Just need a bit of advice have had chickens for about 5 years, never had a problem with rats, on Friday when I went to feed them, there were signs that a rat had been trying to dig under the run. We went out got traps and poison. Saturday the trap had been dragged under the fence, more sign of digging, Sunday no sign at all but we had loads of rain. Monday tea time whilst doing dinner saw Roland rat run across the garden up to the shed looking for a way in. I let the dogs out and it was behind the greenhouse, my husband managed to poke it with a garden cane, but it ran off through the neighbours garden.
Today whilst in the kitchen Roland was back trying to dig under the chicken run, I sneaked out with two of the dogs, after 2 or 3 min they flushed him out and he was a gonna.
There is a lot of building work going on up the road, where some out buildings have been knocked down, do you think this was a loan rat looking for food or if he has brought the family. We have checked the garden and can't find anywhere they could be living, and always thought we never had a problem previous due to the fact we have 4 jack Russell's, and this has always put them off. I was quite surprised to see it out at daytime to. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated