RATS!

[CaptSaam]

I have been keeping chickens for 12 years now and I am amazed at how many rats have made themselves at home around my chicken coop and run. I have tried poison in the surrounding area, spring loaded rat traps, have-a-heart traps, electrocution traps and the ones that go on top of a bucket that flips and drops them in. I have used the feeders that open when the chicken steps on the peddle hoping they would leave if I took away their food source. I have even tried the rat repellent packets with mint scent. Nothing seems to work!
Please let me know if any one has any success getting rid of these varmints.

 

[The Moonshiner]

@Al Gerhart knows rats

 

[CherishedFowlGuardian]

Cats & Guinea Fowl!

 

[Penpal]

I can't speak to the mint packages, but spraying mint around the enclosure helps to keep them out. You should be able to smell the mint when you spray it. You might also want to consider an electric wire close to the ground. The grass would need to be mowed quite low. They may try to dig under the wire, so an additional fence a few inches down in the soil to deter digging.

How about a rat terrier?

 

[Al Gerhart]

I have been keeping chickens for 12 years now and I am amazed at how many rats have made themselves at home around my chicken coop and run. I have tried poison in the surrounding area, spring loaded rat traps, have-a-heart traps, electrocution traps and the ones that go on top of a bucket that flips and drops them in. I have used the feeders that open when the chicken steps on the peddle hoping they would leave if I took away their food source. I have even tried the rat repellent packets with mint scent. Nothing seems to work!
Please let me know if any one has any success getting rid of these varmints.

You already spent the money on a treadle feeder and it should have solved the problem. How about posting a picture of the feeder? Either the feeder isn't doing the job or perhaps it isn't set up correctly because it should have done what you paid it to do.

Poison only works for a few rodents before they wise up or if you have a good treadle feeder that stops the feed theft and the rats start to starve. Even if you did clean out the current batch the empty territory would be filled again with rodents. Ditto on the traps, the rats are wise and cautious. The mint, just an old wives tale along with potato flakes, plaster of paris, hot pepper, there is a long list of useless advice that people love to suggest.


So, pictures please.