[Liz M]

Help please
I have Roland, his wife her family and at least 6 children all trying to invade my 12ft sq chicken pen.  I live in the middle of no where, so I suppose you could say they aren't dirty old rats, in fact, I've never seen such healthy specimens.  All the same I want rid, as soon as possible.  Any easy solutions would be much appreciated.  The hens would also be pleased!!

[goosepimple]

Rat poison is expensive but it works, keeping it where your hens can't get it or droppings of it once the rates have run through it is difficult.  You also get extruded compacted poison in little brick forms - the rats try and drag this away and sometimes leave them out so you have to be careful.  Maybe put some down at night if you house/shut your hens in and then remove it in the morning making sure you clean up any crumbs.  You could have them killed in a week if you do this properly.  Sorry rats, I know you're cute and all but...


To keep them away from the pen - they are supposed to hate mint and cloves smells.

[Sylvia]

I put bait in lengths of drain pipe, inaccessable to the birds but does for the rats.

[tobytoby]

Rat trap cages are cheap about £8. Once caught, drop the cage and rat in a trough and come back 5 minutes later and they will be dead. They can hold there breath for 2-3 minutes underwater.

[Liz M]

Thank you - I think poison is the way, I just couldn't drown them. It would be even easier if my Jack Russell lost a bit of weight to get through the gaps. Strangely he finds rabbits and mice easier to catch and to be honest he would much rather have the chickens for dinner!!

[goosepimple]

Yes, I would have a problem with drowning although it is much quicker than poison and you know its dead I suppose.

[chrismahon]

I'd worry about poison being moved into reach of the chickens as rats collect food and move it. If they drop any in your run!?
 
I favour the rat trap. Baited with a slice of sweetcorn on the hook. Or snappers baited wih peanut butter or a rabbit trap baited with apple slices for the really big ones.

[omnipeasant]

We haven't seen a rat or evidence of one since we moved here 8 years ago. There are reident semi feral cats who are good at their job. Yes we lose a few sparrows and squirrels too but I would recomend cats. No poison, no hands on killing.

[Sylvia]

I found a live trap pretty useless. Rats are clever beggars!!

[Liz M]

Interestingly enough, yesterday evening I gave the chickens a treat of sweetcorn as they were looking very miserable in the down pours of rain and flooded run. Just sprinkled it on the ground and as I walked away there was one hell of a scuffle and the chickens went mad.  Turned round to see a small (what must have been inexperienced) rat trying to steal a piece of sweetcorn........... they nearly ate him alive. 
As for a cat to help the situation, I have one but at 14 he just likes to watch them!
Find it is less of a problem if I just give the chickens enough feed regularly and not have any hanging around.
My heart isn't in to killing anything really 

[chrismahon]

The law requires that if you have a rat presence you must have an effective control system in place and operating. Doesn't say how effective it must actually be -they are smart and just won't go into your trap. Hardly your fault is it? So just have a trap handy if anyone calls Liz.

[in the hills]

Corr ... didn't know that chrismahon. 

[Mammyshaz]

A month or so ago I noticed a run from a corner of the hen run to the underside of the coop. We lifted one end to look and were eye to eye with what must have been a genetically modified rat it was so big 
We were still grasping the heavy coop to do anything as it ran out of the run.

Invested in a couple of basic rat traps and placed some mealworm on them ( I had suggested chocolate but decided why waste it if ratty will eat something else  ).

We caught ratty at the entrance of the run on the second night. Looked like it had ran through it's rat made hole straight into the awaiting trap 

Nothing since but have reset a trap a couple of times just in case.

[jaykay]

I use the loose grain poison after my dad had one of his dogs eat the remains of blocks he'd carefully hidden, which the rats moved!

(Dog fine but only after vit K injections from vet)

[plumseverywhere]

The law requires that if you have a rat presence you must have an effective control system in place and operating. Doesn't say how effective it must actually be -they are smart and just won't go into your trap. Hardly your fault is it? So just have a trap handy if anyone calls Liz.

I didn't know that either! Just as well we have Snowball - I can highly recommend Siamese cross's as ratters (unfortunately she does try to 'mother' them sometimes and brings them in - whole and alive     )