Best Rat poison

[timmyalex]

Let me start by saying.... I absolutely hate rats. Put me in a pen with a rabid lion and i'll have a go. Put me in one with a rat and i'll run a mile.

We have a large polytunnel which has an equally large netted run on one end that is used as the chicken run. We have recently noticed a hole has been dug between the 2 and decided to put some rat poison down. This poison is blue in colour and in wheel shaped blocks. On the first day we put 2 bocks down and in the morning they were both gone. Next day we put 3 blocks down and went back to our country store to buy more blocks. After about 5 days and many blocks later there seemed to be a lull but now THEIR BACK....

This time the blocks of rat poison have not only disappeared but there are BLUE rat droppings in the polytunnel.!!!

Does anybody know of a guaranteed make of rat poison that i can try and source.

Another thought we had was that maybe the rats were taking the poison blocks back to their nest which was not a problem but then again we thought what if they left blocks under shrubs in the garden. Our chooks then might come across them and god only knows what would happen. I do have to say that since we had this thought we place the blocks in a special rat poison box we have purchased.

Sorry to ramble on but they really are awful creatures and i desperately want to get rid of them as soon as possible.

[Suechooks]

I use Eradibait in my empty chookruns or anywhere the chooks just might pick it up. Can't guarantee it but I did find a dead rat a few days after I put the Eradibait down
I also use some stuff called Tomcat in the shed which is inaccessible to the chooks. Found a dead mouse in the tub one day so I'm guessing that worked too!
I think most people seem to use the blue blocks and boxes (including our council pest control man)
I do hope you get the problem sorted.

[Nicos]

I'm sure the stuff we can buy over here must be banned in the rest of the UK one nibble and they're dead withing 2 metres
( usually sold near the sugar or something)
Tis bright pink stuff- but we did find an old box with granules inside it - plus a mouses nest made of insulation from the pipes

[binley100]

I 'm thinking the best poison is called Snadger

[Snadger]

I might try this idea, but instead of corn on the cob, use a coke tin with a cane up the middle smothered in peanutbutter!

http://www.journeytoforever.org/at_rattrap3.html

[Snadger]

[QUOTE=timmyalex;575083]
We have a large polytunnel which has an equally large netted run on one end that is used as the chicken run...............
QUOTE]

Nothing to do with rats but I asume you aren't using the polytunnel to house the chooks?

The reason I ask is that my allotment neighbour did this and a fox cut a very neat door through the plastic with its teeth and claws, climbed in and killed all his chooks!

I'm probably preaching to the converted, but just thought I would mention it!

[Snadger]

I 'm thinking the best poison is called Snadger

..............

[MaureenHall]

I used Eradibait too and haven't seen any since! It's the only thing that I could find that's safe around all birds and animals except rodents

[Glutton4...]

I've used the wax blocks (including Tomcat) recently, and found them to be very effective. My local feed merchant will sell them individually, which is useful. I just make sure I don't put the blocks anywhere the Cat can get, and nowhere near the Chooks!

[Bramble-Poultry]

most anticoagulant baits (slaymore, tomcat, nesorex etc) have an antidote - Vitamin C which is found by the spade full in layers pellets. If the rat eats enough layers then all it gets is an upset stomach.

You must remove all sources of food from the rats if you are to be successful in baiting them, as this removes their source of vitamin c. However, Eradibait, is not anticoagulant but desicating - i.e it dries them up from the inside. The rats will die in their burrows. It is slower acting than warfarin but safer.

Alos note that when using bait, it is a legal requirement to use a bait box to safe guard non target species like cats and dogs from the bait.
the cheapest place i have found a bait box is Flyte so fancy website - they are aroudn £8 each.

It is safe to use around chooks and if the local wildlife pick it up it will not hurt them as it is specific specific to rodents.

Another - not so pleasant method of killing rats is to mix equal quantities of dry pollyfilla and corn, sprinkle on the rat run or in a bait box. when the rat picks up the pollyfilla it starts to set inside their stomach, eventually blocking their innads up and they die. Not pleasant, but does the job

[Glutton4...]

Wow BP - that's really interesting - thanks very much!

You never stop learning huh!

[timmyalex]

Thanks for all the responses. Appreciated and it's sourcing siome Eradabait for me i think. No Snadger the chooks are in the netted end with rabbit wire and an electric fence around. Thanks again to all.

[MaureenHall]

I got my Eradibait from an eBay seller, came through quite quick too!

[Bramble-Poultry]

500g of eradibait from Flyte so Fancy is around £5.85plus shipping. i ordered a whole bunch of stuff, tukey rings, bait boxes and pink eggs boxes (compulsory according to my daughter) so the shipping when split between the lot was minimal.

EradiBait Non-Poisonous Rat & Mouse Poison | Vermin & Pest Control | Poultry Supplies for the eradibait

Rat Bait Box | Vermin & Pest Control | Chicken Coops & Houses, Poultry Supplies & Equipment for the cheapest bait box i have seen yet

oh and i ordered before 1:30pm and it was with me the next day!

[matthew2riches]

I've used corn and plaster of paris and that does the same as BP's polyfiller.... just cheaper :-)