Will rats be a problem?

[mallorysinclair]

I have five chicks in the brooder right now (first time with birds of any kind) and just heard that rats are the unspoken accompaniment to chickens. Specifically, a tv-news interview with a college professor commenting on the trend of BYCs. "What no one mentions," he said "Is that if you keep chickens, you will have rats too. Lots and lots of rats." Overall the interview wasn't negative, and the professor keeps chickens himself. It seemed more like a "buyer beware" type of warning. Is this true? I live in a suburban area and can't imagine my neighbors (or family) reacting kindly to a rat infestation.

 

[Balbinka]

Quote:
Keep the feed tightly locked up and make sure rats cannot get into your coop.
Hang or place the feeder and waterers so that the chickens won't scratch it onto the ground outside of the coop where the rats can eat it.

Basically, if the rats cannot get food or water, they will leave your property and your chickens alone because they'll have no reason to be there!
When your chickens are older, they might kill and eat any rats that invade their coop.

 

[Chick Charm]

In all my years of raising chickens we have never had a rat. We would get mice in the hay storage in the barn once in a while but never rats. The cats and the chickens would take care of eating the mice. However in many areas rats can be a realistic problem. Do not leave food out for the rats and same goes for water. If you Coop/run has 1/2'' hardware cloth that pretty much solves the problem as long as ALL areas of access are secured.

 

[Chick Charm]

If rats do become a problem, don't poison and then have the chickens eat the rats. It will kill the chickens. Shoot em with a pellet gun instead or whatever your pleasure.