[deepinthewoods]

result!

[harry]

well theyve had a good go at it... so wait and see...... but i think it will be a permenant feature as its all by a tream so always rats about......... would have to trap a live one and feed it to see results and time scale

[deepinthewoods]

cool! put it on youtube!!

[doganjo]

I put the bicarb mixture in two plastic bottles with the tops cut off, right beside a rat hole.  None of it has been touched so either they don't like it or there are none - and I just don't believe that because we are right beside a burn too!  Will have to try soemthing else I reckon.

[SallyintNorth]

I was told that rats have an in-built distrust of the new (there is a technical term but I can't remember it) so that any bait or trap will probably be ignored for more than a week.  Patience, Annie! 

[harry]

mix some feed into it...... mine had been eating feed mixed with proper poison in the hutch for 2 weeks so i put the plaster of paris next to it so they went for it straight away.............same as foxes new stuff no good it has to weather

[tizaala]

If you have an old bag of wall plaster lying about , this works just as well as P of P. stick it in a length of plastic drainpipe against a wall , they love sheltered tunnels. Did get told once that guineafowl were good for killing rats, I don't think I've ever seen proof of this.

[deepinthewoods]

and the wall plaster would get really hot as well! burnt and constipated all at the same time.

[Maggie]

Thanks for this one.......I'm off to try the recipe myself, having noticed rats in the barn near the feed bins.  They give me the willies. 

[harry]

it would have to be old plaster as new stuff would take a while to go hard if at all... p/paris is about 15 mins... old plaster probably about the same

[harry]

had new info..... must not use layers mash etc as it has vitimin k in which helps the rat get over the poison??..but as this isnt poison dont suppose it matters....also was told to use the inside of corn on the cob... either impregnate with sugar...or i suppose you could bung it in the food blender... not poisonous but they cant digest it and it dehydrates them apparently

[calamityjane]

i was told t try sugar beet swells in their tummy don't know if it works tho think i'll try your recipes hopefully it works had 2 guys with ferrets great at catching them someone poisoned the ferrets tho

[doganjo]

My son checked the pop bottles I had laid beside the rat holes and they were empty.  Not seen a rat for ages but it could just be coincidence.

[Plantoid]

Now is the time to get a strong feeding regime going so they get zapped in the hardest months when there is little else to eat and reproduction is at its lowest rate of success .

 This plaster of Paris and Bicarb  idea kind of amuses me ..
I've seen it on the likes of " Yahoo answers and Wikki squeaks "  but really..if it were that effective and cost effective the big boys would have been advocating it years ago . so would have farmers ,grannies and granddads all over the world.

 Think on this ..... rats chew their way through brick walls , wood  ,plastered walls and all sorts of plastics .

 If there is a trace of food stuff or fat on it on it they will swallow it & digest it in their stomach acids .
 Rats cannot be sick  ( Thats why Warfrin etc works so well ) so the stomach acids must be some quality stuff to dissolve what they eat.

They cant usually chew through salt glazed drain pipes but do a nice job of the haunchings & brick work  to get down into the sewers .

 I have numerous friends on another site who are professional pest controlers ..fully registered and licenced in the arts of terminalting our friend ratty etc.
I'll ask them for advice and permission to put their  replies here .

[SteveHants]

If you have a place where you can't use poisons for whatever reason, try fenn traps, I've caught loads of rats in them.