[themagicaltoad1]

We're having a real rat problem this year. Caught 3 young ones in a trap this past week and the dog caught a big one the week before, but it's the bird table they go for more than the chicken run. They don't even wait until dark, we can be sat in the garden and see one running about. I have put poison boxes down which they don't seem to be touching. They've chewed a hole in the wood at the bottom of the coop which gives them access to the chicken run, so I blocked it off and they just chewed in another place. I don't leave any food out once the girls have gone in but they're obviously picking up the pellets that the girls have scattered in among the bark chippings. Likewise the bird table is empty at night it's the scattered seed they're after. Has anyone else seen an increase in rats this year or is it just us that's suffering?

[BobE]

Stop feeding the birds.
You may have a nest that was using bird seed to feed on.  They can breed at a phenominal rate.  Try to remove all  sources of food.  But I think you will need to continue to trap.  B&Q sell a good one for £5.  But use a set of concrete blocks to stop the dogs getting near it.  The best bait is peanut butter not chocolate by the way.

[Spana]

Yes, we've had a  lot this year, the cat has brought one in this evening and we have a Jack Russell who does the biggies. I've also caught quite a few in a live catch trap. A couple of years ago there were five in the trap together in one night. I bait with whatever they seem to be stealing.  Here they've been taking eggs so I bait the live catch trap with eggs.

They do seem to be hanging around this year longer than normal. By now usually we don't have a problem but as I said one of the cats has had one this evening and I noticed this afternoon a biggy dead in the barn which the dog must have got.

[BobE]

Spana, stop putting bird food out, it is the most common cause of domestic infestation.

[Spana]

We're farmers Bob, its not bird food they come for.

[Sparkyrog]

most of mine come in from the farm I keep bait down permanently 

[BobE]

Ok Spania, so you keep lots of semi wild cats then.
I was talking domestic infestation.

[Spana]

No, we have 3 pet cats who are well fed and sleep in the house who happen to be good hunters. As farms go I wouldn't say we have a serious rat problem but the original question was does there seem to be more rats about this year that in a *normal* year and I would say yes.

[Sparkyrog]

Hmm actually round here I would say no , but I keep checking the bait 

[Spana]

Yours were probably all drowned last year sparky while Somerset was under water 

[Sparkyrog]

The winter was bad for them !

[Anndee]

We've certainly seen an increase in rats over this winter. We use Tom Cat bait in blocks and as we've not seen any around for a few weeks I'm hoping its worked 

[Beetroot queen]

Yours were probably all drowned last year sparky while Somerset was under water 

Some of us didnt get flooded.  mine you the levels did on the way to school, detour for weeks and weeks 

No rats here unless you count the old boy on the plot, hes a bit of a rat.  opps did i just write that. He told me my place was at home tending to the babies. 

[Sparkyrog]

 

[BobE]

He told me my place was at home tending to the babies. 

Outstanding.