rat found!!!!!!!!11

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hi
have found massive rat in the hen house last night!!

what should i do? will they harm the hens, could they catch anything from them?

how would i kill them ir keep them out?

i cannot make the house more secure as it's a very old building and they are coming through the roof.

i'm really worried can you help.
kat
 
A rat is no good,is there no way you can block the holes to stop the rats coming in.
As far as I know,there aren't any diseases your hens would catch,but I'm not 100% sure about that.Also,although rats are not supposed to attack or kill chickens,I wouldn't want them getting close.A young or ill bird could possibly be a target.
 
If I had a rat problem I'd be looking for the holes where they're getting in and set some humane traps to capture and remove them, rather than lay down poison where the hens may get to it. I'd then pop them off with my rifle. Not nice but neither is catching Weil's Disease. It's a quick kill unlike being caught in a trap where they could die slowly and painfully.

I'd also be blocking the holes with cement, wood or whatever I could to minimise access from other rats and also clean the areas where they've been with something like Jeyes or Dettol to get rid of the scent of the rats.

I'd keep the humane rat traps dotted around for any possible future rats.

I keep meaning to buy some but my memory is terrible! I'll get some tomorrow, maybe... :?

Osric
 
The thing is Osric,I doubt that Kat has a gun to shoot them,letting caught rats go is not really an option.
Definitely block their holes,then I would see if a local terrier man that does rat catching could come round and kill them.Ratting terriers are very good,as well as quick and painless.
Also,do clean the area's that they've used,I would opt for dettol.
Weil's disease is transmissable to people,it is where rats have contaminated a water supply by urinating in the water.It is also a notifiable disease to the local health authority.
 
I'd put traps down (giant mouse type ones are good I've found) in places chickens won't be walking in there and also poison up in the roof if it can't fall down into the hen house.

If they are coming in the roof you need to work out where they are going to from there. Are they nesting at ground level or in the roof somewhere. Dependant on where they are will affect how good a terrier may be at catching them. If they are at ground level you can also smoke them out and have terriers to finish them off with. You use an adapted chain saw and the exhaust fumes from it are piped into the rat tunnels. This smokes them out, they can be a bit groggy and slower and dogs can catch them.

I'd suggest doing a number of things to deter them coming in. If you have any food or water in the hen house or run remove it every night as soon as the hens roost. Make sure there is nothing for them to eat in the hen house. Rats won't really try to tackle a large hen but a young chick or bantam its possible. If your hens have perches up higher it will help.
 
Rats are bad news and yes, they can carry disease in to the flock as well as take eggs, chicks and even chew chickens feet at night on the perch...

There are obviously a number of ways to get rid of them but I would think about an attack on multiple fronts so to speak - a few rats now can be a serious infestation in 6 months. I would be setting traps, putting poison down and anything else you can do..

They say a pair of rats can have 1000 decendents in just a year (in the right conditions of course).

There's a little information on Rats with Chickens here.

Good Luck.
 
If you don't have a rifle or don't want to pop them off yourself there's always people looking for places to shoot. The offer of a few eggs in exchange always goes down well. If they're becoming a problem I can come down and see if there's any to pop off, you're just down the road from me. I can tie in a visit with my next trip to the Army surplus store in Darlo if it's any help. Any excuse to buy something green to stick in my land rover!

Osric
 
Found a rat in my hen house just before Christmas so i popped to B &Q and bought 3 rat traps for £4 each that looks like a big mouse trap. First night I caught a pair of large rats and have had none since. Blocked the holes up with bits of stone. The rats got in by biting through the chicken wire laid on the floor so they are quite tough!

You do have to be very careful when setting these traps not to get your fingers in the way as they are powerful. Release any that have not gone off with a big stick.

I didn't want to use poison as I also have other inquisitive pets and there is no way of stopping the rats going into the garden.

Hope this helps
 
i had a rat problem in 2008 they got into my aviary and killed a pair of kakariki's leaving babies in the nest . i prefer traps as you know you have got them I used couple of traps called big cheese. you don't get your fingers as you set them by pinching one end like a big bulldog clip and when they go off mr rat is dead. I got 4 rats and 1 mouse with them and have seen no signs of anything since. personally I dont like poison as unless you find a body you don't really know if you have got them(and i'm a bit soft and don't like to think of them suffering :oops: )
 
What do you all use as bait for your traps. Have caught mice with chocolate in the past but not sure what to lure rats with. Any advice.
 
I used choc for the rats too. seemed to work well, they have a very sweet tooth
 
I use tuna in the traps... works a treat for the rats around here - but I think Chocolate would work well too - you can try a couple of different things.

Oh and I set my traps with gloves on to avoid transferring scent.
 
I think I'm going to come round and visit all of you,just to have a munch on what is in your rat traps :lol: .
 
ha ha just mind your fingers. mouse traps aren't to bad but rat traps will hurt like hell if they get you ( trust me I know this :o ) it's really not worth it for a little square of choc lol :lol: :lol:
 
Aah,I've set rat traps before,and broken a finger getting it snapped shut in one.I can safely remove choc and tuna-no worries!!!!!!
 
That's it,I'm coming round to eat from your rat traps.......it is crunchy peanut butter isn't is Ros :D .
 
Hi,
i use mk 4 fenn traps(forget humane traps,these are disease ridden rats we are talking about) concealed in wooden tunnels around my chicken house.
Much better than the weak rat traps you can buy.
The rats will follow a set path along a wall/fence or other object so set your tunnel along their route.
Set the Fenn trap inside the tunnel, slightly buried so as the rat runs through the tunnel & sets the trap off.
No need for bait, just make sure the traps are not contaminated with human scent, bury them in the garden for a week or two or just leave them out in the weather for a week or two.
Use rubber gloves when setting them & MIND YOUR FINGERS!!!!
Cheers,
Terry.
 
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