Rats nesting under coop, help!

[amandauc09]

Hello,

I just learned that I have a rat that has burrowed under my chicken coop. The coop is raised off the ground so there isn't a way for the rat to get inside by burrowing but I'd still prefer the rat find a new home. Any suggestions on how to relocate or humanely trap or kill? Thank you!

 

[Flockincrazy]

Hello,

I just learned that I have a rat that has burrowed under my chicken coop. The coop is raised off the ground so there isn't a way for the rat to get inside by burrowing but I'd still prefer the rat find a new home. Any suggestions on how to relocate or humanely trap or kill? Thank you!

Get a cat or get live traps

 

[AllenK RGV]

Feeders that the chicken can't bill food out of easily. Usually every time a rat problem occurred for me it was my fault by broadcasting scratch or storing feed products in non-rodent proof containers. I store feeders nightly as well.

So far the most affordable feeder I have found is https://www.jefferspet.com/products/8-lb-plastic-hanging-poultry-feeder sure I agree with the bad review regarding this model, but I handle my feeders daily any way.

Treadle feeders work well too from what I read here on BYC and you can build your own or pay more than $100 for good ones with built in billed food protections.

 

[Folly's place]

Rats will chew through wood, and your coop isn't lined with metal, is it?
No food outside is very important, so they aren't attracted in the first place. Examine every inch of your coop for weak points; any opening larger than 1/2" diameter is too big. And try to trap your new visitors, and then shoot them! Bait in bait stations, while your pets are locked up, is usually what needs to be done.
Good luck, this is not a minor problem!
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

You may need to bury hardware cloth and make your under- coop area unavailable to rodents too.
Mary

 

[amandauc09]

You may need to bury hardware cloth and make your under- coop area unavailable to rodents too.
Mary

Yes, once I can round up the current occupants I think I need to try to make the under area of the coop inaccessible.

 

[amandauc09]

Feeders that the chicken can't bill food out of easily. Usually every time a rat problem occurred for me it was my fault by broadcasting scratch or storing feed products in non-rodent proof containers. I store feeders nightly as well.

So far the most affordable feeder I have found is https://www.jefferspet.com/products/8-lb-plastic-hanging-poultry-feeder sure I agree with the bad review regarding this model, but I handle my feeders daily any way.

Treadle feeders work well too from what I read here on BYC and you can build your own or pay more than $100 for good ones with built in billed food protections.

The food is in the center of the coop in a feeder very similar to the one you shared. I keep the excess food locked up, so I'm not really sure what they are eating, I've made sure there aren't any current break-in points around the coop. I don't store the feeders every night, and if I'm being completely honest, I likely wont commit to that. Thanks for the information and feedback though!

 

[amandauc09]

Rats will chew through wood, and your coop isn't lined with metal, is it?
No food outside is very important, so they aren't attracted in the first place. Examine every inch of your coop for weak points; any opening larger than 1/2" diameter is too big. And try to trap your new visitors, and then shoot them! Bait in bait stations, while your pets are locked up, is usually what needs to be done.
Good luck, this is not a minor problem!
Mary

I just ordered a Havahart trap, so we'll see what happens.

 

[Folly's place]

I've never caught one in a live trap, and i hope it works for you. When they moved into my barn, two youngsters died in a half full water bucket, and the rest took bait stations. My barn cat declined to spend his valuable time hunting rats!
When I had them invade my coop, they ate eggs and killed three nice pullets. They were living in the insulated walls, which had to be torn out, and then those bait stations worked again.
Mary

 

[Ra_]

I buy rat poison blocks. I put them in the corner of an empty feed bag and crush them with a lump hammer. I then mix the powder with peanut butter and put it in a place the chickens can't get to but the rats can.