Best way to control rats

[chickenfan]

Well, it must have been a rat, as Chris suggested, that took my two chicks, as I have now found one in the garden. I've been researching the best way to deal with the problem. Has anyone tried the electronic cages that are supposed to kill rats instantly? I'm slightly worried about using poisons, in case pets or wildlife pick up a dying rat, and which also sound an unpleasant death. What methods do people find best?

 

[chrismahon]

We don't use poisons for exactly that reason Chickenfan. Trouble is if you call pest control all they do is put down poison. When I spoke to them they gave me some meaningless standard blurb. It was such rubbish it went in one ear and straight out of the other!

We use Fenn4 snap traps which come with their own issues. If you don't break your fingers setting them, then you may rarely catch a hedgehog or the rat isn't dead and has to be shot. Humane traps still require you to shoot the rat, but you can let the hedgehogs out. Our rats were so big we used a humane rabbit trap. I have shot them in daylight at feeders and at dusk. Very difficult to shoot at night, even with a laser sight.

These electric traps sound interesting. Someone on another forum asked about them, but so fat no-one has reported using one. What are they like in the rain, or do they have to be inside?

 

[chickenfan]

I've ordered the Proctor Electronic rat trap from Screwfix. It seems that some of them don't work as they make a noise, but this one at least has good reviews. I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[chickenfan]

There's also an outdoor electronic deterrent which emits a noise rodents don't like. I'll try to find out more details.