RATS!

[earlybird10842]

I had a problem with rats a few years ago. They were getting into the pen (coope is raised, so no problem there) and eating the food that spilled out during the day. I did use poison for a while, but it really didn't seem to be working. I live in the country and there's a lot of critters out here. I read somewhere that rats don't like peppermint, so I planted peppermint all around my coop and pen. I also use other strong herbs around garden areas that I don't want the deer to get into. Well the peppermint seems to have worked. I haven't seen hide nor hair of a rat in over two years now. Actually, I haven't noticed any mice or voles either. And since the peppermint spreads (voraciously, so be careful) I didn't even need to use a lot in the first place. This seems to be a great all natural way to deal with that kind of problem.
Good luck.

Good tip. I'll do that this spring.

 

[sjshaw1980]

Yesterday morning we finally captured a packrat.  We used a live trap, as the rat was so big, it could get out of the other traps.
[/quote]Kill it kill it kill it!!!!! Congrats!

 

[earlybird10842]

Yup, we killed it.

 

[Scott H]

If you know someone who has ferrets get some of their poop and spread it around. Rats will evacuate pronto!

 

[cluckcluckluke]

I have them as well SO ANNOYING, i just want NO pests with my chickens but as if that will ever happen there is always something- I'm going to use all this wonderful information to get rid of every last single rate i have here.

 

[DFamilyChicks]

Lots of great advice here. Thanks for posting.

We had mice and used poison in enclosed traps to get rid of them.

 

[ChickenMad11]

Gross, but a good result!

 

[RowerRN]

I just discovered we have rats too - I couldn't understand why we haven't had any eggs in about three months - I figured it was because they were molting and then with short winter days, etc. Come to find out there is a rat super highway from their home in the wood pile under the straw pallet and dog house and a big forked tunnel that leads right up into the run. We noticed the first tunnel at Thanksgiving, and we back-filled it with concrete. But in no time at all, another one sprung up.

I may have my husband try the asphyxiation technique. In the meantime - Home Depot is still open, so I'm going to get some rat poison and a galvanized steel trash can for the feed, so their source is cut off. I'll also cover the run floor completely with chicken wire to keep them out.

 

[MyRedStarz]

Having a rat problem now. keep finding rat turds in the nesting box and am missing eggs unless i'm right there when they lay them. This rat is really irritating me. Going to try the enclosed poison trap on the outside of the coop first. Will maybe try some peppermint herbs in the nesting box too. If the chickens eat the peppermint, will it change the flavor of the eggs? Minty eggs don't sound good...

Desiree

 

[sjshaw1980]

Just a quick follow up to my previous post about using the exhaust down the hole trick. It's now been almost 2 months and no more rat burrows have appeared! I think we got 'em!

Watch a new burrow appear tonight.....that would be just my luck.