[Catsmuvva]

After letting the chickens out into the garden, I decided to get started on a deep clean. I removed the nest box floor, only to see freshly dug earth, so I removed the slatted floor of the hen house to discover that the ground had been dug at both ends by the legs, where I assume a tunnel has been excavated. On the ground under the floor is a neat little nest, approx. 5" across, and the floor is littered with empty snail shells, and the stripped corn cobs that, over the course of a few weeks, had been put into the enclosure for Epic & his girls. Obviously, I have some investigating to do, but has anyone found a similar scenario, or are you able to recognise the signs and know who might be the culprit? The floor of the hen house is about 4" about ground level. Thank you.

[Springlands]

It is most probably a rat's nest - they would eat snails and corn - in fact they will eat anything. You will need to see if you can block their entry to the run. The other important thing is to remove any food source, such as half eaten corn cobs, at night so that there is nothing for the rats. Also if you can remove their feeders at night or use rat proof treadles.

[Kevin67]

Is it feasible to put a solid perimeter, say of, wood planks, to form a physical barrier. You can the run traps along the wood to catch the rats, who will be used to trying to get to their nest.

Good luck in getting rid of your unwanted lodgers.

[Catsmuvva]

The choox had finished the corn, they were suspended for the birds, but I took each empty cob off in order to replace it. Silly me, I should've removed them from the run altogether! Their feeder is hung up off the ground, as is their drinker, and the mixed corn I throw in, as an incentive to get them back in their run when I need to go out, is scoffed before anyone else gets a chance to get to it!

[grinling]

and rats love eggs and will even bite chicken legs.
If a rat can get in then so can a fox.
You need to put wire at least a spade depth and width to stop them getting in,or concrete the floor

[Sassy]

The easiest and quickest solution is to buy a length of weld mesh and lay under house if ths fits in with your set up. Action is needed given the disease rats tend to carry

[barley]

we have suffered with rats this year

when we moved the box we found all the signs of a rats nest , there was even the remains of a dead sparrow been consumed ewwwww

we have now filled the gap with gravel and every night after the chooks are in we set a snapper rat trap , and poison bait is kept in nooks and crannies all round my garden and out buildings ( out of reach from dogs chooks and other wildlife ) need less to say we have not seen any more signs of rats but we have killed 7 over the last few months , so please do not think 1 is all you will get