Just to tack on (pile on???) to what Al has suggested, in addition to the feed issue, you also installed some type of insulation in the side walls? You didn't say and surprised nobody asked, but was this some type of batt insulation in a 3 1/2" cavity wall? If so, you inadvertently provided them an ideal place to nest. I think it was cmom or someone who did the same and had the same issue. Rats boiled out of the walls when she pulled them apart.
Keep in mind, mistakes like this are made out of ignorance, which is not the same as stupidity. Stupid would be knowing about the potential problem and doing it anyway. Ignorance is just an honest mistake. Almost 99% of most rat problems are created out of ignorance. At least half of them persist out of stupidity.
First house I built was single walled, using T-111 siding. Second house I built was with metal siding, which I wanted to insulate. Knowing the issue of the batts, I got creative with the metal siding and framed it with 2" x 4" flat side vertical, and side wall metal screwed to flat side, as is done with most pole sheds. Then on the inside, I installed a sheet of 1/2" wide poly iso board, foil side out. That created a cavity of 1 1/2", between the insulation board and metal side walls. Potential place for rats, but gets hot enough in there to cook em. So a really hostile place to live and crowded to boot. To protect the poly iso board from the chickens (they will destroy most foam board insulation), I included a thin sheet of 3/8" plywood on the interior. End result was an effective and adequately insulated house......cooler inside that out in summer and warmer inside than out in winter.
Metal exteriors and roofs, combined with hardware cloth over openings, allows you to housing that will repel rats and mice. Only way for them to get in is when the doors are open. (This assumes a similar rat proof floor). Metal, however, ought to be insulated or you are creating a death trap.
Keep in mind, mistakes like this are made out of ignorance, which is not the same as stupidity. Stupid would be knowing about the potential problem and doing it anyway. Ignorance is just an honest mistake. Almost 99% of most rat problems are created out of ignorance. At least half of them persist out of stupidity.
First house I built was single walled, using T-111 siding. Second house I built was with metal siding, which I wanted to insulate. Knowing the issue of the batts, I got creative with the metal siding and framed it with 2" x 4" flat side vertical, and side wall metal screwed to flat side, as is done with most pole sheds. Then on the inside, I installed a sheet of 1/2" wide poly iso board, foil side out. That created a cavity of 1 1/2", between the insulation board and metal side walls. Potential place for rats, but gets hot enough in there to cook em. So a really hostile place to live and crowded to boot. To protect the poly iso board from the chickens (they will destroy most foam board insulation), I included a thin sheet of 3/8" plywood on the interior. End result was an effective and adequately insulated house......cooler inside that out in summer and warmer inside than out in winter.
Metal exteriors and roofs, combined with hardware cloth over openings, allows you to housing that will repel rats and mice. Only way for them to get in is when the doors are open. (This assumes a similar rat proof floor). Metal, however, ought to be insulated or you are creating a death trap.
