Rodents nest in my hen house

[aart]

Make a bucket trap. you can find directions on YouTube.com The trap will tell you if they have left

@Penpal ......
How big a bucket did you use for rats?
I assume a 5 gal pail won't cut it.

 

[Al Gerhart]

I agree 100% with @Al Gerhart . You have to clear all brush and cover for rodents around your coops to rid hiding and nest places for them.

It forces them to come into the open exposure to get to the coops. If you have predators (cats and hawks), they will begin to pick them off. They'll also begin to pick off your chickens too, so it's best to get rid of the rats before they draw other predators.

I'm in a generally low predator area, old farm with suburban overgrowth, and my bold suburban rats will meander across the lawn fat and sassy.

You will need to keep changing up poisons as they do get used to one kind. But keeping up the feed, removing brush, and setting poisons has been what has kept the population down (not gone).

Al, could you post the kind of treadle feeder you use? I often have broody hens with chicks at my feeders, so I haven't found one that the chicks could work too.

LofMc

Thank you so much for the back up on this. There was a quote attributed to Malcom X: "Make up your mind on what you want. Pay for it. Take it."
Your post and the one below it just made my day. There is no silver bullet, no magical spray, oil, or potion, the work and investment HAS to be done.

But, NEVER, EVER, under any circumstances use a treadle feeder where chicks or even young one or two pound poults have access to it. They will kill themselves. if you want a ratproof feeder it has to have a spring loaded door, swinging inward, with a narrow and distant treadle step. Snapped necks, smothered inside the feeder, pick one because it is going to happen. The good news is that if you are using a ratproof feeder (I don't know of any other one but the ones I make) you can remove the feeder while chicks are present if you just have to keep them all together. You might skate by without attracting rodents or wild birds in the three to five months that the chicks are growing to size.

Remember, three things are needed for a rat proof feeder, some size difference between the vermin and the chicken, some weight difference between the vermin and the chicken, and a spring loaded door that can be adjusted to prevent the vermin from just pushing the door open or lifting the lid. Wide step treadle feeders, nearly all are made in China, without some heavy springs that are pulling three to five pounds on the door, never are successful long term. Sometimes short term till the rodents begin to starve and are motivated to learn. Even with a spring loaded feeder there is leverage between the bottom of the door and the treadle, sometimes you can push the door open with one finger. But that is fine unless you have human size rats, normal rats cannot push more than a few ounces.

And if a mob of rats overwhelm the door and springs, this is the second reason we use an inward swinging door, a good number will get trapped, you will know it, the door won't open, lift the feeder off the metal cleat, open the lid and dump the feed into a barrel, set the feeder in a barrel of water for an hour or so, then remove the top cover and door to dump out the drowned rats. You will need a #2 square drive screwdriver tip. You might get away without removing the door and top cover if you slosh the rats around to get them out.

Rant over, soap box stored away in safe place, resume normal operations.

 

[Al Gerhart]

I can tell you that denial and trying to find a silver bullet cure where you don't have to follow the important steps listed in Howard E.'s whitepaper will not work. Not mint, not just one of the steps, you have to do a full on Project. I even debated with Al G in the past because I just didn't want to read Howard's long post, lol. I think I've admitted to him that he was right, hope so... Because once I did read it and I did implement everything including my own additional control plan (feral cats and barking dogs.) I solved the problem of rodents for good. First and foremost, I store feed in galvanized garbage can's every night and I make sure to have a spill free feeder(s.) If ever there is a random spill, I clean it up. Zero food for rodents is #1. I had already taken out a majority of the population that existed on my property when I bought it, with Just One Bite. I had to do that because it wasn't just about my chicken coop, they ate all of wiring and nested in a hot tub and killed my truck twice. I found a dead family of deer mice in the truck but we also had rats. My coop is insulated which most people do not do. However, it's like a house build, it's foam core, solid and they can't get in the walls, no chance of that. So with no food and no place to make a nest in coop, I don't have a problem, haven't for a very long time. One of my feral cat houses is close to the truck and hot tub and I find it fascinating that due to one cat, there has been nothing. Anyhow, just do put the time into the read: Howard E.'s.... GOOD LUCK, fingers crossed for your success.

Okay sister, you've done it this time. Admitting that a man was right means automatic revocation of your woman card. Let's hope none of the men in your life hear about this or you will never hear the end of it.

But, you're scolding, rightfully so, for not following all the steps and you are still had to deal with some rodents, had to spend money on poison, after paying some serious money I would guess on fixing that wiring in the hot tub and in the truck, twice. You forgot his advice to use a treadle feeder so you are still depending on a feral cat, should something happen to that cat, what will it cost you? You didn't solve the problem for good. Sounds like for now it is working fine, but think about that please.

But your post made my day for the part about following Howard E.'s advice. Just remember if you don't have a treadle feeder, you are already paying for it in stolen feed, damaged cars and electrical wiring, and exposing a flock to more disease and pests than is necessary. Empty territories don't remain empty for long, generations of rodents are born, the population exceeds the local carrying capacity, and the young go on a walk about till they find an empty territory or one they can fight over and win.

 

[Al Gerhart]

How big a bucket did you use for rats?
I assume a 5 gal pail won't cut it.

I've seen them use 5 gallon pails. Most were, but eventually the rodents wise up. Some claim switching traps and poison works, some claim the knowledge is somehow passed down to the juveniles, haven't seen solid proof of that yet. it is a solution, just not a permanent one.

 

[Rock17]

Also I try A very small amount of edible herbs in their feed. Rodents don’t like the taste of it then but chickens don’t mind

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Okay sister, you've done it this time. Admitting that a man was right means automatic revocation of your woman card. Let's hope none of the men in your life hear about this or you will never hear the end of it.

I'm also ok with humor at my own expense, I think it comes with age.

You forgot his advice to use a treadle feeder so you are still depending on a feral cat, should something happen to that cat, what will it cost you? You didn't solve the problem for good. Sounds like for now it is working fine, but think about that please.

Definitely I've spent time looking at the feeder on your site and others, very close to buying but when I watch my live cam positioned by my feeders, all day long I see nothing. The feeders/set up I have, there is no spill but to your point, yes a rat could get up there and enjoy. And the moment I see that, I will go with your feeder. The cats I will always adopt, it's such a win/win. Barn cats that don't want to interact with humans are the least wanted. So I have 3 at a time, different parts of my property, I enjoy that I'm providing a much needed home and they are earning their keep for sure. I don't exactly understand why it keeps rats away as I have seen them eat mice, but not rats. They don't really "kill," rats. But it's working..... One cat lives in a house attached to my coop, another in a house by the truck and hot tub and another seems to like hunting the River bank. I live on River frontage and I know there are rats living in the bank.

the young go on a walk about till they find an empty territory

I have seen this. There is a particular time of year, maybe spring? Where my dog has alerted me to areas like the wood shed and under stairs. But then nothing. I think they consider places and then decide it's not safe. Just like has been stated above, I've been diligent about removing anything that would provide a quick easy place to hide (moved the woodshed too.)

Thanks for the education, it's really helped me, sincerely.

 

[FrostRanger]

I'm also ok with humor at my own expense, I think it comes with age.

Definitely I've spent time looking at the feeder on your site and others, very close to buying but when I watch my live cam positioned by my feeders, all day long I see nothing. The feeders/set up I have, there is no spill but to your point, yes a rat could get up there and enjoy. And the moment I see that, I will go with your feeder. The cats I will always adopt, it's such a win/win. Barn cats that don't want to interact with humans are the least wanted. So I have 3 at a time, different parts of my property, I enjoy that I'm providing a much needed home and they are earning their keep for sure. I don't exactly understand why it keeps rats away as I have seen them eat mice, but not rats. They don't really "kill," rats. But it's working..... One cat lives in a house attached to my coop, another in a house by the truck and hot tub and another seems to like hunting the River bank. I live on River frontage and I know there are rats living in the bank.

I have seen this. There is a particular time of year, maybe spring? Where my dog has alerted me to areas like the wood shed and under stairs. But then nothing. I think they consider places and then decide it's not safe. Just like has been stated above, I've been diligent about removing anything that would provide a quick easy place to hide (moved the woodshed too.)

Thanks for the education, it's really helped me, sincerely.

Thank you for giving unwanted cats a place to live! It really is a win - win! Rn I have a pair of 2 females who are best friends hanging around! They headbutt each other, rub against each other and twine their tails together, it's so stinking cute! I need to get pictures but I usually don't have my phone on me when they are being adorable (ik, a 20 something woman who doesn't have her phone on her 24/7, shocking). One of them is obviously pregnant so it'll be interesting if they'll coparent the kittens

 

[SandyRiverChick]

unwanted cats

In my area we have the Portland Feral Cat Coalition, such an amazing organization. There are 3 levels of Feral from they don't want to even be seen by humans to they are okay with your presence and might accept a scratch but do not want to become indoor lap cats. And in the event that they do become domesticated, the Cat people will take them back to adopt out to a family. I've heard that Ferals are so territorial that they will chase each other off the property and not share a space but like you I've seen the opposite. I have 2 that are buds. Maybe they're smart enough to know it's warmer to curl up together, who knows, I'm just glad it's working so well. My oldest one has been here for 6 years. I've built them insulated homes and they really do seem so happy. I love that you have the same sitch! And I love watching them play, hunt and lay around in my garden.

 

[FrostRanger]

Oh, there are still a few spats here and there with other cats in the area, however everyone is mostly civil. I love your garden! It's absolutely gorgeous! I only have one (besides my exstray Raven) who lets me pet them, a black and white tuxedo tom I named Simon Blackquill after the ace attorney prosecutor. He's clearly been in some fights butz few times he has walked up to me and demanded pets, even before checking out the food I placed!

Here's prosecutor Blackquill

And here's my indoor kitty Raven whom I adopted off a backroad a year ago

 

[Loving my girls]

Excellent post.

Bloody excellent post !