Rats & Ferrets

[davejg]

WE have a few rats on our site mostly around the chooks, I have just moved plots & put up a new shed on bearers. If i got someone to run a ferret under the shed would it discourage rats etc from living under it?

[davejg]

[Obelixx]

I doubt it very much but they might catch some so you'd need a regular visit - or encourage local cats to visit or contact the council for rat control or, as they call it round here - dératisation - in your best French accent.

[davejg]

thanks Obelisk, the site rep has a couple of cats i will try to encourage by making somewhere dry.

[davyw1]

Cats will go down well with the pidgeon men if you have any, and if you are growing anything in tubs.
Cats wont be very effective with rats, if you can atract Weesles to the plot that would be ideal.
If you have livestock then you have to axcept you will have rats and you wont get rid of them.
I use fen traps and and get three or four a week then nothing for a couple of weeks, so as fast as i knock them back others turn up.

[davejg]

We don't have any pigeon men, i don't have the chooks either, they are on other parts of the site. I was trying to find away of discouraging the little blighters before they move in, there wont be any food either.

[davyw1]

If they have a food supply which includes your veg they will be  there, if you have a compost pile they will be in it. Dont give them anywhere to to hide or move behind.
If you are not finding any damage to your veg, as they will eat anything. then you are ok but that does not mean they are not there. They just have a better food supply somewhere else