Rats!!!

[LuvMaChickies]

Is it just me, or do chickens attract rats? Since, we've gotten our chickens, it seems like I see more rats (actually, I've never seen them before I got my chickens). Just last night I saw one hop across the yard and crawled underneath the coop. A few have gotten into our basement, but we've set up traps and poison, so I think we killed them all that got inside. But, what do I do to get rid of them? I don't even like them outside, around the house. Yuck!
Thanks!

 

[PortageGirl]

They can attract them if they're around anyway, it's not like they'll import them from Norway or anything, they have to be nearby. You have to keep chicken feed in rat/mouse proof containers/cans/bins and you can't leave any kitchen scraps that they don't eat within an hour or two laying around.

 

[Joyryder]

Someone here said if you got chickens you will evetually have to deal with rats. Yuk. I hate rats more than I hate snakes!

 

[lleighmay]

So far my barn cats and resident black snake population (I bring them home and turn them loose on the property) seem to be handling rats and mice just fine. My JRTs also love to hunt for mice when they're out in the yard though they seem less successful than the cats and snakes.

 

[chickbird]

Quote:
where there are mice/rats there will be snakes as snakes feed on rats, chicken feed spilled around the feeders are a source of food and bring the mice. me i don't like the non-poisnious snakes any better than the poisionous ones. we have a motorhome and rvers say that placing bars of irish spring soap or dryer sheets around deter the mice as they don't like the smell, you can sprinkle sulur around and it will help with snakes, just not where chickens can eat it.