Rats???

[CalBickieMomma]

Have you tried the Tom Cat brand snap traps? The black plastic ones? Those worked well around my coop (but I covered them with a cardboard box with an entry in it for the rats because I didn’t want to kill the wild birds). We had a bad rat problem here (Central Coast of California), and with a combined effort of the Tom Cat traps, smoke bombs (in the big PVC pipes stored out back), flushing them out/finding their nests (my terrier mix was a HUGE help with that), and the electric traps, we got it under control. Rats are super smart, so it takes time and testing different things. Also, peanut butter makes the best bait .

 

[Krazikatlady64]

Here's an article from an older Rat post. Article- https://backyardchickenproject.com/how-to-get-rid-of-rats-in-the-chicken-coop-the-definitive-guide/

 

[cmom]

I have posted this previously. Hopefully traps will work for you. I had an infested coop and when I renovated the coop dozens of rats of all sizes poured out. I had noticed tunnels around the coops. The rats had nests in the ceiling and walls in the coop I renovated. I tried several different things but still had a lot of rats so I resorted to poison. I'm not advocating using poison only that it worked for me. I bought some rat bait stations and placed them where nothing but the rats could get to them. The rats weren't fond of the bait that came with the bait stations so I bought some other bait and they seemed to like it much better. I did not find any dead rats laying around and checked the bait boxes daily. There is a little window above the baits in the bait stations I bought so I could check it regularly. I think the rats went into their tunnels and died and that is why I didn't find any dead rats or critters from eating any dead rats laying around. If the bait stations are placed in places where nothing but the rats can get to there should be no problems. You can also place the bait stations in a pet carrier so only the rats can get to them. There is a partition down the middle inside the bait stations that the rats have to go around to get to the bait so they don't bring the bait out of the bait stations. Good luck with whatever you do...

 

[Dusty Chicken]

My old coop had a wire mesh floor and feed would easily fall though onto the ground. It did not take long for the rats to dig tunnels under the coop to gather up all that feed. No matter how many I trapped I would have more the next day. Fortunatly, my dog loved to hunt them and that drastically reduced the population but did not eliminate it.
Do you know what is attracting the rats to be under your coop? Can you modify the coop in any way to eliminate them from tunneling underneath. Would an apron of hardware cloth help? Can you move the feed or reduce any spillage?

 

[Dusty Chicken]

I didn't bury hardware cloth around the coop but it's for sure getting done in the spring

 

[Folly's place]

And if rats can get there, so can weasels!
We had rats invade our coop a few years ago, and they ate eggs, and killed three nice bantam pullets, before we got them out. They can chew through wood really well too, so don't assume your wooden floor will keep them out.
We never caught one in any of the traps we set. If you do get one or two in a trap, the others will have learned to avoid that trap.
You might have to resort to poison, sorry.
Mary

 

[Big Doggie]

I have had a critter(s) underneath my coop for about a month now. From the 2 tennis ball size holes and the fan-shaped discharged dirt outside of the holes, I'm thinking RATS.
They avoid the snap traps and enclosed baited traps. I've also tried putting onions, black pepper and peppermint on cotton balls down the holes and covering it in. Every morning, the holes are open again! My unwelcomed visitors have so far been content to staying under the coop but I'm sure they will soon try getting inside with my chickens. On top of that, the holes are inside the run and right beside the hatch door where the chickens come out. I don't want to open the hatch because I'm afraid "whatever" will sneak inside the coop.
As a last resort, I've thought about pouring a jug of bleach down the holes in the hopes that it will gas them out or kill them. Has anyone ever tried this? Will the bleach fumes come up through the wooden coop floor to my flock?

I read on a post here that plaster of Paris will kill them if you bait it with food. The plaster solidifies inside them. Just don’t let your birds free range.

 

[Rechicked]

Have you tried the Tom Cat brand snap traps? The black plastic ones? Those worked well around my coop (but I covered them with a cardboard box with an entry in it for the rats because I didn’t want to kill the wild birds). We had a bad rat problem here (Central Coast of California), and with a combined effort of the Tom Cat traps, smoke bombs (in the big PVC pipes stored out back), flushing them out/finding their nests (my terrier mix was a HUGE help with that), and the electric traps, we got it under control. Rats are super smart, so it takes time and testing different things. Also, peanut butter makes the best bait .

I've tried the TomCat snaps with peanut butter and they won't touch it. Maybe I need to get a terrier

 

[Rechicked]

I have posted this previously. Hopefully traps will work for you. I had an infested coop and when I renovated the coop dozens of rats of all sizes poured out. I had noticed tunnels around the coops. The rats had nests in the ceiling and walls in the coop I renovated. I tried several different things but still had a lot of rats so I resorted to poison. I'm not advocating using poison only that it worked for me. I bought some rat bait stations and placed them where nothing but the rats could get to them. The rats weren't fond of the bait that came with the bait stations so I bought some other bait and they seemed to like it much better. I did not find any dead rats laying around and checked the bait boxes daily. There is a little window above the baits in the bait stations I bought so I could check it regularly. I think the rats went into their tunnels and died and that is why I didn't find any dead rats or critters from eating any dead rats laying around. If the bait stations are placed in places where nothing but the rats can get to there should be no problems. You can also place the bait stations in a pet carrier so only the rats can get to them. There is a partition down the middle inside the bait stations that the rats have to go around to get to the bait so they don't bring the bait out of the bait stations. Good luck with whatever you do...

I've tried the bait stations but I haven't seen any missing through the window. I'm going to try the baited cage pushed up to the holes in the run. My poor chickies have been cooped up since I noticed the holes

 

[Rechicked]

And if rats can get there, so can weasels!
We had rats invade our coop a few years ago, and they ate eggs, and killed three nice bantam pullets, before we got them out. They can chew through wood really well too, so don't assume your wooden floor will keep them out.
We never caught one in any of the traps we set. If you do get one or two in a trap, the others will have learned to avoid that trap.
You might have to resort to poison, sorry.
Mary

I am willing to try anything right now. -Poison included