(update)!!!CALLING ALL THE CHICKEN EXPERTS

[dirtfishing1]

One trick that works very well with rats and mice is to get a can of black pepper and sprinkle it under the coup and near the entrances and around it. It works great around your house as well. I put out a couple of cans in the fall and winter right where the dry strip along the ground beside the house and coup and since I have started droing this we have not had 1 mouse in the house and I have no sign of mice\
ats in the chicken house feed. I learned this trick working on cars. Ever had a mouse get into your blower fan or air filter box and make a nest? It happens all the time. I have been telling my custoers to use the pepper in the engine compartment and it keeps the mice out of there as well.

Hope this helps you.

 

[justusnak]

dirtfishing1 ....regular black pepper?? I will have to try this in the lawn mowers, when we put them up for the winter. Just sprinkle it in the motor compartment?? Every spring...we have to completely take them apart, and clean out the mouse nests. This spring, the darned things even chewed through a gas line in the rideing mower. That was a pain. UGH.

 

[dirtfishing1]

Yes regular black pepper. Works great. Just put it where it can stay dry and it will keep those pests away,rats,mice,squirrels.

It does not seem to bother my cats or chickens.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I'm going out today and look for acouple of the biggest cans of black pepper I can find!.

 

[dirtfishing1]

I would not however put it inside the coup. just around the outside edges and near the doors.

 

[annrich]

They are starting to lay again. It must of been stress from the rat.

 

[firetrie]

Quote:
I would frown on feeding chickens cat food for the simple fact that 99% of cat food has poultry in it... I don't like feeding chickens chicken..... The whole cannibal thing....

 

[annrich]

Ewwww! We got a dead rat. Thats just yucky yucky yucky. I have a rodent fear. I am such a girl. If I knew rats came along with chickens I would probably never have got any.

 

[Alleyoops25]

I have no Rat problem, or any other little egg thieves. But all the years I was growing up. And the last four years with chickens I have come to expect little or no eggs this time of year. It gets dark earlier, and the chickens dont like the cold. This year I am going to put in a heat lamp in the coops. It will help with keeping them warm, and I heard it is the trick to getting them laying again. I have also heard of putting Chayenne pepper in there water. One of my friends swears by it. The Rat is a good culprit but I think you are dealing with more than just rodents.