Hi again from delphinium. Thanks to all who replied to my request for info. (roughly two months ago) on new chooks laying soft shelled eggs. Our girls are now happy, healthy and laying loads of lovely HARD shelled eggs! Hope everyone has had a good growing season - we are sick of beans and courgettes, as is everyone, but rasps. figs, peaches and toms. have all done us proud. Our only concern is a few rats - we've had them for ages, and there have never been enough for us to think anything but live and let live, but this summer we've had more and have - reluctantly - had to put down poison. We think we've got them all, but hope we have not got anything else in the process. We've covered it all adequately and monitored the taking of it, so fingers crossed. This after trying every trap available - the clever @@@@s avoided them all, and we actually got a baby robin in one of them, which made us feel heartsick. We don't want to have to do this again - anyone got any suggestions? If you call in the council, is their poison quicker-acting than that you can buy over the counter?