Rat bait.

[northener]

Getting over run with rats in and around the chicken coop. Council won't help, poison does'nt seem to be working so i've bought an air rifle. What would you use for bait? what food do Rats love?

[northener]

[paulinems]

you need a border terrier my Millie caught one today she is good at catching them
Pauline :) :)

[poppie1]

make some seed and fat balls,like the sort you hang out for birds in the winter.but out of your chicken food,after all thats why they are there.elevate them on a brick if you can,you'll get a better shot.
also if you hav'nt already,pick up the chicken food at night.hope this helps,worked for me.
i hate rats make my skin crawl.

[daxzen]

rats are great

but in the wrong place they are a pest

the rats are exploiting the food source that you are providing

deprive them of readily available food and they will take you poison bait - i like the wax blocks!

so step one is to ensure that only your chickens get the food you provide

- look at your storage bins and make sure they are rodent proof

- change your run and move the henhouse

- get your neighbours with jack russells to be there when you move the hen house and dig it all over to break up any burrows or runs - and you will see a lot of them off

in my experience - they are a natural part of the flora and fauna - its we humans that flex the system they are just doing what comes naturally

all the best!

dax

[manicscousers]

we have our chicken food in a hanging feeder, hopefully away from the rodents  :)

[small]

What bait? Chicken food! Seriously, we dealt with them in the goat shed by one of us switching the light on while the other stood guard at the exit hole with the shotgun. More satisfying than an air rifle.