Rats

[WindingRoad]

If you see one rat around your coop or run you have many, many, more. I've tried everything. Onions don't work they ate them. Peppermint around the outside of the coop caused my birds to not lay for 2 days. Did nothing to the rats. Save you money and invest in ex-lax. I tried all the rat poison. They won't eat it. I tried marigolds they eat them too. So what I did was put some instant potatoes ( don't make mashed potatoes) and put them in a small brown bag with 1/2 a box of ex-lax. I broke up the ex-lax into the little rectangles and tossed them in the bag. Put the bag near one of the rats run and they ate the ex-lax in a matter of 2 hours. I know I must have at least 20 or more rats. They are in the leaf litter and under the coop. I have a box and a half of ex-lax left. I will buy more if I need to.

How the mashed potato flakes work is this: The rats eat the flakes, makes them thirst, they drink water and the flakes expand and rupture their gut. Rats have a one way digestive track. They don't burp or vomit. I hope I don't need to explain the method of the ex-lax. I think chocolate is toxic the rats, just as dogs

The good thing about these two methods are that the rat isn't poisoned so it another critter eats them they won't be poisoned.

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

Never heard of the mashed potatoes method! I hope it works!
A outdoor barn cat to start patrolling and marking might help. I used to have seasonal mouse issues in the spring and then again in the fall ( I guess they were looking for nesting or wintering places) but since I got the outdoor cat I have not had the problem. I see her toying with dead and live mice here and there and she leaves dead ones on the porch or throws up small mice she's eaten but none in my chickens house or feed areas.

 

[WindingRoad]

Never heard of the mashed potatoes method! I hope it works!
A outdoor barn cat to start patrolling and marking might help. I used to have seasonal mouse issues in the spring and then again in the fall ( I guess they were looking for nesting or wintering places) but since I got the outdoor cat I have not had the problem. I see her toying with dead and live mice here and there and she leaves dead ones on the porch or throws up small mice she's eaten but none in my chickens house or feed areas.

Just use the flakes don't "make" mashed potatoes.

 

[WindingRoad]

Just use the flakes don't "make" mashed potatoes.

They don't seem to be eating the flakes but they have eaten a box and half of ex-lax. I put the paper bag under the coop leaving just a little bit out so I can check on the ex-lax and it's gone. So I know they are eating.

 

[The Moonshiner]

So these two methods are still in the theory stage?

 

[WindingRoad]

So these two methods are still in the theory stage?

The flakes might be but not the ex-lax.

 

[The Moonshiner]

So you've killed rats with ex lax?

 

[WindingRoad]

So you've killed rats with ex lax?

I didn't say they are kilt. I said they are eating it. Chocolate is toxic to dogs. I'm hoping it is to rats also.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Chocolate isn't toxic to rats. I had a pet rat once that loved Hershey's chocolate syrup. He ate it for over a year. Never hurt him but he did turn into a crackhead for it.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Chocolate isn't toxic to rats. I had a pet rat once that loved Hershey's chocolate syrup. He ate it for over a year. Never hurt him but he did turn into a crackhead for it.

I also dont believe chocolate is as toxic to dogs as said. I once had a Vizsla who ate an entire bucket of Halloween candy. Didnt faze her one bit. She also ate my giant easter chocolate bunny and valentine's candy. Ruined all of my holidays.