Author Topic: Anyone got any idea ? rats !  (Read 5075 times)

AndynJ

  • Joined Sep 2010
  • uk
  • Says it as it is. don't like it don't look
Anyone got any idea ? rats !
« on: October 28, 2013, 08:53:35 pm »
We have had masses of rain I mean loads, I might be wrong but I think 600mm, yesterday proper winds & rain, then today we have found 6 rats all I would guess are 6-18 months old any ideas why ? you can see I think it's to do with the rain but what do you think and if the rain why ?

MAK

  • Joined Nov 2011
  • Middle ish of France
    • Cadeaux de La forge
Re: Anyone got any idea ? rats !
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2013, 09:12:05 pm »
What - drowned rats?
I guess that the storm had some benefits.
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darkbrowneggs

  • Joined Aug 2010
    • The World is My Lobster
Re: Anyone got any idea ? rats !
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2013, 09:34:47 pm »
Yes rats will most certainly move into the dry when the weather gets bad, especially if their burrows etc get flooded. 


When baiting its better to put the bait boxes on the outside of the building where there is evidence of them coming in and - most important of all- keep checking the bait is being taken and keep topping it up till they stop taking   


Not sure about trapping - I have only ever used poison, certainly not nice or kind I know but - needs must I suppose
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john and helen

  • Joined Mar 2013
  • Devon
  • WARNING,,,MAY SAY WHAT HE BELIEVES
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Re: Anyone got any idea ? rats !
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2013, 11:57:56 pm »
ive had Rats run out from under the old chicken shed when the rain was heavy, the odd one or two do get trapped and in some cases drown

smear some peanut butter on a post.... then shoot them when they feed, i set up a dim red light , after a couple of nights they got use to it..i had 14 one night, didn't see many after that..also they hate smoke  :thumbsup:

AndynJ

  • Joined Sep 2010
  • uk
  • Says it as it is. don't like it don't look
Re: Anyone got any idea ? rats !
« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2013, 04:45:30 am »
We have bait boxes, so maybe the got moved on by the rain discovered the bait boxes and hey presto, cool
I buy bait in 10kg buckets we use that much

Hamish Crofter

  • Joined Jun 2013
  • Isle of Skye
Re: Anyone got any idea ? rats !
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2013, 05:10:04 am »
Baiting is always preferable to traps with rats as they are neophobic which basically means they have an aversion to anything new or out of place( such as a trap appearing) they will fall prey to traps but generally only if they are very hungry or the trap has been in situ sometime. Bait is preferable but has some downsides, for example the buggers tend to finally succumb to it and die in often inaccessible places and then you get the smell as they decompose.
Put lots of bait points down, check it daily and most important look for fresh droppings as a clue to entry and exit points to buildings. These points can be temporarily blocked using wire wool then something more solid like cement.

devonlad

  • Joined Nov 2012
  • Nr Crediton in Devon
Re: Anyone got any idea ? rats !
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2013, 12:39:54 pm »
we had our first rat problem this time last year- almost overnight, tunnels appeared leading under the chicken run wire from our potting shed on the other side. we began bringing the feeders in every night to remove temptation and baited the tunnels- seemed to stop it pretty quickly though i'm sure they'll be back some day

Bramblecot

  • Joined Jul 2008
Re: Anyone got any idea ? rats !
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2013, 06:31:46 pm »
You need our Big Mac :cat: :cat: .  Gentle as a lamb with us, sleeps in various outbuildings, not a lot gets past him ;) .  Worth his weight in gold.
Back on topic - flooded runs I guess.

thenovice

  • Joined Oct 2011
Re: Anyone got any idea ? rats !
« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2013, 08:26:54 pm »
I don't agree with poison, its a nasty way for  rats to die, and you run the risk of poisoning the other wildlife that eat the bodies. A couple of good ratting terriers and owners soon gets the problem under control, and they will do it for free  :thumbsup:

tizaala

  • Joined Mar 2011
  • Dolau, Llandrindod Wells,Powys
Re: Anyone got any idea ? rats !
« Reply #9 on: October 30, 2013, 08:53:59 pm »
Mix some rolled oats and barley with builders plaster , scrounge some of the lining tubes from bale wrap to use as bait holders,  it sets solid in their guts and does not harm anything that finds the bodies, they are only rats. Disease carrying vermin.


AndynJ

  • Joined Sep 2010
  • uk
  • Says it as it is. don't like it don't look
Re: Anyone got any idea ? rats !
« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2013, 08:11:06 am »
Plaster that's a new one, worth a try as we have just got a kitten wouldn't want her to find the poison

thenovice

  • Joined Oct 2011
Re: Anyone got any idea ? rats !
« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2013, 08:15:20 am »
Rats are vermin I agree, but everything deserves to be dispatched humanely. Foxes, rabbits and feral cats need control too!

 

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