put it out anyways.

These particular bird are in a tractor... I have no idea how it is getting in, except for possibly one particular weak spot in the top. The wire mesh is 1inch by 1 inch.

I do have a air rifle but never seen a rat out.

I know some here have said, "I have never had a rat problem" but I have had chickens for years and never had a problem until now... and it's all the same tractor... not the coops or open air runs. No other chickens have had problems. Maybe I moved the tractor unknowingly too close (or worse ON) a rat's nest?!? I moved it again just incase it was on a hole... although I didn't see one.


Now, normally, I'm a live and let live type person. I don't believe in buying up a AK and shredding the forest when a raccoon takes your birds, like some do.... but this... this just P_sses me off. These poor pullets!!!

The SLW that got it the worst is moving around more... her spine is showing and hip bones... all the flesh gone. Her left wing's end is gone... her back of her head (where a rooster grabs) is completely void of skin. I put EMT on her head and wing, and alusheild on her back. My father is a RN and told me if the bone is exposed, infection can get in the bone and there is nothing you can do to keep her from dying then. I still may put her down. I'm hopefull ONLY because the cochin that got it before is now on day 5 of her meds and treatment and is doing so good. BUT the cochin only lost the flesh that was a tail.

Both are on Tetracycline and like I said, EMT for their wounds... alusheild for the SLW because it was just too severe for the EMT.

Never a dull moment. I'm looking into the "just one bite" now.... thanks for that info... I'm going to iRATicate them... they crossed a line. Should have just stuck to scaps throw out in the straw.

 

[mangobingo]

Can rats climb? I ask because my birds sleep on a raised, covered platform in the run, about 3.5 ft off the ground. That's also where the nest boxes are. They get to it up a fairly steep and smooth plank (they have to fly a bit to get up the plank), which I leave there all the time. Two of them roost on perches above the platform, but the other two prefer to sleep directly on the wood. I've never seen a rat in this area but the run is mostly made of chicken wire so it's certainly not rat-proof, and I'd hate to see the girls get eaten alive.

Rat are nocturnal, right??

Very sorry to hear about your problems, OP...

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

The wire mesh is 1inch by 1 inch

That's more than big enough for a rat to go through

You need 1/4 inch hardware cloth to stop them, but the poison would be more cost effective

Can rats climb?

There's hardly anywhere a rat can't go​

 

[geebs]

Peppermint on cotton balls.... they will leave!!!! you could try dipping the tasty pieces of chicken in it...(I don't know if that is harmful to the chicken) but I can tell you... rodents will leave...

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
That's more than big enough for a rat to go through

You need 1/4 inch hardware cloth to stop them, but the poison would be more cost effective

Can rats climb?

There's hardly anywhere a rat can't go



I agree, it seems like the buggers can fly sometimes!

I tried using the peanut butter and plaster of paris trick...didn't work. I tried using homemade bucket traps...didn't work. I tried using dog food doused with antifreeze....didn't work...


The ONLY thing that finally got rid of my rat problem was poison. Get the bars and put them somewhere that the other animals can't get to them. If you have any animals (pets) that would love to chew on the bars if they got them, confine them. The BEST way to get rid of rats is to put the bars out, NOT tied down, so the rats can take them back to their nests. If you don't do this, the tied-down poison will kill the adult rats, but not the baby rats that are big enough to care for themselves but still in the nest. They will come out once their mama dies and you will still have your problem.

Make sure your pets can't get the poison and DO NOT tie the poison bars down. A good place to put them is INSIDE the holes that the nasty things dig, then cover the hole with something. I guarantee your rats will be gone, though it will probably take a lot of poison!

I bought 4 of those little tubs at my feed store, they were $16 or $17 each. I have 1 full tub left, it took 3 tubs, putting new poison out every day for at least a week, to get rid of them.

I've lost chicks, quail, pigeons, adult bantams, and adult LF from rats, they are nothing to mess around with!​

 

[Tdub4chiks]

You people are really scaring me!

 

[tnchickenut]

Quote:
That's more than big enough for a rat to go through

You need 1/4 inch hardware cloth to stop them, but the poison would be more cost effective

Can rats climb?

There's hardly anywhere a rat can't go​

Not the dead rat the cats got... I could have put a leash on it! Honestly... it was at least 4 inches wide, it's head the size of a 1 or 2 graders fist.... that particular one... it couln't ave got in the holes, no way.

I'm familiar with rats and mice... my father used to breed them, and I seemed to always have pet mice. This rat was the biggest rat I have ever seen... like the ones you here urban legends about in NYC. (only I'm in SE TN)

No, I am pretty sure it was the sag in the roof where the mesh met the solid part.....there even was a spot where the dust was wiped away in that sagging part and it was about 5 inchs wide... like the size rat taht was dead flattened out a bit to fit in.


Yes, they climb, and jump... a can chew metal and everything else. They can make a hole if they can't find one in just one night. That is why if you keep pet rats or mice or breed them... glass tanks are best. Those wire hampster cages are nothing to them... heck hampsters can get out of them!!

 

[switchback]

I don't have anything useful to add, but if you want some entertaining reading or unconventional ideas...
rat-hunter.com

I especially enjoyed "Ray uses Propane to blow up 2 acres of rats!" although I don't recommend you try that at home.

Also, you'll notice that many of these stories involve nothing more than a trusty old Victor snap trap. No poison to worry about with those...