Rats

[jay404]

Not sure if this is the right place to put This

Anyways here goes

 

In our garden we have chickens and obviously at this time of year a few rats have turned up.

I have had 9 with the night vision on my air rifle but haven't actually seen any for a few weeks now despite looking every night.

But holes are still being dug into the run

I have got a couple of fen traps I have set under the hedge where I can see activity (they have a wire mesh over them like a cage for the traps)

I haven't had much luck with the traps tried peanut butter .tried jam all sorts even some chicken food

I had some success with the chicken food but lately nothing

Have you guy got any other tips for me to try

 

Thanks jay

[Cranfield]

You seem to have covered most of the options, but you don't mention where they are coming from.

Have you found where they "live" ?

[jay404]

No our garden back on to the dyke and then a field so I'm guessing they are from there but I have been in the dyke but not seen any runs or serious holes.

[Jim Neal]

Try covering your trap tunnels in bits of old wood, bark, leaves, anything to make them sheltered. Rats don't like being in the open. Try to put the tunnels on the way in to where they're getting in to the hen house. If they're eating your poultry food, use it as bait!

 

Maybe try burying a bit of drain pipe between the dyke bank and where they're coming to feed, then place the trap tunnel at the end of it.

[jay404]

I like the idea of burrying a but of drain pipe get them used to taking the bait, then set my trap in there

 

 

Good shout Jim

 

Thank you