Talking rats.
My last home had withon 2 blocks 3 restuarants, chinese take out and 2 delis. Dumpster heaven for rats.
Before chickens I would opccasionally see rats across the street scurring past my neighbors bushes at dusk headin g for the dumpsters down the block. I never had any rat ptoblems at the time.
Then came the coop. The rats followed as the wqter source was 1 block away in marsh/woodland area.
We have the usual tunneling Norway rats as you likely do. They tunneled under my coop deeply and ran escape holes/tunnels under my neighbors fence ......at the far end of my yard and just all over the place. I was totally skeeved out. Then my neighbor complained cause he'd see those stinkin rats coming out the holes in his pristine and newly furbished back yard. Troubles then began.
Remember if you get a neighbor complaining and call the BOH they come and investigate the grounds for vermin issues. If they see holes they make you call in an exterminator in my neck of the woods and place rat boxes around showing proof you are trying to fix the problem. Were that me I had also been cited for roosters but she seemed to get away with hers.
I know your health code might be different from the 5 boroughs of NYC. We have to keep it clean or fix it fast.
My friend is grandfathered in for her property to own horses etc. Her property would be considered "un-developed" with neighbors at least 1-2 blocks away and all wood surrounding.She has maybe 40 roosters and 60 hens.....ducks and a turkey that adopted her. Some of her chickens are so old They came with her from Brooklyn at least 10 years ago......and now have cataracts. amazing......they all live together pretty well.
Anyways.....property behind her came under construction for 2 homes and they are on her butt for vermin control. The rats came out in droves as they began to dig foundations and she is a food source for sure.
Her run is 100 'L by 12" deep and chain linked with a roof. Between her house feedhay/15 cats living outside/chicken food etc. she has attracted vermin and is definately their food source. She is going through hell right now trying to clean up and not get fined or have to re-home her animals. Very stressful but I have to say she didn't do anythoing at the beginning and that's a shame as she is paying through the nose now both mentally and financially.
The first time I went into her coop area I was freaked out. Rat holes, tons of norway rat holes and they likely steal eggs and more.
So in the end when they find your house has food they never stop coming. I had to fight them to keep them under control and it stunk. Just when you thought you had it licked they're back with a vengence.
I haven't seen a sign of any here but I know my freshly cleaned out and open yard isn't accomodating because of feral cats/hawks/my dog..... and there are no food establishments with dumpsters way down here. Thank goodness. And all food is locked down tight at night as well.
Once the door is up I should be good against the chickadees/racoons/possums and hawks. I am so glad we don't have foxes/coydogs here.
My last home had withon 2 blocks 3 restuarants, chinese take out and 2 delis. Dumpster heaven for rats.
Before chickens I would opccasionally see rats across the street scurring past my neighbors bushes at dusk headin g for the dumpsters down the block. I never had any rat ptoblems at the time.
Then came the coop. The rats followed as the wqter source was 1 block away in marsh/woodland area.
We have the usual tunneling Norway rats as you likely do. They tunneled under my coop deeply and ran escape holes/tunnels under my neighbors fence ......at the far end of my yard and just all over the place. I was totally skeeved out. Then my neighbor complained cause he'd see those stinkin rats coming out the holes in his pristine and newly furbished back yard. Troubles then began.
Remember if you get a neighbor complaining and call the BOH they come and investigate the grounds for vermin issues. If they see holes they make you call in an exterminator in my neck of the woods and place rat boxes around showing proof you are trying to fix the problem. Were that me I had also been cited for roosters but she seemed to get away with hers.
I know your health code might be different from the 5 boroughs of NYC. We have to keep it clean or fix it fast.
My friend is grandfathered in for her property to own horses etc. Her property would be considered "un-developed" with neighbors at least 1-2 blocks away and all wood surrounding.She has maybe 40 roosters and 60 hens.....ducks and a turkey that adopted her. Some of her chickens are so old They came with her from Brooklyn at least 10 years ago......and now have cataracts. amazing......they all live together pretty well.
Anyways.....property behind her came under construction for 2 homes and they are on her butt for vermin control. The rats came out in droves as they began to dig foundations and she is a food source for sure.
Her run is 100 'L by 12" deep and chain linked with a roof. Between her house feedhay/15 cats living outside/chicken food etc. she has attracted vermin and is definately their food source. She is going through hell right now trying to clean up and not get fined or have to re-home her animals. Very stressful but I have to say she didn't do anythoing at the beginning and that's a shame as she is paying through the nose now both mentally and financially.
The first time I went into her coop area I was freaked out. Rat holes, tons of norway rat holes and they likely steal eggs and more.
So in the end when they find your house has food they never stop coming. I had to fight them to keep them under control and it stunk. Just when you thought you had it licked they're back with a vengence.
I haven't seen a sign of any here but I know my freshly cleaned out and open yard isn't accomodating because of feral cats/hawks/my dog..... and there are no food establishments with dumpsters way down here. Thank goodness. And all food is locked down tight at night as well.
Once the door is up I should be good against the chickadees/racoons/possums and hawks. I am so glad we don't have foxes/coydogs here.
