[ciderman]

   hi all ive got a rat problem  any i dears on how 2 get rid with out killing them  they pass though my allotment 2 get 2  the chickens ever side of me

[8doubles]

Best to have a word with the chicken owners so they can trap them closer to the food source. Rats will always be about chickens or not, one of natures great 'survivors'. The best we can hope to do is keep the numbers down.

[2peasinapod]

not out to upset anyone but why are you not wanting to kill the pesky little blighters?

[Paul Plots]

Get a fox.... I found two dead rats in recent days and I am pretty sure the local fox has had a helping hand in reducing their numbers and size (head missing both times!) 

They are not nice - any safe means of killing them off is a good means!! 

[2peasinapod]

where abouts are you ciderman?

someone close may have a terrier you could let loose on them,  then your not killing them, the the dog is, and if its owt like my buster, well you wont have much trouble for long 

but if you insist on non terminal methods sardines in some sort of trap works well, the little furry feinds love a bit of sardine.
dont use a wooden box for a trap they will eat stright though it.

[Paul Plots]

where abouts are you ciderman?

someone close may have a terrier you could let loose on them,  then your not killing them, the the dog is, and if its owt like my buster, well you wont have much trouble for long 

but if you insist on non terminal methods sardines in some sort of trap works well, the little furry feinds love a bit of sardine.
dont use a wooden box for a trap they will eat stright though it.

That sounds fine to me but once trapped what the heck would anyone do with them? 

Not sure the pet shop would be interested and I certainly wouldn't want someone to bring them my way.. 

[doubledug]

 I use chocolate they seem to love it so i melt a bit onto the plate of a fen trap, a bit like the last request .... Death by chocolate, is there a better way to go

[joyfull]

Once you have caught a rat in a humane trap I think it is illegal to release it in any other area (part of the wildlife act), so best get something to kill it in the first place - poison, dog, electic trap (electricutes them and kills them instantly) or shot gun 

[Paul Plots]

Hand-grenades seem be off the list.... 

    

[joyfull]

Hand-grenades seem be off the list.... 

    

No, I'm saving them for any foxes that dare to venture near my chooks 

[2peasinapod]

- poison, dog, electic trap (electricutes them and kills them instantly) or shot gun 

Air rifle is quite adequate if you dont have a Buster
but both methods work well.

mark.

[AndyRVTR]

Agree with 2Peas... get an air rifle and shoot them...

[Yorkie]

Unless you have specific permission from the landowner to use an air rifle on the allotments, I would refrain.  You could get into trouble - better safe than sorry.

[Paul Plots]

Hand-grenades seem be off the list.... 

    

No, I'm saving them for any foxes that dare to venture near my chooks 

I think there are quite a few foxes wandering around our allotments - 2 dead rats suits me and one fox has kindly dug over my compost heap! 

[Paul Plots]

Years ago my son arrived home with a BB gun (not sure if the name is right) - it fires small plastic pellets. (Totally useless for rats - they'd bounce off!).

Having locked the gun in a filing cabinet I found it the other day and was really disappointed to find that its range was so short. 

I had hoped to irritate the seagulls attempting to nest on our flat roof extension 2 storeys up. 

I was pretty sure the pellets wouldn't actually hurt the gulls but I thought they might decide it was too close for comfort. Instead of that they didn't even notice!