[Chookiechook]

 :blink:

Peoples opinions on what is best to use please

I have got to do something about the rats at the yard where the silkies are kept

I have put down some of the traps and they ignore them..... I have now put down something I got in Wilkinsons.... Blue block type bait which hopefull will start to kick in soon.

But is there anything considered to be very effective??

[Sassy]

Sorry I am not in a position to recommend a good brand. I know that if you spoke to 20 farmers you would get 20 different answers. Most good brands are probably about as good as each other.

If you use a professional they can use much stronger poisons, thereby getting a quicker result. The ones you use the rats have to eat quite a lot before they become effective. Good luck

[compostqueen]

If you have a rat problem you ought to call in the council rat man as I think infestations are supposed to be reported.  I had rats at my home on the day we moved in, they were playing on the lawn     My husband borrowed an air rifle and spent the evening shooting the darn things. I rang the council and he came out four times to get rid of the stragglers. I was glad I called them in as you can't cope with rats all over the place esp with chickens

[neil9797]

I think the best ones are the little lead pellets you dispense from a special gun thingy...

[Caralou]

I'll lend you my semi-feral Rufus  Expert ratter, just requires biscuits once a day and if you make sure you don't touch him, but talk to him about what a good boy he is when he brings them to you he keeps going until they are all gone

[Chookiechook]

Ha ha..... I have two supposed ratters.... miniature schnauzers!!!  They were bred for vermin control..... but they are pants

We also have a farm cat, but its great at catching anything but rats!!  Robins, ickle mice, shrews etc are all a gonner.... but rats... oh dahling.... no!!

I dont think I need to report it as its on a farm, I cant think of any farm that hasnt got rats.....  there were rats there long before me I just want the problem sorted in my chickens area (which I know isnt possible..) and if I can kill those rats, then hopefully the problem will be smaller

I did have a report from one of the liveries today that there was a dead rat in her stable....  :blink: so perhaps its started working already

[Sassy]

If you are in countryside on a farm I would ask around, there is usually someone with ratting terriers that is only too happy to come and help.

[wyandotty]

Contact the local Hunt, they have terrier guys who will sort the problem out for you.

[Flowerpower136]

I'm having rat problems too.

We've 2 young rats that are using the girls run as a play pen.  At the moment they are too small to set off the Fenn traps, so I'm using Eradibait.  Have just ordered another tub.

If that fails, then it will  have to be the council rat man.  But I know I'll just get told it's my own fault for having chickens, so that's a last resort!

Brother in Law has offered to lend me an air rifle, but I'm a bit uncertain about using it so close to the girls.  Can pellets ricochet?

[Chookiechook]

Dont try to shoot them near the chooks   Airgun pellets do indeed richochet or however you spell it

[Caralou]

I've had a word with Rufus and he is happy to come and stay with anyone who wants him to help with their rats  Mainly because the little terror woke we at 5 am as he had crawled into the draw under the bed before I went to bed and somehow got himself stuck in there - I was terrified as I couldnt work out what the heck was going on 

[Chookiechook]

Stick him a box and send him down....  dont forget to put the fragile tape on and a couple of holes in the box

[Caralou]

Happily if he terrifies me in the night like that again (we've had a series of break-ins in the street and living alone it really had me shaking!) 

I agree entirely on the ricochet from pellet guns - just not worth the risk so close to chooks.

Hopefully a different poison will work for you 

[Chookiechook]

Hopefully its sorted a bit for now.... since I cleaned it all out there have been no fresh droppings and no bait taken   I have also hung the feeder, but assume a rat could still jump up if he wanted to

They have either died.... Yay..... or moved into one of the liveries quarters and is eating their horse feed

Anyway, as long as they are not in with my ickle chickles I am happy

[grumpydad]

screwfix do a battery powered electric rat killer, no poison required, just a bit of bait to get the rat into the machine, and ZAP, dead rat