Rats...literally.

[Keens2050]

My husband didn't seem shocked. He grew up on a farm and said rats are everywhere. He, too, mentioned the bait so we will also give that a try. I am worried about rats carrying diseases, biting my girls even though we have a rooster. He delivers apples and mentioned that these grocery stores he goes to have "black boxes" that are used for rats. The poison is enclosed. So if he can get some of them, we'll try those.

 

[Hatrick]

I'm thinking of getting a few big traps and putting the chicken food in there at night, then I can just drop the whole trap, rat and all into a bucket of water. Poison is our last resort as we have a dog and kids, although I am concerned that come winter they'll decide to relocate into the house. I also read on another thread about using a big wad of chewing gum with peanut butter on it. Apparently once they bite down on the piece of gum they can't spit it back out. HA HA, take that rat, death by chewing gum. Who knew?

Oh, and BTW cute shot of the domestic rats in the flowers!

 

[EweSheep]

Good luck with the rats and please do not change your name, its different than HaTTrick's, and I dont care if you have Silkies LOL!

I've had good luck with sewer rats with rat poison baits and last year I had alot of rats and then I put them down. Next time I saw them, no more being found but plenty of skeletons under the coop when we pulled it out.

 

[onthespot]

You can make your own enclosed poison bait station with PVC. Think of an upside down T. Put 90 degree angles on the ends of the top of the T. Those keep crumbs from coming out of the bait station. Buy a few different kinds of bait. Just One Bite, Tomcat, etc... You can even spread some peanut butter mixed with bacon bits inside the upright, to lure them to come see what you have prepared from them. hang the bait blocks by threading them on a wire and hook one end at the top of the inverted T, and the bait blocks should be easily accessible at the intersection of the T. Make it so mice can reach it too. Set it along a traffic pattern and they will thank you for the treat, and go die somewhere.

 

[Ibicella]

Make sure to landscape.

Clear out any wood piles, brush piles, compost piles, junk piles, or anything they can hide or nest in.

Cut back any trees overhanging your coop or house.

Check carefully for any entry points into the coop (rats can squeeze through openings only 1" wide).

Fill in any holes you find.

Be sure to feed during the day and take up food at night. Make sure your feed is locked up in metal garbage cans and keep it swept up.

Snap traps or live traps work best with rats. They are very intelligent, and poison tends to backfire.

 

[PhilErvin]

I took a five gallon bucket that the local "China Bowl" gets soy sauce in and then sells the empties for $1.00 each. I cut a hole about 2" in diameter, placed a block of poison tied to a brick and situated so that a dog or cat could not reach in and get. I then fastened the lid down secure and placed it close to my trash cans. I go out every 6 months and relpace the poison as need to. I have not noticed any rat eveidence around my chickens so I think my "Rat Motel" is working out.

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

I am terrified to use poison here as we have mice and the hens have killed some, I am scared that if a mouse eats poison then the hens get it, the poison will pass on to my hens and then us through their eggs possibly!?

We are battling mice right now. I WISH we could have an outdoor cat but it wouldnt survive on our busy road more than an hour.

 

[turtlebird]

MomtoSyd&Emma :

I am terrified to use poison here as we have mice and the hens have killed some, I am scared that if a mouse eats poison then the hens get it, the poison will pass on to my hens and then us through their eggs possibly!?
.

This is my concern exactly. I have seen hens tear small unsuspecting creatures to bits. I would be SO afraid that a dying mouse/rat may cross paths with my chickens or other pets. Do those of you who use poison have other pets? Is it a legitimate concern or more of a worry?​

 

[Mark & Nique]

Quote:
This is my concern exactly. I have seen hens tear small unsuspecting creatures to bits. I would be SO afraid that a dying mouse/rat may cross paths with my chickens or other pets. Do those of you who use poison have other pets? Is it a legitimate concern or more of a worry?

I lost a fantastic golden lab to a poisoned rat that neighbors across the street poisoned. A little of that stuff goes a long way! Rats will move away if you remove their shelter.

 

[Jenski]

For mice, we promptly and consistently use snap traps baited with fig Newtons - - placed, of course, where no other critters can reach. Works like a charm, but you have to stay on it and not let up until the problem is over.

For rats, I would try taking away all WATER from the pens at night, and leaving a tall 5-gallon bucket or barrel half full of water. Sprinkle oats or another lightweight delicious something over the surface of the water . . . and remember to collect the buckets in the morning before the chickens come back outside. (I would not leave cats or other small animals outside near these either.)