[stclair]

we have been keeping hens(two) for several years. About three times each year we discover a rat infestation which we treat accordingly. But our neighbours are complaining that the hens attract the rats. They breed dogs and currently have five or six. Do dogs also attract rats? We are reluctant to fall out with our neighbours but the rats always seem to come from that direction!
We put the food container away at night and do not put loose food into the chicken run. We live in a small town near the New Forest and our garden is about 1/5acre. THe two hens are in  small wire enclosed run.

[muntjac]

i have nearer 80 chucks and keep thousands of pheasants during the breeding season .i find rats as most folks will but they are found everywhere and i wouldnt mind betting that the kennels have rat runs under them .. as did mine .
the chucks are 2 mile away from the dogs at my home next to the fields  and farms .rats will come in from the fields during the cold periods no matter where you are . you are never more than 2 yards from a rat source according to current govt thinking.tell your nieghbours to control them on thier property and you will yours . and if they say we cant do that .. we have dogs .i have 4 dogs and put poisons down in safe places .i had 26 german shepherds at one time and still had rats .the rats stayed after all the dogs left

[Heather_S]

Rats like dog food as much as they like grain.