[Kimbo]

My 11 chicks are now  4 weeks old. They are Laced Wyandottes and Cream Legbars and they are all a  good size and quite well feathered. They are feisty little demons too.
They spent the first 3 weeks indoors. Then the last 8 days in a bigger secure brooder in a stable. They have had their heat on at night but not in the day and all's well. I expected them to stay in that brooder until they were about 6 wks old but they are too big and it was clear that they didn't have enough room as they started to fight a bit.
Are they old enough to go into the stable itself? We have sectioned off an area about 12ft by 4ft for them. Its a concrete floor with shavings on top but I cant be certain that its rat proof as our stables are wooden. I haven't seen a rat since November and we have 3 stable cats ( they cant get at the chicks!) but I cant be sure. I can still give them heat. What do you think?

[Eve]

Seen any rat droppings at all? Any gaps?


If not, then it's probably ok. 

[Kimbo]

Hi Eve,
not seen any droppings either ( Im an obsessive rat-spotter as I abs loath them and am quite scared of them too). No gaps in the stable walls either and the floors are sound.
I think I might just have to take the plunge and keep everything crossed 

[doganjo]

I couldn't think how rats were getting in my brick built concrete floored garage till I saw the dogs pointing upwards  - saw one run along the rafters and out under the eaves.

[Q]

This is my mental image.

[doganjo]

Yup, "just like that" 

[benkt]

Can you leave a light on overnight? I've found this quite effective for reducing rat attacks as poultry see poorly in the dark whilst rats see just fine.

[doganjo]

Also move stuff around - rats hate change - that's why you can see 'rat runs' they always go the same way.  It discourages them.

[Stereo]

Plus get them to roost? Rats will be after the food first. Maybe sacrifice some food to them and set some chick proof traps as well?