[interlocutor]

Can anyone advise us ? We have seen rat droppings this morning in the chicken run. I have a feeling they have made themselves comfortable underneath the shed/henhouse.

I an scared to put poison down, we have all the food kept in a large bin so it isn't left lying about there is a food small hopper in the henhouse should we hide this up as well ? trouble is our girls live on our allotment so it isn't as easy to get to them as a garden. We do go over there twice a day though.

We would be really grateful for any ideas, cheers interlocutor

[Roughlee Handled]

Have you thought of setting a trap.
See the below link for more info.
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=9078.msg106617#msg106617

[grinling]

Mine live at the allotment too. I have the house raised I can see if there are rats. Someone else didn't and the rats ate through. I also have metal dustbins for food storage (freecycle). I have chicken wire buried into the ground.
There are rats (stream nearby) so bought a trap as a small one was climbing through. Caught it and got rid of it. My neighbour's plot has a fresh rat hole and a small rat(squeezed through my wire to escape!!), trap now set up again. Didn't want poison as there are cats, dogs and foxes go for the rats. You could put poison into the trap. Also mark the trap to stop it being pinched.

[Roughlee Handled]

Do not keep the trap in the same place after each kill. You will find you will not have as much luck.

On the subject of chicken wire and chickens.
DO NOT USE CHICKEN WIRE.
FOXES CAN CHEW THROUGH IT WITH EASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sassy]

Would recommend removing food at night

[Caralou]

I agree Sassy, remove food at night and they wont be as tempted to come back. I must admit I leave mine out now (always locked it up before!) as it allows the cats to pick the rats off at night - I had a persistent problem with one until I tried this and then Niblet solved the problem for me! This is only worth a go if you have a hunter in the house otherwise it just encourages the rat.

[interlocutor]

Thank's everyone will be trying the trap out laced with peanut butter I have been reliably informed rats favourite !

Cheers interlocutor

[Nails]

i have 7 cats that keep our rat population down, hubby has just pick half a rat up off the carpet, that had been brought in, the dog was cuddling it!!!!!!!

[doodoo]

Hiya we empty the water drinkers too as rats will come into the coop or run for water!!

[Sassy]

Oh to have liquid water