Talk to me about rodent control?

nekoatsume · Post by **nekoatsume** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 5:01 pm

I can see that someone's moved in under my coop.. I'm guessing rats by the size of the "tunnel" in the straw (excess bedding kicked out of coop). I've seen a mouse or two as well, though I've since caulked the gaps in the coop. I'm fairly sure there are no rodents in the actual coop, given that it's a new garden shed and I'm pretty sure it's sealed up very tight other than the ventilation we installed.. But I'm not comfortable with anyone hanging around or underneath. We have cats but they all come indoors at night (they're sucky like that). What're my best options? Am being careful to keep food away, and feed bins are locked up safely in our cat-filled garage, but the birds are pigs. Some spill always happens.

LongCrow · Post by **LongCrow** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 5:32 pm

If it's rats the mice won't be around long. For mice trapping with peanut butter bait works well for me. Use a few different styles of traps.
If rats are under the shed they are in the shed. Poison is your best option. Unfortunately the garbage they sell as bait these days does not work very well. You must get bait that kills quickly ( one feeding), not the kinds that require a week of feeding to kill. These do Not Work if there are other food sources such as chicken feed.
Unless you have a pesticide/pest license, available from a 1 day course from University of Guelph you cannot purchase what you need. Most rural folk have a farmer friend they can rely on to purchase for them. ( Unfortunately the government got this wrong) while saving the dandelions in the city.
What you need are the green blocks by Hawk or a few others sometimes still available without a permit online out of province. A little expensive but they really work. Best of Luck.

windwalkingwolf · Post by **windwalkingwolf** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 7:27 pm

Big Tomcat bait station and good rat bait

Bayvistafarm · Post by **Bayvistafarm** » Sun Dec 04, 2016 11:11 am

I'm on my 4th pail of rat bait... sheesh, can't remember the name. Its $130 a bucket. WORKS TREMENDOUS!!!!!!!!!

You have to have a pesticide licence to buy that one. (or find someone who does)... But let me tell you... it works, and works good. We were so infested, and Rattak didn't do much any more.

These are soft bait squares....the first time we used them without a word of a lie... we would see dead rats everywhere. Up to 8 a day. The whole place smelled like death. They were dead in the little holes in the barn cement foundation. In the water trough. Out in the middle of the yard... everywhere.

Good thing my dog/cats don't eat dead/dying things. She would however eat the bait. You must put it under something, or poke it into holes/tunnels.

Now I am mostly keeping up with it, instead of leaving it to become a problem again. I have yet to have pulled a bale out of the mow, and have it broken. Great stuff. Next time I am out, I will grab the name.

Epona · Post by **Epona** » Tue Dec 06, 2016 1:14 pm

My biggest concern with the poison has been the friendly fire deaths. Chickens, turkeys even the pea people eat the dead poisoned rats etc. So I've had losses and our dogs are not fussy on eating them either. The actual poison and traps can be kept from them, but not the end product. I'm using feral cats from a rescue group. The results aren't fast as poison, but steady. I have one semi friendly feral, that can be coached into the coop at night and she is worth her weight in rodent kill. Had them for a couple of years and no losses in chicks or eggs etc to the ferals. Was interested in a product that is in the States that you add to the chicken feed and it is suppose to be harmful, only to rats and mice. Can't get it in Canada.

JP* · Post by JP* » Tue Dec 06, 2016 2:28 pm

Rat traps have worked for me.

Juicy Fruit gum was mentioned on a Radio show about gardening a few weeks ago. They eat it and then die from complications.

The Rat traps are my preferred method. Snap!!

ross · Post by **ross** » Tue Dec 06, 2016 2:38 pm

JP* wrote:QR_BBPOST Rat traps have worked for me.

Juicy Fruit gum was mentioned on a Radio show about gardening a few weeks ago. They eat it and then die from complications.

The Rat traps are my preferred method. Snap!!

Yep live traps for multiple mice snap traps in a wire cage that yard/ barn critters can't get into but rats can . Luck

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Tue Dec 06, 2016 5:21 pm

I have never had any luck with the live traps for rats, have never caught one in it, the traps are set next morning traps are sprung and no bait. I hate rats and would love to get a trap that would work , I think I need Ross's hunter skills!

WaupoosCowgirl · Post by **WaupoosCowgirl** » Tue Dec 06, 2016 11:13 pm

As gruesome as it is...I do a happy dance every time I turn the auger on at the barn and there are rats inside...don't judge me. Seriously though this year has been insane for them and they have started to compromise/undermine the old stone foundation of our bank barn..we bought the bombs to drop done the holes but haven't done it yet...a bit scared of set the entire barn a blaze.