Are rats a danger to young pullets?

[fiddleblue]

I have 8 week old pullets, and right now I am closing them in the henhouse at night, with a sliding door, to keep rats out. I did not do this with my adult hens and never had a problem with rats hurting the adult hens, though rats would go after the feed. BUt the pullets are smaller, particularly one which is a Sultan Bantam, and I'm worried the rats could kill her. (I had rats kill several of my Japanese quail last year). What do you think? I have the coop totally enclosed with wire on walls, ceiling, everything so no coons or opposum can get in, so for years I haven't used a door on the henhouse, but if rats can hurt the pullies I would continue to use the sliding door to close henhouse at night.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

If the rats are desperate-- maybe. But if there is easy-to-get chicken food (or eggs) they probably won't go for your pullets.

Do you see any rats (scat, urine, ect.) around the yard?

 

[Hollow Point]

A neighbor of mine actually had hens get killed while on roost from wood rats. They would get into her barn and climb up to them and kill the birds by attacking their craw for feed. Never happened to mine though and she only lives a mile down the road.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Rats will rarely kill chickens, they might bite them, but they usually just eat the eggs. I would set some traps. Don't use any poisons in case your chickens get into it.

 

[fiddleblue]

I aim to have the chicken food all locked up at night so the rats can't get into it. I am now setting out an electronic rat trap to try to trap a rat or two.
There have been rat poops found in the chicken feed lately. I realized that the feed was not enclosed tightly enough at night and it appears they were getting in through a crack. I plan to enclose the feed more tightly (in a plywood box that's open for chickens to eat during the day but closed at night) from now on.

 

[Byzantia]

For all of you saying that rats don't usually kill young pullets, you are wrong. This morning I went out and found 7 of my pullets slaughtered by rats. Wood rats in my area. I found the hole they got into. Only big enough for a rat. Also found part of one of my chicks right outside of the hole.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! And I'm so sorry for your losses. I have also had chickens killed by rats, at night, while roosting.
Set traps, but don't expect total success. Rats are very smart, and will avoid danger when it's seen. One rat, maybe two, will be trapped, not the colony.
It takes poison, in rat bait stations, safely away from the birds, renewed as needed. If you see one rat, you have MANY!
Most will die in their tunnels, so won't be found and eaten by anyone else.
Also fix any coop and run issues; no openings larger than 1/2" diameter, everywhere.
Howard E has links to some older army films about rat elimination, look at them too.
Mary

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Me I have chickens that will actually kill and eat rats so no issues there but then again I am in am Australia so that could be different. I have very vicious hens who killed a pigeon when it got stuck in the coop!!!???
I am sorry to hear about your losses

 

[Folly's place]

Chickens roosting at night are at risk; during the day they will attack rodents. Unfortunately, mine won't go after those house wrens who eat chicken feed and bring mites!
Mary

 

[50-45-1]

All of you folks that are worried abouts rats, should also be concerned about weasels.
They can fit through a hole you might think only a mouse could fit through.
A weasel may be attracted to your farm to prey on the rats.
Once in your coop at night they will proceed down the roosts killing all the chickens and only eat a small part of one. There will only be slight evidance of injury in the neck area on the dead.
He will come back every night untill you have no more to offer.
Patch every hole or crack and reinforce with hardware cloth. Rats just chew new holes through wood.
I believe @Byzantia a weasel is what killed your chickens.
Set traps for your rats, change the type of traps periodically as rats learn fast. You could use poision but they learn that to.
I wish you good luck!