Rats!!

[colliebird]

Is anyone using, or have tried the rat proof treadle chicken feeder and is it really rat proof?
My worry is, that if a hen can stand on it to get at the grain, surely a rat can do the same

My bags of chicken feed are kept in big black plastic tubs with lids. The lids are held down with sort of clasps that click over the lid. I also put the hens feeder in a tub at night then hang them up again in the morning.
The rats are unclicking the clasps and pushing the lids off the tubs and getting into the food. I know rats are intelligent, but I that is ridiculous!! I'm having to hold the clasps together with bungees.

The rats are gnawing their way through the wooden floor which has a space of about 6" underneath. I've covered the holes and any spaces I've found with wire mesh, that I hope they break their flippin' teeth on.

I can't use rat poison because I have dogs, but I use Eradibait which is only dangerous to rodents, isn't a poison, and cannot harm any other species.
in a separate part of the hen house where the hens can't go and where I store the chicken feed in tubs and I've put down a big bowl of Eradibait which I can see the rats are feeding on, and it takes them about 5 - 7 days to die. I can see their poo is becoming a lot paler which means it won't be too long before they pop their clogs.
Eradibait - The natural way to eradicate rodents/

I would be grateful for any info about the efficiency of the treadle feeders.

Thanks

Valerie & the gang

[RichmondHens]

We didn't have too much success with Eradibait TBH, but it sounds like they are taking yours happily. Hope it kills them quick!

We have considered using treadle feeders but like you, were unsure if a rat would still work out a way to get at the feed. We are moving over to peck feeders and so far I'm certain these are rat proof.

Our feed is kept in metal dustbins stationed by each pen (as they are distributed round the smallholding a distance from each other); and I've not had a rat get into those!!!! In my horsey days we kept feed in plastic dustbins and the rats got into those all the time by eating their way through the bottom. I wonder though whether something bigger is getting at your clasps, maybe a badger? Are the bins outside or in a shed? If it really is a rat it must be extremely strong ! (eek scary thought)

If you decide to go ahead with the treadle let us know how you get on.

[colliebird]

We didn't have too much success with Eradibait TBH, but it sounds like they are taking yours happily. Hope it kills them quick!

We have considered using treadle feeders but like you, were unsure if a rat would still work out a way to get at the feed. We are moving over to peck feeders and so far I'm certain these are rat proof.

Our feed is kept in metal dustbins stationed by each pen (as they are distributed round the smallholding a distance from each other); and I've not had a rat get into those!!!! In my horsey days we kept feed in plastic dustbins and the rats got into those all the time by eating their way through the bottom. I wonder though whether something bigger is getting at your clasps, maybe a badger? Are the bins outside or in a shed? If it really is a rat it must be extremely strong ! (eek scary thought)
If you decide to go ahead with the treadle let us know how you get on.

I'm getting some metal dustbins next time I go into town. The rats haven't gnawed through the big black plastic ones, but I guess when they get fed up with their being no hen feeders hanging up at night, they'll try that.
The bins are in Cluckingham Palace and the clasps are now bungeed so they can't open them.
No bigger animal can get in, unless they know how to unlatch the doors and locks, and do rat sized poo
The secret of Eradibait working is to put it where there is absolutely no other food available for them. I'm now seeing poo that is grey in colour which means the rats are dehydrading and will soon die.
To hasten their demise I've put a heavy box over one of the holes they gnawed, with a nice bowl of Eradibait to greet them where they can eat in peace. There's an awful lot of rat poo around. Yuk. In a few months, I'll be getting the floor concreted. Let them try and gnaw through that

I won't be buying a treadle feeder until I hear from someone who uses them with success

Valerie