Steel wool = coon deterrent?

[Compost King]

I use sand for that too. Rats were digging around the steel wool and I was getting sick of filling the holes back in knowing it would go on for months before all the potential paths are dug out by the rats so I started dumping Rat Poison first, steel wool 2nd, and sand last... last night was the first night in a long time no new holes were dug out. The Cat (capitalized because thats his name) didn't even investigate what was under the shed last night when I closed up the coops (he goes with me). thats a good sign.

 

[Compost King]

Poison is the most effective. Also, the rats generally die pretty quick and usually do so in their tunnels or homes. Your idea of adding access points in the floor of the shed, so you can add poison might be the best option. But, you would have to be careful not to be adding access points that the rats use to get directly into the shed.

Good Luck

Your way won out, I am hoping they die where The Cat (capitalized because that's his name) can't get to them. I figure they ever came out where he could get them he would have gotten them. He loves Rat meat.

 

[aart]

Your way won out, I am hoping they die where The Cat (capitalized because that's his name) can't get to them. I figure they ever came out where he could get them he would have gotten them. He loves Rat meat.

I hope your Cat never gets it's teeth into a poisoned rat.

 

[Big Red Roosters]

Your way won out, I am hoping they die where The Cat (capitalized because that's his name) can't get to them. I figure they ever came out where he could get them he would have gotten them. He loves Rat meat.

It may be wise to keep The Cat away from the area for a while. A friend of mine had an accident this year with poison, a very small amount of it killed six cats I think and her pregnant queen gave birth to kittens with severe health defects. Poison smells and tastes irresistible so animals eat more of it and die faster.
I'll admit I've used poison in my coops, it was risky and I'm blessed to never have had an accident. I wish you good luck in removing your pests!

 

[Folly's place]

Using carefully selected poisons, and using actual bait stations is rodent areas only, makes things safer. Also, locking the cats up while rodenticides are out there. Having the rats gone is very important too.
Mary

 

[Apis mellifera]

I found the most effective way to eliminate rats is to upgrade Victor rat traps. A couple washers under the spring gives them more "POW" and finish nails around the trap kills them instantly. You can place cages or buckets over them so cats and chickens can't get to them. I can post a picture if anyone is interested.

 

[Compost King]

I have some victor rat traps I bought with the poison however i would have excavate quite a bit and reach under my hardware cloth skirting to get them in a place where the rats are and the chickens won't be. Although if push comes to shove I can remove the chickens and put them in another coop for one night and just set the trap up outside of what ever hole they dig. Right now it's looking like the poison worked. I hate using poison but I don't want rats nesting close to my house for health reasons. I am so careful with the poison that the stuff I did not use went into a metal container to keep animals from getting to it and then stored in the shed where even the cats can't get to it... as if they can open the metal container.

 

[Big Red Roosters]

I found the most effective way to eliminate rats is to upgrade Victor rat traps. A couple washers under the spring gives them more "POW" and finish nails around the trap kills them instantly. You can place cages or buckets over them so cats and chickens can't get to them. I can post a picture if anyone is interested.

Please post a picture, I'm interested in seeing!

 

[Apis mellifera]

Here ya go. Spikes and two 3/8" washers under the springs. It also helps to tie a small piece of string to the bait holder. The string gets soaked in the peanut butter oil and they tug on it.

 

[aart]

Here ya go. Spikes and two 3/8" washers under the springs. It also helps to tie a small piece of string to the bait holder. The string gets soaked in the peanut butter oil and they tug on it.

Yikes!!
Not sure about the soaked string, I shove a sunflower seed tight into trigger 'flap'.