What am I dealing with here? Update - Hubby poked!

[Noncentzter]

Two rats came running out and? They didn't get far?

 

[Sjisty]

They got away - for now.

Time to set poison. We put it in a long PVC pipe so the chickens can't get at it. So far it has worked for us, but we let our guard down because we hadn't seen any rats/mice in a couple of months.

 

[Chickmate]

I don't know if this is the right place to ask this, but since you're talking about rats, I have a question. I'm new at chickens, infact I don't even have them yet. Just finished a very nice predator proof (I think) coop and covered run. I plan on getting my chickens or chicks in the spring. My question: Do rats automatically come with chickens? I mean, I've never seen one around here, but then I don't have chicken food, corn, hay, etc. for them to get into yet either. When I get my chickens can I expect the rats to come? And BTW, where do they come from??? Please don't anyone tell me mama rats. I am surrounded by woods and live in a rural area. Really, where do they come from? Do they live in the woods until someone gets chickens?

I seriously want to know if I am going to have to deal with them. I do have two cats and three Chinese Crested dogs who were bred for ratting, so that might help.

 

[CMV]

Rats come for the free food. They are living all around us, but don't congregate in any one area long enough for us to notice. Once there is a steady supply of readily available food lying around they start hanging around. It's not just rats, either. Mice, voles, chipmunks, squirrels and skunks all come to join the party, too. Removing feed from runs at night goes a long way toward discouraging these pests from making themselves at home.

 

[sarahsark]

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! They poked your hubby?!

 

[Sjisty]

Quote:
Nope, my big strong hubby got out of their way - he moves pretty fast when he wants to!

 

[geepy]

 

[paddock36]

Quote:
Nope, my big strong hubby got out of their way - he moves pretty fast when he wants to!

What a tuff guy!!

 

[apryl]

Ive got mice in my barn and chicken coop. Im afraid to use decon or something similar because I have cats as well and would hate to have them catch a mouse that ate decon. Is there anything else anyone suggests?

 

[geepy]

I use a rat/mice poison feeder. I got mine from jeffers. The mice can get in to get the poison but the dogs cats and chickens can't get to it.
It works great. Sometimes my cats stop being lazy and catch a mouse.

Maybe I shouldn't feed them.