[sausagesandcash]

Just noticed a rat near the pig trough tonight. previously we have only had mice around the house, and over here they say, where you have mice you don't have rats...any ideas. Are pigs not quick enough to catch and eat the buggers? Should I be concerned and maybe lay out poison in metal pipes?  All advice on this simple matter welcome. I have four small kids around so I am a little concerned, that being said we live in a rural area so I know that the little rat buggers are around, I've just never seen one in 5 years.

Morgan

[carl]

if you have animal feed about, sooner or later you will have rats. Try to find the place where they are nesting and put rat bait into the nest. pipes are also good. terriers and cats are best. I hate it when you see evidence of rats, time for warfare.

[sausagesandcash]

I read in a chicken forum, that as the rats were comfortable eating from the trough and felt secure, to put the animals in a different enclosure and put the poison in the trough. It was then recommended that the trough be thoroughly washed out before re-use.....i'm afraid that some residue will remain and poison the pig though. What ya'll think?

Morgan

[gavo]

Morgan,

Our cats sort out the problem for us. Make sure though that where you store your feed in rat proof. An old blue molasses barrel would suffice.


Cheers

Gavin

[Hilarysmum]

On another forum there was something about having to keep a poisons book  is that correct?

[sausagesandcash]

Gavin, All the unused feed is in a vermin proof container. The rat(s) seem to be helping themselves to anything the pigs don't eat....any further suggestions?

Regards,

Morgan

[carl]

Trap em, shoot em, poison em.
feed the pigs a little at a time so none is left for rats?
get a terrier or a cat.
find the nest and put a hose pipe down and wash them away.
there is a glue based  method where you put bait in the centre of a sheet of card with glue all the way round so their little feet get stuck.
I'll have to stop now I sound like a nutter. sorry.
don't like rats.

[sausagesandcash]

U don't like them!! I despise them, the dirty little bags of infected wee  . Seriously, don't mind the mice but rats .... vile creatures. Anyone got the number of the pied piper? (and you thought you sounded like a nutter Carl!  )

Morgan   

[BillyBerridge]

We had a bit of a rat problem not long ago, they were attacking the feed bins and picking up the spilt feed.

We invested in some profesional trap's, we found them on e-bay and they were highly effective. We caught 4 Adult rats in a week then we left an open feed bin out with a little feed in the bottom, and caught the young. Never had a problem after that.

Your proberly wondering what we did with the young... piece of 4x2 timber job done!

Personaly i wouldnt use poison, it's not worth the risk of it getting eaten by one of your own animals or some other poor wildlife. Trapping in my eyes is also far more humane, quick and clean, poison on the other hand is a long drawn out no doubt painful death, nothing deserves that.

BB

[gavo]

Morgan,

Either your piggies are getting too much - ideally breakfast should be over within 20 mins or they don't like something in it. I wouldn't be keen on poisoning the rats. Pigs are natural omnivores so should a piece of dead poisoned rat get near them they could well eat it.

Cheers

Gavin

[sausagesandcash]

Rat traps for me so ...... Thank god for latex gloves!

Thanks fpr all the advice guys

Morgan

[sausagesandcash]

The bait has been laid, and the traps have been set.....I call it farmers fishing! All kills will be notified. I can feel the bloodlust rising!! 

Morgan

[DavidnChris]

We have this problem at home because of feeding birds. I know don't start me, Christine insists on giving them too much.
I've found we have a run of seeing them and then nothing for a while. We poison, shoot (air rifle) and trap.
There is one trap that's supposed to catch the whole family, didn't work for me though, just got two single ones. Other traps not up to much, shooting is the best result for me.
Use all methods you can think of. Rats are expert climbers and very intelligent, understand your prey.

[sausagesandcash]

Rats are expert climbers and very intelligent, understand your prey.

Buggers must be smarter than me....four traps....and not one rat, yet! 
Morgan

[Hilarysmum]

I went to check the coypu traps.  No coypu just 2 rats.