[daz]

I am wondering the whole time already:

what harm will rats do to my chickens?

Mine are on a large beef farm with copious amount of cattle meal all over the place... and there are rats, always, sometimes more, sometimes less (STORM poison works wonders!!!)... and no way of getting rid of them.

Are they really that bad for the chickens themselves?

they spread diseases and are just plain unpleasant to have around

[Dannii]

Hi!

Thanks for all your responses, I think what I am going to do is buy some rat bait stations and fill them with EradiRat (do you think this stuff is good?) the issue is that they aren't living at my property I think they are just exploring now and then so I can't put the traps to near where they are 'living' as they are only visitors not lodgers, there are far more interesting things at my neighbours houses! I think I will put one on the outside of the chicken enclosure and also under a bush near where I found the dead rat, I'm hoping hte rats will go for the easier option and eat the bait rather than break through the wire into the enclosure!

http://www.pest-control-warehouse.co.uk/rat_bait_box.html

PS off the topic I know but I have found what look like tiny red spiders walking near my windowsills and when u squash them they r bright red....should I be worried!!!!>?!

[blossom1044]

As long as you've got some bait and method of control it will help.  I was told once that yu are never more than 12 ft from a rat, but I'm not sure how true that is.

those tiny red spiders are probably the red spider mite which you get in greenhouses.  From my recent and extensive research it is different to the spider mite found in chicken coups which is dibilitating to the chickens.  I'm no expert.  You can get the killer for the greenhouse red spider mite from the garden centre and I've found Bayers super mite control to be very effective.  I actually found it effective in killing the spider mite in the chicken coup, but my coup was empty of animals as we don't have any until sat.  I'm not sure if I'd use it with them around!  there are loads of posts about this from last week.  I'm sure one of the more experienced members/moderators will help you. (mand put me straight)

[daz]

As long as you've got some bait and method of control it will help.  I was told once that yu are never more than 12 ft from a rat, but I'm not sure how true that is.

quote]

thats probably not far off if you count 12 foot down (sewers)

[blossom1044]

I spoose if you live in town that is the case.  We live in country where they tend to keep away form the house in the day, but pop down the 100 ft garden hedge for a feed at night time to see if any rabbit spoils going!  As she has a tendancy to dig through the shavings in her run and kick it out of the wire!  put kick boards on, but she still mamages to get it over that!  :?   I did wonder if they were nesting in the hedge, but no underground holes yet.

they are devious b##t##ds! :twisted:

[Bodger]

As a pest controller, I once had an hysterical woman ring me up. She'd been sitting on the lavvie when a rat had appeared between her legs. :shock:  :shock:  :shock:  It had left the sewers via the U bend of her toilet. It surely must have cured any constipation that she may have been suffering from at the time.

It reminds me of the very old joke of what do you call a man with a rabbit stuck up his bottom ? Why ? Warren of course ! :oops:

[Porffor]

OMG!! and to think i had nightmares as a child about crocs in the sewers of London.. what will i be like now!

[blossom1044]

I've heard stories like that too.  Actually when I think about it the main sewer runs past the front of our house at 12 ft, so the 12 ft rule is probably true.

yuck

I had nightmares for a week after I saw my first live rat.  It is the only living creature that I have an irrational fear too.

shivering at thought.