[Mammyshaz]

I found the hens cuddled together at the far end of their run yesterday afternoon and couldn't figure out why except their feeder had been knocked and was at an angle off it's stand. No other sign of anything.
By teatime I fed their mixed corn but they didn't want to go near their house and stretched themselves to eat the corn nearest to them

Thankfully they were in bed at bedtime.

This morning they wouldn't come out of their bed, I stayed and encouraged them but they were terrified of their food and water containers.
I have spent the last hour moving things around a bit in an attempt to make the hens feel safer. Two of the three have finally ate from the feeder, the third grabbed any dropped feed. They have all had a large drink
from the drinker, at last.

Just wondering if the rats we have been trying to trap for the last 2weeks ( living in tunnels from the run ) could have frightened or attacked the hens over the food.
We remove the feeder and drinker every evening to reduce the tem
ptation for rats visiting.
Any ideas or advice please 

[chrismahon]

That's what it sounds like to me Mammyshaz. A large number of  big rats have attacked the chickens whilst feeding and they are now terrified of going near the feeders. Needs urgent attention. Suggest removing the chickens to temporary accommodation and shooting the rats as they emerge to feed and drink. Or putting the feeder and drinker down in the middle of a ring of buried unprotected Fenn traps.

[Mammyshaz]

Thanks chrismahon.

Really didn't want it to be the case 
 We emptied everything out of the run yesterday afternoon and have found one main rat-run in the corner going under the fence and into next doors garage so am trying to catch neighbour about a plan 

We have hedgehogs in the garden so are worried about getting the wrong animal trapped. I only saw a rat once 2weeks agowhen I checked under the henhouse ( which I do routinely), but itvwas huge. I've seen nothing since, just the large tunnel that appears when we fill the last one in. I'm giving up with the traps we place at night in the run as I believe after reading multiple media the rats are too clever for basic traps. 

Wondering if neighbour will let us set up  a fenn in the garage until a rat is caught. He's not a an of hens so will blame them for sure      If it doesnt work soon the only other option I think is a poison box   

At least the hens have settled down now and usingthe feed and drink containers without fear, bless them

Wish our kitten was old enough to tackle the beast 

[jaykay]

I've had to go for poison, I needed to get on top of the problem here, after seeing three rats in the chookyard    - reminds me, it needs topping up.

[northfifeduckling]

maybe a predator bird spooked them when they were eating? Mine have never shown anyfear around their feeders although rats have been around there in previouse years...not seen any yet this winter but they will come....

[Mammyshaz]

They are pretty angry with strange birds, the pheasants have only visited once since the hens arrived and they made such a fuss the pheasants haven't been back. They were huddled in the open roof area rather than the covered area so I think it is moe likely been something that happened undercover thus my asking if a rat could cause such a problem.

  They are fine still but I'm looking into getting rid of the rats.
Informed neighbour who had realised they are in his garage and has set traps.
Ive nad no luck with traps so am looking at the poison option. What poisons do others use?