Rats in my run!

[Ashley & Donna Dame]

When I had this problem I used rat traps and rat poison - the strong stuff - but you really want to keep that away from you chickens - I peeled back the chicken wire that keeps under the coop closed off and I threw some under there and closed the whole that I made back up. That took about 2 weeks of fighting all out war on the rats and they all were gone. Also, every time I would go out at night and put the chickens away I would bring the shotgun with me and sure enough every time there would be a rat and I would take care of that, get the shovel and throw the body in the weeds behind the chicken coop. And that would be that! After about a 3 weeks they were gone for sure! They will eat your chickens too so you have to get rid of them.

 

[Ashley & Donna Dame]

we've had chickens for 8 years. However we've never had a rat eat a chicken. Maybe eggs or new chicks people have dealt with. We know that just one bite works well however, it's spring and our cats are out and watch for them. We don't want any wild animals eating poisoned rat because it can kill them as well.