Oh rats !

[VirginVegGrower]

The saying goes "You are never more than a few feet away from a rat!"

[sowitgrowit]

I've shot rats and feral pigeons for a local farmer previously with an air rifle (and rats in my own back garden - bleddy things!); also I know from experience that there is no shortage of people who hunt with air rifles who would be willing (free of charge) to deal with any rat problem, if the farmer is agreeable (or in your own property, though at the "source" would be more effective, no doubt).

Of course, it relies on the farmer's consent to someone shooting on his land (it goes without saying that insurance for the shooter is a must) but can be an effective way of dealing with a problem.

If the farmer was receptive to the idea, I may be able to point some people in your direction locally who would be able to meet with him/her to discuss shooting Roland Rat and his friends.

Failing that, poison may help, though if the farmer has other animals he may not want it spreading about.

[Creemteez]

I know this one.

Last year, our (now dead) Bengal took care of the problem

Wow! You had a TIGER????

Mr Teez will not countenance having Chickens because of them attracting rats
'Parently they can squeeze through tiny holes because they can dislocate all their joints...Eeeeeww!

[Two_Sheds]

the rats are still around, this time they're taking the fallen bird seed from the feeders.

VC: how about making fat balls, instead of having loose seed? (but make the holders sufficiently rat-proof, ie hung from a fragile tree branch)

there is no shortage of people who hunt with air rifles who would be willing (free of charge) to deal with any rat

Ah yes, we've had those trigger happy fellas up the lotty, shooting at any old thing (sheds, tin cans etc) on the pretext of "rat/pigeon hunting"

"It is ...against the law, in England and Wales, to fire an air rifle within 50 feet of the centre of a highway" [road]

I'm not a fan or air rifles: I think it's more effective to remove the source of food and shelter

[Potstubsdustbins]

Two Sheds (A) There is no specific law against shooting a firearm within 50ft of the centre of a highway. You are thinking of the Highways Act 1980 s161 (2). Which forbids shooting a firearm within 50ft of the centre of a highway, which consitutes a carriageway so as to injure, interrupt or endanger the user of that highway. In fact it is legal to shoot across a road, footpath, bridleway etc so long as the above criteria are met.
(B) Most air rifles are not firearms anyway so again no specific offence.

Colin

[sowitgrowit]

Hi two sheds; fair enough - obviously there are some idiots with access to rifles (something I disagree with) just like some idiots are able to drive, but I was referring to people who know the law,are competent, and IMPORTANTLY are sensible.

Also they should have insurance really which would cover damage caused if they are responsible.

Point taken if you've had a bad experience though.

[Two_Sheds]

There is no specific law against shooting a firearm within 50ft of the centre of a highway. ...Most air rifles are not firearms anyway

No? I got my info from the British Assoc for Shooting & Conservation

Point taken if you've had a bad experience though.

I haven't had any good ones, sadly (re: air rifles).

Apart from the shooting on the lotties, I've heard from someone very close to me that he and his (grown up) mates used to shoot birds... not pest species either: sparrows, blackbirds, gulls, anything they could see. They even used to tie injured birds onto trees and shoot them to bits

[Snadger]

Last year I finally learned how to grow decent swedes..........but lost the lot to rats grrrrrrrr!
I told one of the allotment holders I was growing Pink Fir Apple spuds, he said " I grew them" Were they any good says I "Don't know the boody rats got em all"

Yes rats eat tatties. I live next to a farm that sold tatties and the rats were a big problem as they were always eating them.

My raised bed surrounded with pantiles will hopefully allow me to grow swedes (three varieties this year) and once they start to plump up I intend covering it with debri netting as an added precaution.

I keep chooks and have had a never ending battle with rats scranning my food. My three flocks all now have spring peck feeders fitted to the bottom of there grain receptacles and my feed bill has been reduced by 75%

Aviary netting will keep out rats but its expensive. Rats can climb easily so a six foot high fernce is nothing to them. I once spotted two rats 5 foot up my Ne Plus ultra pea mesh eating peas in situ.
That time I was too late with my gun but I reckon I've probaly shot about 20 this year. At this time of year there's more natural food about for them and along with less chook food wastage I haven't seen any for a fortnight.....thats not to say they aren't there though!

Guess which tatties I am attempting this year, yep you guessed it PFA!!!!!!

[veggiechicken]

[QUOTE=Two_Sheds;976552]VC: how about making fat balls, instead of having loose seed? (but make the holders sufficiently rat-proof, ie hung from a fragile tree branch) QUOTE]

Fat balls last for a while, until the squirrels get hold of them. They are the real problem because they swing from the feeders and shake the seed out. Tree rats and ground rats!!
I now hang the feeders further away from the house but I can''t watch the birds so easily .

[jackyspratty]

The council rat man used to come to me every two weeks at one point when it was free. He said in is opinion every house with a garden/yard/outbuildings was liable to have rats visiting or living on the grounds. Its just a case of whether we see them or not really. Because of our beck I see them swimming about at least once a week. I think because I see them I am always careful about putting food down leaving scraps etc and also washing hands and food from the garden when harvested.

A different council man once came and said I should report my neighbour with her chickens as the feed was clearly adding to the problem and they were breeding massively. I explained that if she had to get rid of her chickens she would die! He also said I should not grow any food in the garden as it was attracting them. I pointed out it was impossible to concrete my whole garden! Plus the bank at the back is a wooded bramble bank, and it has a beck running thourgh it.....what did he suggest!!! He faiked to answer!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Hi, 2Sheds

As a member of BASC I found your quote somewhat strange, so have checked their web site. If you read you will find they quote as per my post above it only becomes an offence in certain conditions. The act of just doing it is not a specific offence. Maybe it should be but at this time it is not.

I have to agree with some of your comments about some air rifle shooters but as in all walks of life there are good and bad.

Colin

[Two_Sheds]

I don't want to get into a gun debate on here, so I'll go away now

[MyLifeWithAndrew]

Wow! You had a TIGER????

I wish!
(In theory, of course....Not one to desire to "own" what belongs in the wild.)
Bengal Cats
They are quite funny.

Ours was a victim of hit and run, but perhaps we will get another one some day.

[SlugLobber]

Just be aware of Spatial Perturbation when dealing with rats. If you have a farm nearby, then there will always be a breeding source. Killing the rats simply 'opens up' space for more to move in. This is the effect seen in badger culling and is why some conservationists argue against it as a TB control measure.

I have rats in the feed room, every yard does. I just ignore them and try to keep feed in galvanised bins. I've never killed one, but have never had a plague either. I've only actually seen one a handful of times, despite having bags of feed in there and hay bales (I find old nests in there every year). I think just protecting your crops as best you can in the ways suggested is the way to go.

[shona_b]

before we got our allotment we used every bit of space in our litttle front garden to grow veg. We used plastic troughs hooked onto the fence to build a vertical garden. I was eagerly waiting the opportunity to taste the new carrots that looked very healthy in their troughs until one day they all disappeared! We found them all neatly laid out under the decking.....it was like a rats own little greengrocers! (I thought squirrels but was told its very much a rat habit!). Anyway - no use whatsoever for your problem but thought I would share