RATS!

[Irishmom80]

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.

I resorted to coyote urine from bass pro shop. I sparingly sprinkled it around the coop. They left.

 

[MichaelDJ]

In the last 2 months:
2 with a pellet rifle, 3 with bait, 1 with a gas bomb. 1 left that has wised up and is avoiding all baits and traps. He sticks to the shadows where i can't get a shot at him.
Have to try the coyote urine...

 

[Al Gerhart]

Predator urine was looked at in that University of Nebraska white paper on rodent control. It actually brought in more predators and had zero effect on rodents.

Rats are after one of four things, food, water, nesting materials, or a safe place to build a nest. Food is the most common draw and nothing will deter them, they might prefer to live somewhere without peppermint or moth ball odor but that doesn't mean they won't put up with the odor to get what they need.