mr_magicfingers Posted December 15, 2014 Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 Hi all, my girlfriend and I moved to a small farm last year that we're gradually tidying up and renovating. One of our old barns that we're tidying up shows signs of rats getting in where they've chewed through boards at the base that used to be doors to let the birds that were being raised there out. We're replacing the boards with corrugated metal sheet as the rest of the barn is made of that. We've seen the odd rat about but not done anything about it yet and now it's time to fix the issue. I can take the .22 or air rifle out some evenings after putting down a cat food bait but I'm often away with work and am looking at getting a couple of traps that my girlfriend can use when I'm away. Fenn traps seem to be the thing but which size would you recommend? We don't want to use poison as we've a lot of owls round us and I was reading about the number of owls dying from eating poisoned rats. Would something like 8" drain pipe be a suitable tunnel to put the trap in and how long should the tunnel be? We've a bunch of old pipe around the place so making tunnels is easy. I plan to put one along either edge of the barn where the rats run, probably with cat food bait. Thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted December 16, 2014 Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 fenn mk4 buy british some sites give info on tunnel size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 I'd be worried that she'd take her fingers off in a fenn trap, good old wooden "little nipper" rat traps will catch them just as well, and a lot cheaper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 Just bought these sturdy easy set and cheap. Whilst i waited for these to come, I had some fun building a spinning bottle trap that i saw on you tube nut only ended up feeding the rats some more. Now looking to catch some fat rats with a liking for chorizo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark@mbb Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 Get a yukon Photon nv scope and a decent air rifle and have some great fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wearborne Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 Stubby see if u can get a couple of folk with terriers nada smoker to come round after a couple of time they should have your problem sorted for you.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man o kent Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 The terrier lads would come and sort the rat problem for free, or at least let you know what numbers are aboout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 Stubby see if u can get a couple of folk with terriers nada smoker to come round after a couple of time they should have your problem sorted for you.... think someone needs a trip to spec savers, as It's not my post, I'm a bloody pest controller and don't have a rat problem thanks.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitehackle Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Where abouts are you? I can not see on my phone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wearborne Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 think someone needs a trip to spec savers, as It's not my post, I'm a bloody pest controller and don't have a rat problem thanks....Lmao sorry stubby I was reading your post while typing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Poison them. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 (edited) I catch plenty of rats in live catch traps that I used to use for mink, Why are the rats going in ? I would deprive them of food and water, block up the holes with mesh, trap, terrier hunt and shoot, cover the traps with anything handy, bags, planks, straw, ATB Edited December 31, 2014 by islandgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_magicfingers Posted December 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Thanks for all the answers. I've bought a couple of the big cheese traps as we have the mouse versions that have worked very effectively in house and garden. Will see how that gets on. Failing that, I'll get the air rifle out and the red lamp and sit out in the cold for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 Thanks for all the answers. I've bought a couple of the big cheese traps as we have the mouse versions that have worked very effectively in house and garden. Will see how that gets on. Failing that, I'll get the air rifle out and the red lamp and sit out in the cold for a while. There are very few rat/mice problems that will be solved with a rifle. Shooting then will generally provide a bit of "sport" for some, or simply be one of many methods used together to control them. Poison/trapping will tend to provide best results, then you will need to look at controlling all the things that attract the rat, and proofing areas. They can be persistent as well, which is why onging control is often required! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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