The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: Womble on April 27, 2020, 10:26:07 am
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Hi folks,
A family of rats has moved in under our duck house, coinciding with a pair of tawny owls who I think are nesting in our big beech tree.
Ordinarily, I'd hope one might sort the other, but I don't really want to leave that to chance. What it does mean though, is that I don't want to risk putting down poison (unless anybody can tell me where I can buy 1st generation poisons, which are less likely to cause secondary poisoning to owls? I can't find anything anywhere).
Anyway, I have a sheet of 1" weldmesh here, and I was thinking of making a trap similar to the one in the attached picture. From the dimensions given on the picture, I think it's made from a similar mesh (the stuff I have is 12 gauge, i.e. 2.5mm wire). However, the holes look quite big to me, and rodents do have a reputation for squeezing through small gaps.
Before I waste an afternoon cutting up weldmesh, can anybody advise?
Thanks! :thumbsup:
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We have a mink trap and a rabbit trap made of your 25mm material Womble- we've caught rats in them but they were big! Our proper rat trap is 15mm. So you may catch the big ones but I think the smaller ones will squeeze out.
We have never used poison for the same reason. Tried 4" fenn snap traps, which were very effective- until we caught a hedgehog. Never used them again.
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I've always used 1" for rats but yes, I guess the smallest might get out.
Pay attention to weighting / pegging down the trap. Our rats rolled the trap, twice. First roll the food fell out, second roll the trap is out the way. I always imagined them scoffing the bait then dancing around the upturned trap, mocking us...