Trapping and poison are for controlling rats but they will never eliminate the rats. The only way is to spend the money on a good treadle feeder, preferably with a spring loaded door and an actual heavy counterweight if one can be bought in your area. The guillotine lid feeders will work sometimes but there are plenty of pictures and bad reviews online showing rats getting into that style feeder. Only a counterweight and spring loaded door works. Feeding a few times a day limits eggs and growth of young birds, not a good idea. You are already spending the money by feeding the rats, make the investment in a good treadle feeder and be done with it. Rats bring disease and mites/lice and draw in larger predators that also kill chickens or eat eggs.
