Something invaded our run

[SpicyChicksMom]

Hi. I was hoping to get advice. I went into the run to open feed containers and let the girls out this morning and found a large pile of freshly dug dirt. Looks like something dug it's way out?? I took a photo in the hole and you can see light to where it tunneled through. The exit was about half dollar sized. I have hardware cloth at an angle 18 in from the side of the run but that didn't seem to deter it. Any clue? Could it be rats?

 

[sourland]

Where do you live? Very likely a rat.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

how big is a half dollar?

 

[lagrange chicks]

Kinda looks like a chipmunk hole. here in Wisconsin they are not very active once it gets cold.

 

[SpicyChicksMom]

Definitely rats, we bought a trail camera. They are huge. We live in East TN. We have hardware cloth but they are tunneling several feet to get under it. Our chickens recently decided to make a mess of their food and I know that's attracting them. I don't know what to try next. I tried the baking soda and corn muffin mix no interest from them.

 

[SamLockwood]

I had a rat and mouse infestation late summer and I used a combination of the newer tunnel style snap traps and the kind that electrocute them. Baited both with peanut butter (not the good stuff, the cheap sugar laced junk). Got about a dozen of them over a week and I stopped finding droppings in the feeders.

 

[Sally PB]

Our chickens recently decided to make a mess of their food and I know that's attracting them.

This situation needs to be addressed right away. Can you remove the feed at night?