Update on the rat situation

[Bryce Thomas]

So I discovered that there were 2 rats not 1 and I have 2 treadle feeders so they are not getting into the feed, I have a box with a bunch of cardboard crap in it so crickets and breed and then the chickens eat the crickets at dawn and dusk and have a good time with it. Im thinking it might have to do something with the waterers. Any ideas on what to do now?

 

[Callender Girl]

Did you kill the rats you found? Rats are so smart that survivors will return for whatever attracted them in the first place.

And, sadly, if it appears you had two, you likely have more. At one point, a couple of winters ago, it reminded me of the arcade Whack-A-Mole game, because as soon as I dealt with one, another would pop up out of a tunnel elsewhere.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Can you put the waterers away at night? I don't know what kind of waterers you have, though. I use 3 different waterers: a hanging bucket with vertical nipples, a gravity-fed type waterer, and 2.5 gallon buckets (for my ducks). I raise up the bucket at night, empty put the gravity-fed one in the coop, and leave the buckets. I leave the buckets because the rats often drown themselves in them because they can get it, but they can't get out.

 

[The Moonshiner]

@Al Gerhart do you make a treadle water?

 

[Bryce Thomas]

Did you kill the rats you found? Rats are so smart that survivors will return for whatever attracted them in the first place.

And, sadly, if it appears you had two, you likely have more. At one point, a couple of winters ago, it reminded me of the arcade Whack-A-Mole game, because as soon as I dealt with one, another would pop up out of a tunnel elsewhere.

I found 4 rats, one was dead, one was in a different location outside the coop and the 2 were inside the coop. I tried to whack the rat outside the coop to death but the sucker ran off

 

[Bryce Thomas]

Can you put the waterers away at night? I don't know what kind of waterers you have, though. I use 3 different waterers: a hanging bucket with vertical nipples, a gravity-fed type waterer, and 2.5 gallon buckets (for my ducks). I raise up the bucket at night, empty put the gravity-fed one in the coop, and leave the buckets. I leave the buckets because the rats often drown themselves in them because they can get it, but they can't get out.

I can try nipple waterers. I already have treadle feeders and it has a cage in it that prevents feed from being pecked out so it has to be the waterer or its just a nice shelter, yesterday I got rid of everything that the rat could love. I saw a rat take a peek into the coop yesterday at 9pm and let me tell you I could tell it was really shocked to see the changes, LOL!

 

[Bryce Thomas]

@Al Gerhart do you make a treadle water?

I know your joking, but will a nipple-waterer do anything? Others have said they are pretty effective. Do you train chickens for nipple waterers?

 

[The Moonshiner]

Oh I wasn't joking.
It's probably safe to say if you're using and/or selling treadle feeders then you think they're an effective method for eliminating a rats food source.
If one would also want to eliminate their water source couple a modified version be made for water?
Idk so I tagged the professor.
I've used nipple waters and idk how you would train them. Mine just picked it up on their own. Some took right to them. Others had to get a bit thirsty first.
Would they be effective? I couldn't see how they would be. They make water nipples for pet rats and water bottles have been used for forever so it's clear they can figure out how to drink from them.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Oh I wasn't joking.
It's probably safe to say if you're using and/or selling treadle feeders then you think they're an effective method for eliminating a rats food source.
If one would also want to eliminate their water source couple a modified version be made for water?
Idk so I tagged the professor.
I've used nipple waters and idk how you would train them. Mine just picked it up on their own. Some took right to them. Others had to get a bit thirsty first.
Would they be effective? I couldn't see how they would be. They make water nipples for pet rats and water bottles have been used for forever so it's clear they can figure out how to drink from them.

I was thinking if the vertical nipples are used high enough up, might be hard for the rats to get to them. But maybe not. Idk. Just brainstorming.

 

[Geena]

Oh I wasn't joking.
It's probably safe to say if you're using and/or selling treadle feeders then you think they're an effective method for eliminating a rats food source.
If one would also want to eliminate their water source couple a modified version be made for water?
Idk so I tagged the professor.
I've used nipple waters and idk how you would train them. Mine just picked it up on their own. Some took right to them. Others had to get a bit thirsty first.
Would they be effective? I couldn't see how they would be. They make water nipples for pet rats and water bottles have been used for forever so it's clear they can figure out how to drink from them.

Yeah, despite some people's claims, treadle feeders do not eliminate rats. They might help to keep one from getting a huge infestation, but rats are not going to just pack up and leave if you get a treadle feeder. They will find something to eat and drink regardless, 'cause that's what rats do. Once they move in the only way to get rid of them is to kill them.

But if you wanted to get fancy, maybe chickens could be taught to use one of these.