SO Have had the chickens for 4 years now. Last year I had a smallish problem when I was intergrating the half growns into the coop. THOUGHT it was a weasil. Put out live trap. Caught about 4 rats. I put poisen down all the holes I could find near coop and then covered with rats. Then by the winter, it stopped and all my guys were fine.
This year in the spring I intergrated some half growns and I don't remember losing ANY. Now I had 15 to intergrate, but each time I put a few in the coop, I find one or 2 DEAD on bottom of coop, with head or pieces missing. SO again I put live trap down with different baits NOO luck. I keep the food in a sealed metal trash can In the house. So it isn't the food attracting them. early this week my husband put down hardware clothe down under the coop. They haven't burrowed out of it. I stripped the coop no holes in bottom, He put Hardware cloth behind the doors so when they close (I also put bricks against the doors) there is no room for them to squeeze in.
Last week (before he put the hardware clothe down) I was collecting the larger bantams that are ALMOST grown. It was about dusk. I had a half grown sultan I was cornering to bring INSIDE. RAT came out from under a wood pile about 2 ft away and GRABBED the half grown!! I lift wood (she is screaming) and got chick back, but her neck was broke. I had to finish her. SO then my Dh started going nuts with the hardware cloth and live trap. But no luck. SO I thought maybe they are gone. I put 5 half half grown bantams in the coop ON the roost pole. They won't stay on pole they keep jumping down. Finally I give up and close up coop.
Next morning !3! of the 5 half growns were dead! 2 had head missing, one had back of head missing. SO at this point I am like forget it I give up! Tell dh I am thinking of just giving it up. He says no I'll just build you another coop, that will offer better predator proof.
Okay fine but I have now 9 half growns left , and they are getting too big and stinky to bring them in at night. PLUS Between putting them in cage outside in a.m. and dealing with other chickens it puts several extra steps into my morning, My goal is ALWAYS to have new chickens IN coop by time kids go back to school. I have a month to solve this problem. I am at a loss. I KNOW my predator is rats. I don;t know how the heck they are getting in. They ONLY get the chickens on bottom of coop. Any on roost poles are FINE.
SO the only other thing I have come up with is the corn meal plaster of paris thing, but I don't know the recipe. If anyone has the recipe PLEASE post it. If anyone has ANY ideas I haven't covered please let me know. I am at a loss! TIA
This year in the spring I intergrated some half growns and I don't remember losing ANY. Now I had 15 to intergrate, but each time I put a few in the coop, I find one or 2 DEAD on bottom of coop, with head or pieces missing. SO again I put live trap down with different baits NOO luck. I keep the food in a sealed metal trash can In the house. So it isn't the food attracting them. early this week my husband put down hardware clothe down under the coop. They haven't burrowed out of it. I stripped the coop no holes in bottom, He put Hardware cloth behind the doors so when they close (I also put bricks against the doors) there is no room for them to squeeze in.
Last week (before he put the hardware clothe down) I was collecting the larger bantams that are ALMOST grown. It was about dusk. I had a half grown sultan I was cornering to bring INSIDE. RAT came out from under a wood pile about 2 ft away and GRABBED the half grown!! I lift wood (she is screaming) and got chick back, but her neck was broke. I had to finish her. SO then my Dh started going nuts with the hardware cloth and live trap. But no luck. SO I thought maybe they are gone. I put 5 half half grown bantams in the coop ON the roost pole. They won't stay on pole they keep jumping down. Finally I give up and close up coop.
Next morning !3! of the 5 half growns were dead! 2 had head missing, one had back of head missing. SO at this point I am like forget it I give up! Tell dh I am thinking of just giving it up. He says no I'll just build you another coop, that will offer better predator proof.
Okay fine but I have now 9 half growns left , and they are getting too big and stinky to bring them in at night. PLUS Between putting them in cage outside in a.m. and dealing with other chickens it puts several extra steps into my morning, My goal is ALWAYS to have new chickens IN coop by time kids go back to school. I have a month to solve this problem. I am at a loss. I KNOW my predator is rats. I don;t know how the heck they are getting in. They ONLY get the chickens on bottom of coop. Any on roost poles are FINE.
SO the only other thing I have come up with is the corn meal plaster of paris thing, but I don't know the recipe. If anyone has the recipe PLEASE post it. If anyone has ANY ideas I haven't covered please let me know. I am at a loss! TIA
