Joebrock Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 Morning all, Just managed to secure some rat control on a local farm but being very new to this was wondering if any of the more experienced had any tips on bait and techniques? Cheers Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 The best bait I have used is melted cooking chocolate mixed with a small amount of cooking oil, to stop it resetting. I spread the mix where my 'kill zone' will be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 some folk swear by peanut butter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 18 minutes ago, ditchman said: some folk swear by peanut butter I thought this too, had a fair few mice on traps baited this way. I have had a trap set up for 3 days where I know there is rats and they haven't touched it. Might switch to Steve's chocolate recipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyshooter Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 (edited) I use the cheap chocolate spread from the local supermarket spread it on pieces of wood, /brick with a knife, rats have to lick it off which then gives you a good target, it helps if you do this for a few days for the rats to get used to this new tasty food and that it appears a safe feeding area. rat shooting is great fun I use night vision because rats are nocturnal / night feeders, good luck!!!! atb brian ps I am originaly from Suffolk----Stowmarket Edited January 6, 2020 by happyshooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 I have had success with peanut butter spread on 1” squares of bread! Trapping that is! But I mostly catch them with Fenn traps on their runs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 3 hours ago, Farmboy91 said: I thought this too, had a fair few mice on traps baited this way. I have had a trap set up for 3 days where I know there is rats and they haven't touched it. Might switch to Steve's chocolate recipe. It's never failed with me. 3 hours ago, happyshooter said: I use the cheap chocolate spread from the local supermarket spread it on pieces of wood, /brick with a knife, rats have to lick it off which then gives you a good target, it helps if you do this for a few days for the rats to get used to this new tasty food and that it appears a safe feeding area. rat shooting is great fun I use night vision because rats are nocturnal / night feeders, good luck!!!! atb brian ps I am originaly from Suffolk----Stowmarket I spread/pour the chocolate mix on wood etc too. I was in a barn once that didn't have much light coming in, and a mate and myself put an old light coloured sheet on the floor, then the bait on that. The rats stood out great and made excellent shooting. This was done in daytime hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spurs 14 Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 Have used cat food in past , try few different ones see what works for your rats , just want some thing that will stop them long enough to get a shot , you don’t want anything they can grab and run off with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 I set three traps in a garden building two plastic ones with little cups for bait one peanut butter one with Nutella and one old wooden little nipper trap with malteaser chocolate button pressed on the bait pin. They went for the malteaeser everytime bar once when one was already caught so second one went for Nutella. Peanut butter never touched. All you can do is try. Seen tuna and milk mixed to a slurry used as they have to lap at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 3 hours ago, steve_b_wales said: It's never failed with me. Cheers, I was a bit surprised they didn't touch the peanut butter. Got to sort it though as they are trying to get underneath a hen with chicks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 I always use a tiny piece of chocolate on mice traps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 2 hours ago, Farmboy91 said: Cheers, I was a bit surprised they didn't touch the peanut butter. Got to sort it though as they are trying to get underneath a hen with chicks. I use peanut butter on mouse traps, catching every week, last rat I shot stopped for melted ice cream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 (edited) hello, give us an idea of the farm layout ? as happens i do not do much rat shooting now but my set up for many years is a MK 1 FX vermy and a MK 1 Photon, with a T38 I/R torch, night vision is the way to go, even a DIY add on to a day scope, Edited January 6, 2020 by oldypigeonpopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 16 minutes ago, Mice! said: I use peanut butter on mouse traps, catching every week, last rat I shot stopped for melted ice cream. Thanks, I'd try the ice cream but I'm not actually shooting just trapping, I'll keep it in mind for the future though 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 Tins of fish flavoured cat food, suspended a foot off the ground with holes drilled in them. Messy but rats stop to try and get into them long enough for a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 I've never used any form of bait but switching to NV made a huge difference best money I spent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strimmer_13 Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 Never baited a rat for a trap, used to use a 6'' drain pipe with a fen trap in, placed on a run. Drill holes both ends and use tent pegs slotted in (or strong wire) to stop animals you don't want caught. If needed block one end and bait, but never tried that. As for shooting, rats are a close no1 (foxes second) but they are also one of my favourite pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joebrock Posted January 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 (edited) Thanks for all the advice lads. Seems I will have to try all the different methods. In regards to the layout of the farm it's just a small milking milking parlour and a few cow sheds. Nothing major but a step in the door for the rest of the farmers pests Edited January 6, 2020 by Joebrock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 1 minute ago, Joebrock said: Thanks for all the advice lads. Seems I will have to trtballvthe different methods. In regards to the layout of the farm it's just a small milking milking parlour and a few cow sheds. Nothing major but a step in the door for the rest of the farmers pests hello, just remember your back stops, i shot many in a disused milking parlour with a Crosman 1077 repeater, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leach Posted January 13, 2020 Report Share Posted January 13, 2020 Rats are pests you can try strips of kabab meat they enjoy spicy stuff or even egg fried rice they seem to gobble it up prawn crackers as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arron yeates Posted January 13, 2020 Report Share Posted January 13, 2020 Just get a good hunting cat like mine lol 6 rats in a year.. theres a house behind us with an outdoor avery full of parrotts. I thi k the food they drop attracta them never see them myself but he brings them back. Can you report a rat issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 13, 2020 Report Share Posted January 13, 2020 (edited) Yes my neighbour had rats from the close by countryside every winter under her shed. First year we got chickens she called the council and said we had rats. Pest fella came out and when he knocked on the door, my wife wasn't amused. Showed him the coop with no spill hanging feeders etc. Showed him where the rats were and examined the coop said no problems all very clean and she had rats every year. He said I know I've been out before to her, now she's blaming you. Aviary's can attract them but any food like bins overflowing or bird feeders in gardens are big causes. Putting traps out or shooting them is better than rat mane laying bait blocks and other poisons around. Edited January 13, 2020 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arron yeates Posted January 14, 2020 Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 Yeah see i dont want poison about as i dont know if it could potentially injure my cat as he hunts alot. And as i dont think the neighbour is doing his bit its attracting them. Theres no bins just the birds. I could bait them and shoot them with night vision i suppose but the mrs doesnt like the guns being shot at all in the garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 14, 2020 Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 Arron ask her if she prefers the rats 😂👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted January 14, 2020 Report Share Posted January 14, 2020 Show her how they work and get her to shoot them.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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