What should i do?

[Stelliebellie1234]

I have a rat problem in one of my coops and I was wondering, should i move coops? I only have one other coop and it has some pullets in it that are about 2 weeks too young to have grown chickens move in with them. The rat problem is not too bad but the rats are 10-12 inches long. I know that the rats can hurt my chickens but I don't want to move the big girls in with the pullets too soon. Since the big girls are all quite large and grown up, is it worth the risk of putting them in with the pullets?

 

[Mvan42]

How do you feed your chickens in that coop? If there is feed storage in the coop I would move it and feed them only what they will eat in a day. That will help defer the rats. If you can set traps where the chickens can't get to them. It will get worse if you don't do something now.
I personally would get the .22 riffle out and start shooting them.

 

[The Happster]

I personally would get the .22 riffle out and start shooting them.

Lol well that's one way to do it.
I'd get a few dozen cats.... Any excuse to get more pets.
Definitely agree with what you said about the feed. Otherwise it's just giving them a free meal.

 

[Mvan42]

Lol well that's one way to do it.
I'd get a few dozen cats.... Any excuse to get more pets.
Definitely agree with what you said about the feed. Otherwise it's just giving them a free meal.

I already have two cats, just got a new kitten a few weeks ago. Hubby wouldn't like it to well if we had more cats than that.
I would probably get the compound bow out at times too. Great target practice if they would hold still long enough.

 

[Stelliebellie1234]

How do you feed your chickens in that coop? If there is feed storage in the coop I would move it and feed them only what they will eat in a day. That will help defer the rats.

[QUOTE="OneHappyRooster, post: 22832639, member:
Definitely agree with what you said about the feed. Otherwise it's just giving them a free meal.
[/QUOTE] I keep the food in a hanging feeder and one full feeder of feed is easily demolished in one day so I don't have to worry about that

 

[The Happster]

We have one. But he's useless. He catches baby rabbits. The one thing I don't want him to catch. The dog wouldn't be any use either. She's scared of flies. She's also scared of my two-week old chicks. Think she'd have a heart attack if she saw a baby rat coming her way.

 

[Mvan42]

We have one. But he's useless. He catches baby rabbits. The one thing I don't want him to catch. The dog wouldn't be any use either. She's scared of flies. She's also scared of my two-week old chicks. Think she'd have a heart attack if she saw a baby rat coming her way.

I had a cat who was scared of everything. He ran from the chicks in the inside brooder. The kitten on the other hand sleeps by the brooder, tries to "play" with the chicks. I have one chick who runs back on forth across the cage with the kitten its cute.

 

[aart]

I have a rat problem in one of my coops and I was wondering, should i move coops?

The rats will just follow.
Snap traps is what I'd use.

The rat problem is not too bad but the rats are 10-12 inches long.

Including tail?
Might need a live trap.....and gun.