What to do about this small area where a rat is getting in?

[citychicks99]

I just saw this tonight when I looked through the window... We made two coops, one for our smaller hen who was getting pecked on. I used what we had, which were these garden gates, but I lined the floor with hardware cloth, and they don't work together very well. That's why there's a small opening for rats to climb through and get to the feed.

We do own a metal step feeder that seems to be very effective. But our hen weighs 2-3 pounds and isn't able to put enough weight herself to get access to it.

I'm considering throwing down a pile of river rocks in that small gap and sealing the top up with hardware cloth. I have a feeling they'll still find a way in. Any ideas on what to do? I tried putting a motion sensor LED light above the run area but it doesn't seem to do anything. I think it did make them come out earlier though, which is how I spotted them.

 

[cavemanrich]

Rats will not be able to chew thru Hardware clothe. I would first try to trap the rat. More difficult than said.
Securing your area is number one solution.
They would find it difficult to get thru a cavity filled with rocks, and sealed with HC to keep the stones in place.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[citychicks99]

Rats will not be able to chew thru Hardware clothe. I would first try to trap the rat. More difficult than said.
Securing your area is number one solution.
They would find it difficult to get thru a cavity filled with rocks, and sealed with HC to keep the stones in place.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Yes, very difficult! This humane rat trap worked at first (https://a.co/d/7xh0zZp) but after a few times the rats figured it out and no one would fall for it anymore. I've tried the buckets too but I've been killing more birds than rats so I don't want to use those traps anymore.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Okay, most treadle feeders should be able to be adjusted to allow a two to three pound hen to use the feeder. It would be a given that it would be less rodent resistant but rats don't need much door resistance to work.

Could you post a picture of the feeder so we can see if it is possible to adjust? Does it have a spring loaded door with a spring that can be adjusted?

It will be a lot easier to fix the feeder than to block out the rat.

 

[citychicks99]

Okay, most treadle feeders should be able to be adjusted to allow a two to three pound hen to use the feeder. It would be a given that it would be less rodent resistant but rats don't need much door resistance to work.

Could you post a picture of the feeder so we can see if it is possible to adjust? Does it have a spring loaded door with a spring that can be adjusted?

It will be a lot easier to fix the feeder than to block out the rat.

Hi Al,
I actually bought your feeder. It's the one in your avatar, or the option that's a little bigger.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Great, it can be adjusted then.
Please post some pictures of how you have it set up with one close up of the door crank/spring area if it is an older feeder. And, what year did you purchase the feeder? That will give me some idea of how to reduce the spring pressure.

Easy to adjust. You might need to fashion a duck step so the small hen can reach the feed.

Working in the shop today, might be an hour getting back to you.

 

[citychicks99]

Great, it can be adjusted then.
Please post some pictures of how you have it set up with one close up of the door crank/spring area if it is an older feeder. And, what year did you purchase the feeder? That will give me some idea of how to reduce the spring pressure.

Easy to adjust. You might need to fashion a duck step so the small hen can reach the feed.

Working in the shop today, might be an hour getting back to you.

Hi Al,
Here are some pictures. Do you need a photo of the spring more close up than these? I bought it in December 2021.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Alright, I cannot see the top of the spring. Make sure it is placed in the hole the furthest to the left side.

But, there is an upgrade, two actually, one is free except for the cost of another spring. You will find the springs at our shopping cart in the repair parts and upgrade section of the shopping cart. All you need is a drill bit and a screwdriver to remove the top front cover.

Note that this is an older upgrade and the reason the holes are spread out in a rough diamond shape is that we use hardened drill bushings in a jig to drill the holes. You can simplify this by drilling the two holes in the door (the pic shows only one side of the door). Insert a spring, pull it up snug, drill a hole maybe 3/8" above where the spring reached, drill another hole another 3/8" higher than the first hole. Do this for four to five holes. Best if you keep the holes fairly straight above the hole in the door so the spring pulls the door up and not to one side. But, with two springs, even springs that pull to one side tend to balance each other.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Here is a video showing how to adjust the springs but remember this upgrade is about two years old. There is an even better way.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Now, the better way. Private messenger me your name and shipping address and I'll send you a link. Since you are an existing customer I can refund the cost of the kit itself, you just pay for three springs ($4.50) and the cost of shipping which is usually around $5.00) but remind me in the order comments that you are a BYC member.

You will drill the two holes in the door as in the diagram above but the adjusting kit replaces the four holes drilled in the top of the feed tray. Infinite adjustment of the springs. Two springs, you can remove the cement counterweight after you have installed the dual springs system.