Rats: subfloor, concrete or hardware cloth?

[TwistedTayy]

So I have this shed on our new property that the previous owners called a “potting shed.” It has alternating clear and metal paneling on the roof to let in natural light for plants without adding too much summer heat (Georgia). WELL, as we found out during our first summer, it’s not insulated so it turns into a hotbox and we used it for storage all summer because it was too hot for plants to grow. It has a brick foundation that only the walls sit on and a dirt floor that was covered with play sand (they converted it into a giant sand box for their grand children). It has windows and electrical. I’ve decided to turn it into our duck coop. ducks have already moved in then a couple months later (dec) so did rats. BIG ONES. And I know that because they barely even fit in the traps (I have cameras everywhere ). I’ve tried the bucket trap and they didn’t fit/weren’t fooled. I’ve tried ratx, also didn’t work. So for rat control I’m gonna try to find a barn cat.

ANYWAYS, in the spring I am going to do a full coop conversion. Have a section reserved for the ducks and then separated grow out pens for chicks of different ages and then a box for the cat. Since I plan on putting babies in there and the cat currently doesn’t exist, I’m wondering what the floor should be. I like the idea of a dirt floor so I was thinking of burying HC, but I don’t know how good that would be. (The rats have been tunneling in and out). Then I thought maybe putting in a plywood floor but that would require joists etc. Then I thought just pouring concrete but that would require rebar and drainage… though expensive, HC would still be the more cost effective option.

 

[TwistedTayy]

Also I currently have a broody duck in there so I’m quite worried about those babies. I just got a new chicken coop that I could try to move her to (I buried HC across the whole bottom plus a 1ft skirt) but the coop is raised quite high and she’s not used to that. It’s really meant for chickens BUT it’s more rat proof and empty. Not sure what to do short term for her so ideas are welcome.

 

[WIchickMama]

would you have any pictures to share of the coop?

Is there any other spots for them to get in other than tunneling through the floor?

 

[TwistedTayy]

I remove the food at night from the coop and there is only food stored in that bin by the door (which has since been replaced with a metal one, but the plastic one showed no signs of “tampering”). Excuse the area at the back/left, that's where the rats are. Feed bags are empty and is only garden paraphernalia stored there.

would you have any pictures to share of the coop?

Is there any other spots for them to get in other than tunneling through the floor?

The exterior is meal siding and is in good shape with no holes but for the Reno I’ll be taking it down to the studs and doing HC walls anyways. For now there are tunnels. EVERYWHERE. At first I thought they were voles (caught one in the pool in the summer) but video evidence says rats.