Agri Vehicles Insurance from Greenlands

Author Topic: URGENT - rats and chicks  (Read 1933 times)

shrekfeet

  • Joined Sep 2008
URGENT - rats and chicks
« on: November 17, 2009, 11:55:59 am »
Will rats take 2 week old hen chicks? I had 14 until yesterday when I had 13 and today I counted 12. Bugger! No sign of any carcass and they do stay with the mother hen but I guess she would not be able to protect them in the middle of the night. I don't want to end up with 11 tomorrow so need to act today - what can I do?

dixie

  • Joined Mar 2009
Re: URGENT - rats and chicks
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2009, 01:45:57 pm »
Yes and so will magpies if they can get in! I use a rabbit run for the first few weeks as I lost 4 out of 6 to magpies!

CameronS

  • Joined Aug 2009
  • North East Fife
Re: URGENT - rats and chicks
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2009, 07:36:53 pm »
Yes rats will certainly take chickies, i lost two out of 4 in one night right out from under the mother bird, we now use a rabbit hutch to keep them in solong as the mesh is the small strong square type,

good luck with the rest
Cameron

Roxy

  • Joined May 2009
  • Peak District
    • festivalcarriages.co.uk
Re: URGENT - rats and chicks
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2009, 10:55:26 pm »
Never lost chicks to rats, but they took some ducklings once.  We always keep our chicks in a raised up rabbit hutch, or plastic barrel covered in mesh, to stop them.

 

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