Got RATS in my shed, what am I gonna do? :p

[Bephlam]

Hey ho...if it's not one thing it's ye'r chickens (and all things chicken related).

Couple of night ago I went out to the shed, and noticed I'd left the lid off my feed bin (silly me)...anyway, I went in to replace it and something jumped out, hit me on the chest and scuttled away.

I instantly thought...rats! However, I had to wait until daylight to see things clearly...needless to say, I inspected the shed the next day and found evidence of rats. Poo, smell of urine, and lovely little teeth marks in anything even slightly edible. So, after the initial panic, I decided to go for it...I cleaned the shed out thoroughly, removing any traces of spilled food, etc. I baited some bait boxes, and placed them in the shed...I blocked up any holes around and under the shed, etc etc. Removed the chicken feed, and am in the process of having two old metal oil drums delivered to store it in instead of the smaller bins I currently have.

I hoped that this may be the end of the issue...however when I went out this morning to top up the girls feed, three young rats jumped out the feed bin and ran away!! OMG......

Anyway...I have now completely removed the feed bins from the shed, and am storing them elsewhere in the garden. I've added more bait boxes, and am praying this is enough to encourage them to leave (now that there is no food lying about). Unfortunately, they are persistent...and tonight, they have burrowed in to the chicken run to see if there is food....which there isn't, because I've been removing all of the hoppers and traces of food on the ground...excess poo, etc.

Problem is...what do I do now? I've filled that hole again, and ensured there is no food about.

I'm scared to phone the council environmental health in case they just blame my chicken keeping (which we know they do)....suggestions please people!

Quickly!

[flighty1]

hi there, sorry to hear of your problem with the rats. I have found that poison baits tend to work but it does take a while. In addition to the poison my hubby used to set fenn traps to kill the blighters. However if you resort to traps you MUST position them where nothing else can get near them . Hubby always sets them in wooden or brick tunnels to stop anything other than the rats getting in. Also if set correctly they are very effective & efficient.

[Liza]

Do you know anyone with a Jack Russell

[bobleponge]

I had the same problem recently, in my woodshed. I could hear plenty of them, and the squashes I had stored in there had all been munched. I tried traps and all sorts but nothing was effective.
As was said above, I made sure that only the rats could get to them, but then I bought a rat poison, cant remember the name of it currently will look a bit later, but this poison comes in a sachet, like a dishwasher tablet. You leave it in the sachet but place a few around where you suspect the rats are, and the smell attracts them.
Was pretty effective, the sachets were gone the next morning and I havent heard or seen any sign of them since.

I hate poisoning things, even rats, but I had tried all other options.

[RichmondHens]

Sounds like you've done all you can. Main thing is to not leave a food source of any kind around, and ALL feed sacks in metal containers that they cannot get into. Do not leave any feeders out overnight. Rats are extremely agile and will even get into hanging ones unless you are feeding very tall birds and can hang them high enough. They will also eat chicken poo (to try and find any undigested titbit) so muck out regularly.

We do not like using conventional poison as we have barn owls, have tried Eradibait with not much success, but have caught most using the old fashioned type of snap trap and live traps (we then shoot the rats inside the traps). Have to say that after a determined campaign against them last year, I have not seen any for ages, although there is still evidence of a few. Unfortunately one can never get rid of them completely, and even if they cannot get to the chicken feed, they will still raid the compost heap.

Good luck with getting rid of yours!

[Bephlam]

Bob, if you could find the name of that sachet poison I'd be very keen to try that! The poison I have at the moment isn't really doing the trick, as the little blighters don't seem even slightly interested in it!!

Richmond, I've done everything you've said....I muck out regularly, remove all food (leave one hopper out at night, but it's clipped on to the top of the run, which is 7 foot high) have the bait boxes there and remove any leftover food at night from the run floor.

My OH is terrified of rats, and she's actually a bit scared to go in the garden in case she gets confronted with one...so I want to deal with the problem very quickly. Plus, I don't want nearby neighbours creating a fuss about the rats...you know what people can be like.

My main concern is infection to my dogs....I don't want them getting lepto, but I believe this is quite rare...

Here's hoping I can get rid...I'll continue on alone for another week, and if by then I'm still plagued I'll call someone in.

[snakeshack]

It's not just your dogs,people get weils disease too.

[bobleponge]

Bephlam

Hopefully this is a link to the stuff I used.

Anti-nuisibles > Les raticides / Souricides > Rats et souris bloc - conseil jardinage KB Jardin

Obviously I'm in France where I bought it, but there must be a similar produce somewhere in the UK I reckon??

I am also petrified of rats, hate the things and didnt at all like going in my woodshed to get logs in case I ended up whisker to whisker with one of them.

[PAULW]

We use Neosorexa on the allotment this is in blue waxy blocks we put this in lengths of drainpipe to prevent accidental poisoning of wildlife and cats. You can get this from agricultural merchants

[Bephlam]

It's not just your dogs,people get weils disease too.

Yeah, I'm aware of the risks to humans. However, feel more concerned about the pets...seeing as I have the know it all to not drink from urine infected puddles, to wash my hands after being around the shed, etc...and follow other precautions...whereas the dogs and cats, and chickens don't have the luxury of knowing these things!

Bob, thanks...I'll look it up. I need something, quickly!!

[Snadger]

How about a sonic rat repellant?

I haven't used them but I'm certainly thinking of getting one. One of the allotments plot holders has one set up and says they are great! No more rats for him.
Here's a link to one type but if you google 'Sonic rat repellant' you may find something of interest.

Advanced Rat and Mouse repeller - Whole House £23.95

[binley100]

Why don't they make a solar powered one. There's no leccie up the lottie.

[harrybrew69]

If you've got the time, and like me an ambition to become a sniper, you could sit out late one night with the old air rifle. wait for little ratty to come and show himself then let him know whos shed it is.
this can be trickey though. if he sees, smells or hears you it will be a lonley night for you both. i tried it once with a mate, at least we had a dozen cans to shoot at when we were ready for the off. lucky rats!

[Snadger]

Why don't they make a solar powered one. There's no leccie up the lottie.

You can deffo get battery powered ones because our allotments aint got power either.

There ya go! Rodent Gard Sonic Rat and Mouse Repeller £10.95

[binley100]

oh Wow I'm liking the outside one . Wonder if it would keep away the two legged kinds of pests as well