Rodents nest in my hen house

[CrystalAnon]

After 30 years of keeping hens with no problems, this year I've got a rodent infestation. They took up residence in my greenhouse and garden shed. They are now in the hen house.

I've done tons of reading about what attracts rodents; rodent free chicken feeders; rodent deterrents, etc., etc.

I'm posting here in the hope that others' experiences could prove helpful. I don't want to surrender my hens but am almost to that point in time.

I've contracted with exterminators who assure me that their "safe" product will eliminate the rats while safeguarding my pets and the wildlife.

Am very open to any help I can get.

Yes!! This is my problem too. Rats! I can close up known entrances to them, but I don’t want them stuck in there when I do it! (My husband also bought me a high-powered pellet gun! Such a good hubby. )
I was thinking I could maybe spray a bunch of DE in their nesting area (it isn’t very large, to get them to come out. There are two. A Male & a female.) Anyone think that will work to drive them out long enough to cover the entrances?! I’m hoping there aren’t babies in there, since we’re into summer now. I just don’t want carcasses rotting in our coop eves. I don’t want to use poisons or snap traps because of my chickens and our neighborhood squirrels.

 

[CrystalAnon]

Yes!! This is my problem too. Rats! I can close up known entrances to them, but I don’t want them stuck in there when I do it! (My husband also bought me a high-powered pellet gun! Such a good hubby. )
I was thinking I could maybe spray a bunch of DE in their nesting area (it isn’t very large, to get them to come out. There are two. A Male & a female.) Anyone think that will work to drive them out long enough to cover the entrances?! I’m hoping there aren’t babies in there, since we’re into summer now. I just don’t want carcasses rotting in our coop eves. I don’t want to use poisons or snap traps because of my chickens and our neighborhood squirrels.

I tried using the bucket traps, but it was clear even if we caught one, the rats are too big for the buckets (they just knock them over), or the squirrels were knocking them over, if it wasn’t the rats.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Rats can jump up to three feet, no bucket will hold them.

If you want to get rid of rats there is one simple thing to do. Stop feeding them. Bulk feed in a metal barrel with a tight lid. Clean up the pathways to and from the feed so natural predators get some of the rodents. And buy a real ratproof treadle feeder. Do your research carefully and believe the negative reviews before the positive reviews.

 

[Kurczaklover]

My best friend uses the bucket method to catch the rats, except she uses an old fashioned metal garbage can, but the trick is to oil the inside of it. We live in the woods, so making things not attractive to them is the best first step. We use our old upright freezer for the feed, stored no where near the coop. If you figure out where they are coming in hang a fresh clump of mint there, they don't like the smell. I have also planted mint and catnip in a few large planters around the coop, with chicken wire cages to prevent the girls from trampling it, but also because mint can be quite a vigorous grower here. Plus we have 2 guard cats that spend a lot of time in and around the coop.