[sylvia]

I have 4 ex-batts free-range in the garden.  So now have a rat problem.

I have two questions to put before your collective wisdom

Which rat-proofer feeder is best?  The treadle sort, where it seems only one bird at a time can reach the grain, or the inverted funnel type where they peck a bar.  Surely far too complicated?  Much easier to scratch up the flowerbeds!

Second question on rat poison.  Townex sachets where you don't have to open the sachets (rats chew them) or
Rodex whole wheat which gets a good customer review.

Would be very grateful for advice

[Flowerpower136]

Prefer traps to poison.

Have had good experience with Mark 4 Fenn traps from domestic wildfowl trust, used with specially constructed boxes (from the same place), to avoid any nasty accidents.  Have found that you need to vary the bait though.  Caught a lot last year with peanuts, this year, not interested in peanuts, swapped to corn, and we're catching again.

Also trying Eradibait, a non poisonous bait that messses up rodents digestive systems, but is supposedly safe for everything else.

Can't advise on rat proof feeder, but I make sure and take all food in at night

[grinling]

I hang my feeder up at head height for the bantams, also do this with the water as rats require fresh water. I bought a cage trap, caught the rat, someone else killed it. The chicken run has chicken wire dug into the ground in a L shape. People without that have rats everywhere. Going to wire the compost bins next.
Can you wire the perimeter?

[scrappydoo]

  Hi Sylvia
           Try suspending a tophat feeder off the ground at around chicken head height.

Regards

Steve