New home for chickens needed please

[Tracey]

Hello

I have 2 gorgous 1 year old white silkies and and a 3 year old 'Ginger Nut' that need rehoming. The Ginger Nut is extremely friendly and deserves a good home as she has literaly escaped the jaws of a fox twice. Unfortunately we need to rehome as we have a rat problem that we haven't been able to eradicate humainly. We need to either use rat poisoning or remove their source of the food and water by rehoming the chickens.

Kind regards

Tracey

[rustylady]

I would, but you're too far away from me. Hope you can find someone closer.

[vicky]

I would too if you were nearer!
Couldn't you use metal bins for the food and remove feeders at night?

[Tracey]

Hi Vicky

The rats are there in the day aswell. They scatter when we enter. We initially had boarding in the bottom of the coop but we found the rats had made their nests underneath. We have now removed the boarding but they still tunnel under the coop, despite us trying to block up their entrance. They don't bother the chickens and the chickens are in beautiful condition, but the rats are eating the eggs!

[Glutton4...]

I sympathise Tracey. I have one persistent youngster that is evading the traps, and stealing the eggs. I won't put poison down either, as I know the Geese or Chooks would eat the body if they found it. (I tipped a drowned youngster out of the Goose water bucket, and they ate it! )

Like the others, I would help if you were nearer. Sorry.

[Hilary B]

Getting rid of the chooks won't necesarily get rid of the rats, it will just make them less noticeable.
Paving slabs (or concrete) will at least force them out in the open so they can be dealt with. (do you know anyone who is handy with an aiir-rifle?)
The answer to rats is to make access difficult, because once they are there, they WILL find an alternative source of food.
There is no way we can keep chickens here (lifestyle problem, and small garden) but we will be in your area tomorrow (for work) if anyone in THIS area can take them on. Unfortunately I suspect there won't be enough notice!

[lettucegrow!]

Have you tried Eradibait. It's safe for use around other animals somehow. Are you sure you want to re-home and if so how urgent is it ? Once my daughters bunny has moved out I was hoping to get some silkies but he's still a lodger at the moment. You are about hour and half away, we could always meet in the middle.I'm in Hertfordshire.

[Tracey]

Getting rid of the chooks won't necesarily get rid of the rats, it will just make them less noticeable.
Paving slabs (or concrete) will at least force them out in the open so they can be dealt with. (do you know anyone who is handy with an aiir-rifle?)
The answer to rats is to make access difficult, because once they are there, they WILL find an alternative source of food.

Initially we tried to keep the rats out of the coop, but they kept getting in despite our efforts. I don't want to kill the rats as we are quite rural more will soon replace them.

[Tracey]

Have you tried Eradibait. It's safe for use around other animals somehow. Are you sure you want to re-home and if so how urgent is it ? Once my daughters bunny has moved out I was hoping to get some silkies but he's still a lodger at the moment. You are about hour and half away, we could always meet in the middle.I'm in Hertfordshire.

Unfortunately half way between you and me is still quite a distance and very busy. Thanks very much for your kind offer though

[shirlthegirl43]

I bought Ratty from Kleenezee - it smells very strongly of garlic and seems to have reduced our rat problem (along with TRex's help). It might be worth a try rather than getting rid of your hens.

[Graham K]

Can you not keep the girls inside for a while and then deal with the rats?

I have a combined coop and run with wire mesh all round, including the base,
the girls don't seem to mind staying "in" for a few days at a time ( I work shifts) and all the food and water is inside the run. Mr R.At & Mr F.Ox would probably need wire cutters to get in. Mr B.Adger may be another story.

[MaureenHall]

I'd definitely go with the Eradibait idea. Remove all the food at night and put down a big dish of Eradibait. It's made from corn husks (I think) and does something to a rodent's insides but doesn't affect any other species, so if there's any left lying around and the chooks eat it, it won't do any harm. Rats apparently love the stuff, and since I used it I haven't seen any evidence of rats (doesn't mean they're not there though )

[sheena]

If you really don't want to rehome the chooks, get a cat or a terrier type dog.

My dad's jack russell cross kills rat's twice the size of her!

[Tracey]

If you really don't want to rehome the chooks, get a cat or a terrier type dog.

My dad's jack russell cross kills rat's twice the size of her!

We have a dog and 2 cats, one which I often find sitting in the coop.