The NFC B-Day Chat Thread

:sick:sick:sick

Just saw a RAT behind the chicken run!!! A RAT! We have never had rats before!! We have a major chipmunk problem this year, yes, but never RATS!! :sick:sick

We are going to have to do something about this! The food is inside the coop too, there isn’t even anything in the run or anything, unless maybe he is somehow squeezing into the coop? There is a little gap between the door and the frame/base where I guess he could be getting in? I didn’t think it was very big but :confused:

We are going to have to seal up that gap and also I found quite a large hole yesterday under one of the storage bins next to the coop. Thought it was a chipmunk hole but now thinking must be rats. We will have to move that storage container and/or fill in the hole I guess. Also might need to get some traps or something? And maybe move the other storage container too.

We have a plastic Rubbermaid shed/bin/whatever?? It’s large/long but low anyway, that’s next the coop which the hole is under but could probably get rid of it. Mostly filled with wayyyy too many bowls/feed dishes/waterers, etc. lol could probably get rid of most and get rid of the bin! Then we have a plastic Rubbermaid shed sitting on a pallet also next to the coop. Well both are technically behind it I guess.

The shed we have had chipmunks and stuff get in, it’s kinda crappy and not sealed well/big gaps and they chew through too.

But we have the feed in strong super thick plastic bins so they don’t get that but I used to sometimes have seed bags a while and they got in the bags but took those away as soon as I found out.

There is no food available now so idk why they’re hanging out. They must be getting in or maybe eating the scratch we’ve been tossing in the run??? Maybe no more scratch or at least less so they can clean it all up??? And maybe taking the food inside at night? I don’t think they can get to it but you never know haha
you'll have to feed them, not any good chicken feed or even seeds but i buy poison pellets on ebay for them, used to be decon but now locally its the tomcat brand and we haven't had much luck with that,
 
I try to keep the coop and everything pretty clean so this is a total shocker and disgusting!! I just cleaned the whole coop out yesterday too. Guess I need to work on behind the coop next.
its getting that time of the year where they're looking for a winter home, given a chance they will chew to get into your house too.
 
you'll have to feed them, not any good chicken feed or even seeds but i buy poison pellets on ebay for them, used to be decon but now locally its the tomcat brand and we haven't had much luck with that,

Thanks! I’ll have to try that! Is poison safe so close to the coop? The hole is literally right next to it so I wouldn’t want the chickens accidentally eating the poison or a poisoned rat or anything like that. The cat usually goes outside too so wouldn’t want her eating them either.
 
Thanks! I’ll have to try that! Is poison safe so close to the coop? The hole is literally right next to it so I wouldn’t want the chickens accidentally eating the poison or a poisoned rat or anything like that. The cat usually goes outside too so wouldn’t want her eating them either.
you have to keep it away from the chickens of course and as for the cats, usally the rat hides very well, you won't find it until you start smelling it and even then its hard , try to keep the cat away from that area if you can, our cats don't bother with them normally
 
you have to keep it away from the chickens of course and as for the cats, usally the rat hides very well, you won't find it until you start smelling it and even then its hard , try to keep the cat away from that area if you can, our cats don't bother with them normally

Thank you!! That makes sense. I will try that. Do you think traps might work or not usually? DB & FSIL’s wedding is next week so I’d like to get them gone as soon as possible and not have smelly dead rats when family comes to visit if that makes sense haha
 
That makes sense!! Guess we better tackle this issue before they move to the house then!!
i used to have a little dog that was a holey terror on mice and rats, if one got into the house, she had it and killed it, she always went to the barn with me to hunt mice, she even caught a muskrat one time
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom