The Poultry Keeper

dj.chapman@hotmail.co.uk · Joined: 20 Jul 2008 Posts: 49 Location: norfolk

i came home yesterday off holiday and found 1 of our porcelain barbu d'uccles face down in a new hole that had turned up under there shed. poor girls head was missing and whatever it was managed to eat some of the breast and all of the guts too. there where a few feathers around so there where signs of a struggle. i cleared it up thinking that she must have been taken after she died. i woke up this morning after checking them all with great detail last night and another 1 has had the same fate. looked as if i had left the one yesterday there. but it was another. i am now getting worried as i have some very rare buff speckled barbu d'uccle, a pair of prize winning rhode island reds and a hand full of xmas turkeys close by. can anyone tell me what it is that is doing this so a can get revenge . i thought it could be a stoat or weasel but is a rat capable of this?

MamaPacker · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 322 Location: Essex UK - Sarfend

If I was you I would put the hens into a container or another shed for a few hours.

Then get inside the shed and line the ground with concrete slabs [about £2 each from B&Q type places] forget about revenge as it just makes you feel like poo holding on to all the anger. Plus whatever did it will have family and they all know about the new 'cafe' serving fresh chicken so you would be forever taking revenge if you know what I mean?

It is HORRID when a life is taken that you are meant to be looking after but in that horridness and sorrow comes learning. The floor of your shed isn't safe for your hens so fixing that will fix the problem.

If you can't afford the slabs then a bag of quick drying self leveling cement is your next best answer... Make sure you create a 'drainage' gulley to one side though to help when cleaning the inside of the shed out! We covered a table leg in cling film and lay it down the side.. then when the cement is dry pull up the chair leg and as much of the cling film as you can and violla! A gulley....

there is probably a MUCH more professional way of doing it!! lol

MamaPacker · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 322 Location: Essex UK - Sarfend

Just had a look at your website.... is your shed off the ground and wood based?

Could you flip it upside down and line the base with chicken wire? But not the flimsy cheap stuff the stuff ... oh I dont know what it's called.. we have it on our coop... its thick square holes arther than flimsy hexagonal ones...

Auntie Noo · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 622 Location: Guildford

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2299 Location: North Cornwall

Were they taken from inside a run or were they free ranging.

I have lost ducks to raptors that do just as you describe,and last week I disturbed a Sparrowhawk with a pigeon and it had done the same. Sometimes they take the head off sometimes they dont, but they all strip the neck and breast, eat some of the breast and take the innards out through the neck hole.

MamaPacker · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 322 Location: Essex UK - Sarfend

dj.chapman@hotmail.co.uk · Joined: 20 Jul 2008 Posts: 49 Location: norfolk

well i moved all the chickens into the dog run for now. had my brother come around with some nerve gas pellets and i took revenge well. i also put about 5kg of poison around the garden and 2 traps. already had 2 rats from the traps alone. 1 was a well pregnant one so probably 10 for the price of 1 he he . thanks to all for the advice though

MamaPacker · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 322 Location: Essex UK - Sarfend

How sad that you had to wipe out a whole colony of rats just because the shed wasn't secure Sad

But I understand your need for a rat free garden...

MaisytheDobe · Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 79

dj.chapman@hotmail.co.uk · Joined: 20 Jul 2008 Posts: 49 Location: norfolk

the shed was secure. all my sheds are on concrete pads, the rats where burrowing under the run. I'm never sad to see a dead rat as there are plenty more. by the way anyone with a rat problem a would strongly recommend fen Mk4 traps had 6 rats last night even after getting them nerve gassed. they wont be getting any more of my chickens.

MamaPacker · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 322 Location: Essex UK - Sarfend

Blackrock · Joined: 24 Sep 2008 Posts: 62 Location: West Berkshire

I say give the rats hell!!! Twisted Evil

We have a bungalow and they managed to get in to our roof last year. I never had much sleep for weeks!! The poison sold in our local shop did nothing. On new years eve they had there own party going in the roof and i think they must have been singing "STAYING ALIVE" by the BeeGee's, done my head in!!!!

I had to call a pest control guy out in the end who told me that the rats in my area are immune to most normal poisons as they have been used by all the local stables for years and the rats had become immune to the stuff.
He put down some other stuff and they were gone in a week.

Elly · Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 356 Location: Norfolk

We have just discovered rats are burrowing under our slabs, trying to get into our coops. Mad

Hubby has put the bait box down but they are just scattering the bait Mad

Off to buy traps tomorrow as I am not risking them setting up home here.

MamaPacker I am a mad animal lover too and have come under fire here in the past for my love of foxes, badgers etc (I love weeds too as they are great tortoise food Laughing

).

However, rats are not native to this country and carry some dreadful diseases. They will walk all over things, spreading disease infected urine about and you'll never know where they have been. To allow them to roam you property is to risk your life and as a Mum I have my childrens lives to think of as well.
Then there is the probability of a visit from the local health and saftey people and a hefty bill when they call in the exterminators Shocked

Keep smilin
Elly

Auntie Noo · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 622 Location: Guildford

Check with your local councils too - some of them offer free services for rats.

Blackrock · Joined: 24 Sep 2008 Posts: 62 Location: West Berkshire

Our council stopped doing it and we now have to pay a specialist to do it. Sad

Cost us £150 last winter.