The Poultry Keeper

Clucky · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2182 Location: Shropshire

Well I thought I just had mice digging runs into the chicken run, cos I know there are mice in the garden, but last night at dusk I saw a rat run along a neighbours 6 ft fence...it wasn't a squirrel Evil or Very Mad

I like mice but rats make me shudder...no offence to any pet owners of rats Smile

I won't have an opportunity until the weekend to sort the problem out, but if a rat/mouse takes bait, whats to say that they don't manage to get back into the run before they die, or die in the run and the chickens peck at them.....gross as it seems and probably a dumb question

OH is desperate to get the rifle out (boys and toys), I am loath to put poison down cos of my dogs and other wildlife. Either way they are coming from underneath the shed which is up on blocks just high enough for them but nothing else (blame the previous owner Rolling Eyes

) or they have a little route along the back of the run between the run and the fence.

The chicken food is lifted every night, no waste food left down that I can see and all food bags are kept in sealed box plastic containers

I have read a lot of threads on this, but my concern is for the chickens to peck at the dying rat/mouse

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2074 Location: North Cornwall

I think its going to be a bad rat year. I've caught 5 this week.

mojo · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:36 pm Post subject:

my chicks will eat a mouse but walk round a rat......but bait in live traps is possible the best way of getting rid of them without them lying about

El Pollo Diablo · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 3:16 pm Post subject:

Not speaking from experience but previous questions I have asked about rats people recommend Eradirat (or Eradimouse) which isn't poisonous to anything but rodents so the chickens would be OK if they peck at a dead one. I was more worried about my cat who will hoover up any corpses he finds.

I'm trying to think of ratty problems too - (cross ref. Egg eating post) haven't put anything down yet but they are bound to be around with the messy eating habits of my hens who throw food all over the place. I have just had two free bales of straw kindly delivered into my shed by a friend - are these going to just be huge rat magnets in my shed?

ashley.crowther · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 367 Location: Shropshire, UK

Try some washing powder mixed in with corn.

mojo · Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:59 pm Post subject:

aint that toxic to chooks? if not is it toxic to rats........and do they foam at the mouth?

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

ashley.crowther · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 367 Location: Shropshire, UK

It makes the rats implode, and doesn't hurt cats, dogs etc. You'll have to keep it out of the way of the chooks though...

mojo · Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:59 am Post subject:

what i want is a normal household substance that will kill rats stone dead but not affect my chooks

ashley.crowther · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 367 Location: Shropshire, UK

I put it in an old drain-pipe, it's big enough for the rats, but too small for chooks.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3022 Location: Monmouthshire

I use rat boxes and change the bait every now and then - that way they don't become immune to whatever I use. They crawl away to die, under something or down their holes. I have never had a chicken, cat or dog touch a poisoned rodent, and suspect they smell wrong. However, I did have a chick disaster one year when a mouse in the early stages of poisoning, left droppings in the shed which the chicks, being curious, ate. I hadn't though the mice could get into the shed (which is no longer used for young stock).

Clucky · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2182 Location: Shropshire

We're going shopping tomorrow for bits and pieces Twisted Evil

rubychik · Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:34 pm Post subject:

Clucky · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2182 Location: Shropshire

Well I did think about buying some Grim Reaper clothing to prepare for the massacre of the rats and mice, but then thought....nah poison and a trap will just as well Laughing

Sorry to disappoint Rubychik, no visits to Wernlas this weekend

rubychik · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:34 am Post subject: