Rats

[walldanzig]

Hi All

I went to check on my 6 week old chicks today which are in our empty stable and I found most of them gone and two of them dead. There are rat droppings everywhere. Really peed off this has happened and never imagined that rats would do this. Does anyone else have any experiance of this?

[baldrick]

Ive never had chicks but have kept pet rats. They are predators and omnivorous opportunists that can get through the tiniest gap. Thay are highly intelligent and will learn from experience so will be back.Id suggest the smallest grade weld mesh or chicken wire over gaps and windows. Also cut down on hiding places like stacked straw, bits of old timber etc if possible. Also the usual keep food in metal bins, try not to scatter feed for the chicks, ensure compost heaps are well away from your stable. You may be able to see where they are getting in and put a trap down in the walkway as they are creatures of habit. Hope its solved soon .

[Snadger]

I have one allotment neighbour who lost all his chicks to rats. I've had mine locked indoors for a month and only yesterday decided to let them out.
I'm hoping that they are big enough now, not to become rat fodder.
Mine are about 12 weks old now and have deffo survived the last couple of nights so hopefully all will be well.

Sorry to hear about yours Walldanzig

[petal]

yes rats will take chicks. The most effective method is a poison bait station which is especially designed for them - they tend to be too intelligent to be caught by traps. A terrier or a ferret will see to them as well.

[polo]

That's awful!! Hope you find a rat proof solution - Have you somewhere secure for the ones that are left in the meantime?

Good Luck

Polo

[chris]

Shocking, I didn't realise this either. Are there any chick-proof poison/traps on the market?

[Glutton4...]

My bait blocks are working; Two bigguns dead this morning, one inside the Chook's Stable, one in their run.

Blimmin things.

I went round filling every crevice I could find when I had my Chicks last year. Will be doing the same this time, too.

[VirginVegGrower]

Ive never had chicks but have kept pet rats. They are predators and omnivorous opportunists that can get through the tiniest gap. Thay are highly intelligent and will learn from experience so will be back.Id suggest the smallest grade weld mesh or chicken wire over gaps and windows. Also cut down on hiding places like stacked straw, bits of old timber etc if possible. Also the usual keep food in metal bins, try not to scatter feed for the chicks, ensure compost heaps are well away from your stable. You may be able to see where they are getting in and put a trap down in the walkway as they are creatures of habit. Hope its solved soon .

They also like compost heaps don't they? Chances are if you have one, you will also have a pet rat!

[Flummery]

They also like compost heaps don't they? Chances are if you have one, you will also have a pet rat!

Unless you have fine chicken wire underneath.

[VirginVegGrower]

yes rats will take chicks. The most effective method is a poison bait station which is especially designed for them - they tend to be too intelligent to be caught by traps. A terrier or a ferret will see to them as well.

Mine is available for hire - rental cost to be paid in sausages!

One of my two terribles

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...689-rooty.html

[VirginVegGrower]

Hey clever boy - like your style! We put 1/2 inch weld mesh doubled and staggered pattern across evrything around our hens, but never thought of the compost heap.

[Polly Fouracre]

I had sixteen out of eighteen chicks taken last year and I will use any and every method available now to kill rats. I also have bait stations everywhwre and (touching wood) haven't seen a one this year.

[petal]

our 2 tom cats have demolished the local rat population, and pigeons and moles and bunny rabbits...they don't attack chicks though- wierd or what?

[walldanzig]

Thanks all. I think Mesh is the way forward. If it's not foxs it's rats. The things you have to go through to keep Chickens