SAW RATS IN MY COOP! Will Mint harm chickens

[barkpurr]

Hi fellow chicken lovers,
For the first time, I saw a family of RATS in my coop, in the pen area. They were gleefully eating the feed! I read in the archive threads about planting mint. My question is, won't my chickens eat the mint? If they do, will it harm them? Also, has anyone come up with a clever idea of trapping that works, that will not also trap cats, dogs or my chickens?

 

[waddles99]

Mint is actually very good for chickens. I read about it on an article here. I have never tried it, but apparently it aids in digestion and improves respiratory health.

 

[Folly's place]

Mint won't hurt your chickens, and they don't like many flavors and so may not eat it anyway. Expecting it to repel rats isn't likely to happen either. Some rats may fall for a live trap, although none ever did here. Kill traps that are only accessible to the rats might get a few, but only bait really does the job. I've used broudificon twice here; locked up all pets, placed it carefully where only rodents would find it, and replenished it until no more was eaten. After a few more days, pets and chickens were out again. I looked and never actually found any dead critters, so they might have died in their burrows. Hate to do it, but wild rats are not good to have around. Mary

 

[barkpurr]

My worry Mary is the other Cats that roam round here. Ferral and other animals that don't bother our Chickens.

 

[bobbi-j]

My worry Mary is the other Cats that roam round here.  Ferral and other animals that don't bother our Chickens.  

We have used rat bait here, even though we had outdoor cats at the time. We just put it where only the rodents could get it. Never had a problem with cats eating poisoned rats, never found a carcass.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Hi fellow chicken lovers,
For the first time, I saw a family of RATS in my coop, in the pen area.  They were gleefully eating the feed!  I read in the archive threads about planting mint.  My question is, won't my chickens eat the mint?  If they do, will it harm them?  Also, has anyone come up with a clever idea of trapping that works, that will not also trap cats, dogs or my chickens?

Have you found any tunnels or den entrances?

 

[barkpurr]

They run under the coop area, can't get under it to see. I bought a rat trap for rats today. Going to set it up in the pen area that's around the coop tonight. They are so brave. They come out in the day to while chickens are out in the yard.

 

[0wen]

Mint is fine for chickens - I add it to their DLM to encourage them to dig around for it and to assist in composting by doing so.

For rats, I'd set snap traps - and place them where your chickens can't mess with them. Bait with peanut butter so they can't steal the bait...

 

[MeepBeep]

in addition to trapping and killing the rats, you can sprinkle cayenne powder on the chicken food to deter the rats from eating it... Birds lack the pain receptors for capsaicin so they won't even notice it's there except for the slight vanilla flavor, won't hurt them at all, and it will actually darken the yolk color...

On that note, you should be aware it's there because humans do have capsaicin pain receptors

 

[1ADAM12]

Ok some have had rat problems in the past. Not in my coop but around my house. Neighbor is a slob. That's another story though. So the SOBs got in the house. They would not fall for a rat trap. Smart boogers they are. Decon was the only thing that I found that worked. Also get yourself one of those high powered pellet rifles. They are cheap and barely make a noise when shot. Neighbors will never know hahahahaha start plinking tj off during the day since they are so
Brave. I have been doing that with chipmunks lol