The Old Folks Home

[pennyJo1960]

I leave rodents to our outside kitties and they always are happy
to show just what they found

 

[jtn42248]

We have been here on our farm for about three years and this is the first year we have had rats. Big ones too. It is traps for me. I set them in the evening when all the birds have been put up for the night and secure them in the a.m. before I let the birds out. So far this year we have caught three rats and the traps are set again tonight because early this a.m. I saw another one running across the chicken run toward the coops.

Something strange about this years is not only a bunch of rats but armadillos, opossums, snakes of all size and levels of poisonous, and predator birds. A lot more that in years past.

 

[pennyJo1960]

 

[microchick]

We have been here on our farm for about three years and this is the first year we have had rats. Big ones too. It is traps for me. I set them in the evening when all the birds have been put up for the night and secure them in the a.m. before I let the birds out. So far this year we have caught three rats and the traps are set again tonight because early this a.m. I saw another one running across the chicken run toward the coops.

Something strange about this years is not only a bunch of rats but armadillos, opossums, snakes of all size and levels of poisonous, and predator birds. A lot more that in years past.

Please be careful of armadillos. They can be carriers of leprosy of all things.

I'd be more than willing to feed and support a few barn cats. It's really strange. We have 5 excellent mousers in the house. When we bought our farm the place was infested with big fat Missouri field mice. When we moved the cats, the mice moved on. Every now and again we will find a present left for us in front of the fireplace. Usually it's just the back half. Our dogs and our house cats live in peace. The dogs learn very quickly that while the felines are smaller, they have these very painful claws that inflict a lot of pain to canine noses. But outside cats that happen to pass through are chased off the property by the dogs in record time.

I have a Tomcat bait station in our shop near my bags of feed. That will go out to the entrance way to the coop. Live trap will be set outside the grow out pen until I can get either plaster of Paris or Sacrete to mix with some raw sugar.

Rats must die!

 

[pennyJo1960]

I would agree there thankfully our have been field mice or moles

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I tried qwik set drywall compound with peanut butter. Some was eaten but we never came across any bodies. From what I've read, rats lack the ability to vomit so they've evolved to be particularly cautious on what they eat and their response to taste make them better at avoiding toxins. Diva, I've heard of the potato flakes, but had forgotten about it. I think that'd be a cool one to try.
Microchick, I hope the cement/sugar mix works...I'd love to hear how you make out.

I've had decent luck live trapping rats with the smaller squirrel box traps and marshmallows, surprisingly.
Hubby and I have a bet going on who will trap the most rats. Right now I'm winning over his snap traps.

Marshmallows have worked well so far with the rats, skunks, raccoons and foxes. We don't have opossums.
If it's cooler weather, I've found the dead rats make good bait for the skunks and raccoons.
It's too nasty to use bait rats in warm weather.

(Don't ask me how I know)

I'm SO happy I finally caught this guy.



He came into the coop one evening and went after my caged guineas.
All I was armed with was....a chick. Didn't even have a flashlight.

I was doing my chores Friday morning early in the dark and it was raining. I had a mandatory in-service to attend.
I heard a pffft to my right as I was walking to the coop. out of the corner of my eye I saw him and his tail up to my right.
I just kept on walking and didn't get sprayed.

He got away from me that morning, but he had started setting off my rat traps trying to get the bait from inside.

I caught him a couple mornings after. Whew.

 

[drumstick diva]

Once you catch a "smelly" cat (skunk) how do you get rid of them? I've heard that even if shot they manage to leave a lingering presence.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I leave rodents to our outside kitties and they always are happy
to show just what they found

We started feeding the stray cat and now we have rats.

Once you catch a "smelly" cat (skunk) how do you get rid of them? I've heard that even if shot they manage to leave a lingering presence.

I shoot and triple bag and take them to the dump. Most of the time they "spray" when dying and the smell is overwhelming. I wear a full body condom - including hoodie and only my face is exposed. After taking care of it, I rush inside. Clothes go into the laundry, I go into the shower. Fels Naptha laundry soap gets the scent off best in my years of experience, however, it may take multiple loads for the clothes and a few washes in the shower to get all the smell off.

 

[WVduckchick]

I haven't seen any rats, but am fighting the field mice and moles. If I open a nest box after dark, it seems there is always one of those beady-eyed little monsters in there! And I'll admit, I'm scared of them. They give me the willies. But I did beat one to death the other day... serves him right for running out into the open where I could see him.

Hubby had made this trap, and I thought it looked great, but so far, none are taking the bait. (well, I didn't check it this morning). I believe I need to try some better enticements. I have peanut butter in there, and added some scratch grains yesterday. The chickens can't get into these, so I put one in the run that I've seen the most mice in.



A regular large snap trap will fit in here, but I figured that's only good for one mouse. The glue tray "could" catch several.

 

[jtn42248]

Has anyone ever tried one of these...do they work or do you just end up with a soaked have drowned rat you still have to kill?