| Author |
Message |
summayah
Joined: 14 Apr 2005
Posts: 4289
Location: luton
|
 Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:02 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
By the time you see a rat, it usually means you have a few of them. If you're going to spread the food around for the girls, as obviously they prefer it that way, then I think I might be inclined to also be leaving rat poison in selected places as well. I know normally you're supposed to make sure there is no other food source available, but you never know you might get lucky and the rat go for the poison as opposed to the food.
My girls were forever scratching the pellets out of their feeder. I got a different one, that you can close down further and it seemed to make a difference. Next time, I'm going to work on getting one hanging from something so they can't get their feet in the food at all. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Alfietinker
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 82
Location: Southminster, Essex
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Mmmmm - good point - something to think about - thanks  Wouldn't leaving poison outside about be a risk to wild birds though? My brother had mice and the poison he used looked just like bird seed 
We've made the coop and run as rat proof as we can - there are no openings larger than 25 x 10mm which we hope they couldn't actually get through - not sure about mice though. Paved base, 2 courses of brick, solid roof....They'll still find a way I'm sure 
Perhaps I'll have a rethink with the food. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Lisa
Joined: 14 Apr 2005
Posts: 3237
Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Alfietinker wrote: | | I did try putting 3 plates of pellets around but they seemed to prefer throwing the plates away and eating from the floor |
If you'd rather they didn't eat so much off the floor, have you tried raising any extra plates / bowls / feeders? I found when I put anything down on the floor they always managed to kick it over But if I raised it up, it really helped. I use either an upturned (heavy) flower pot, or a couple of layers of bricks - did the trick for me.
Light things got knocked over more too - plastic tubs never stayed the right way up, but now I've got a couple of those brown ceramic dog bowls and they've never knocked them over (... famous last words  )
And whatever food and water bowls I put out, I always bring in at the end of the day.
Last edited by Lisa on Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
summayah
Joined: 14 Apr 2005
Posts: 4289
Location: luton
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I read somewhere that rats like to feel something on their backs, hence not having the coup just a couple of inches off the floor. So it's recommended to put it under upturned gutters. The one I used was Eradirat and that's blue sort of pellets. It apparently dries the rodent out so there wont be any nasty smells hiding anywhere. I believe Fenwoman uses something else which has a baitbox.
It was just a thought as to what could possibly happen. I believe rats dig holes in the soil too. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Alfietinker
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 82
Location: Southminster, Essex
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
[quote="Lisa"] | Alfietinker wrote: | | But if I raised it up, it really helped. I use either an upturned (heavy) flower pot, or a couple of layers of bricks - did the trick for me. |
Hee hee - all the plates were on bricks but still got flipped. I think I need something heavier. They haven't managed to spill the water yet.
I'll have a survey tonight and may change tack.
Got to go now - boss beckons  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mojo
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 10986
Location: GLENAY north deux sevre FRANCE
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| a quick rat trap is a piece of plastic drainpipe about a yard long put bait/rat poisin in the middle lay along a wall.......replace bait every two days |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Register
Log in
