Predator Question?

Flat Rock Farm · Post by **Flat Rock Farm** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 1:54 pm

I came out to the barn this morning, before opening the door I heard some small weird noise coming from it, sounded like a chicken but very faint. I came in turned on the lights and started to fill up the water bottles at the sink just inside the door. Well all of a sudden my EO rooster started giving off the distress scream. I thought what the heck, so I went in and here one of my poor EO hens from this Spring is dead on the floor. I go to pick her up and notice a bloody mark on her neck, so I picked her up to take her out figuring it was her on the floor that had him freaked out.

On my way out I look up and crawling on the inside of the barn roof and some chicken wire is a RAT!! Took me a minute to focus on it because I did not have my glasses on, first thought it was a weasel until I saw the tail.

I have never had a rat kill a chicken, had them nibble on some legs before but that was a very long time ago.

So question is has anyone had a rat kill their chickens?

I tried to kill it as it had lodged itself between the roof and the wall support beam but all I did was manage to shove it out the other side and to freedom

ross · Post by **ross** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 1:59 pm

Yep & if you got one you will have many .

Flat Rock Farm · Post by **Flat Rock Farm** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 2:45 pm

Thanks Ross!! We haven't had a rat problem in some time, going to get on it right away. Have had the bait boxes out and have had no signs of them this year yet. They usually dig around the barn foundation but haven't seen any piles of dirt?? Moving the EO's to the bottom of the barn this afternoon, now I am really worried about my Seramas!!!

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 4:25 pm

Yes just had one killed a month ago by a rat, every time I get hay I also seem to have just paid for some rats as well. I used poison to get rid of it. Good riddance! Yup it got a beautifully laced blue ameraucana pullet. I think she was the best of this years hatch.

Jaye · Post by **Jaye** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 4:31 pm

I feel for you, FRF. That's awful!
We had a rat problem 2 winters ago and we tried the live traps,with some success, but the big thing that turned us off that was what had to be done with the ones we caught, plus they are smart and it didn't take long for word to get around the rat community that they should steer clear of our traps. Joking, sort of. We reluctantly opted to go the poison route, before they made more babies. Hubby built a fully enclosed bait station that runs along one wall of the storage side of our coop with an opening on the end only large enough for a rat to enter. A member of PSO recommended a bait mixture, and we filled several dining bowls in what we "affectionately" call the buffet highway with it. We got rid of them in a few days. They had been chewing on our hen's tails before we were able to get rid of them, so I'm not surprised that they would kill a chicken if they were hungry. I guess our saving grace was that because I was a newbie to chicken keeping, I had stupidly left feed in the coop overnight sometimes, so they weren't hungry enough to kill one of the hens. We had one show up again this past fall, but we re-baited, and found him a few days later outside the coop/run. Very dead. And no signs of any others since. We will keep our rat buffet stocked all winter now.

Flat Rock Farm · Post by **Flat Rock Farm** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 5:01 pm

Oh Gail that is sad, bloody you know what's!!

Thanks for the info Jaye, we have tried the live traps but you are right they are smart and catch on to it pretty quick as well as the snap traps. We do have bait boxes and hubby can buy the "big guns" for bait as has his pesticide applicators license. Admittedly we haven't been faithful at putting it out as we have seen no signs of them until now. Rest assured bait is out, just hope they don't get anymore birds before they are

I guess after keeping chickens for 25 years I have never lost one to a rat, raccoons yes but not rats.

Jaye · Post by **Jaye** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 5:07 pm

kenya wrote:QR_BBPOST Yes just had one killed a month ago by a rat, every time I get hay I also seem to have just paid for some rats as well. I used poison to get rid of it. Good riddance! Yup it got a beautifully laced blue ameraucana pullet. I think she was the best of this years hatch.

That's heart breaking, Kenya. I'm glad you got the culprit.

Flat Rock Farm · Post by **Flat Rock Farm** » Sun Dec 11, 2016 8:04 am

Got the EO's moved to the bottom of the barn yesterday, Have been lighting now extra in the morning and evening.

Turned the lights on this morning and all is well, keeping fingers crossed

ross · Post by **ross** » Sun Dec 11, 2016 8:22 am

I have found that rats don't seem to like the light so whenever I see sign I leave lights on 24/7 & set baited traps in dark area . Works for me . Luck Paula

JimW · Post by **JimW** » Sun Dec 11, 2016 11:07 am

Good info. I have not noticed any rats or signs of rats around here yet, but I think I will set some traps incase.

I don't have my pesticide licence, so cannot buy the restricted baits, so any suggestions on a good brand of bait/poison?