help needed with the rats ................

[meinnotts 1]

since my last post about setting fenns i have done ok, i have picked up about a dozen rats, including a couple of big uns in the live trap

 

my problem now is this the fenns are set, see pics below, but i haven't had a thing in them for weeks,

 

 

the rats are digging in under the run next to them but not using the tunnels, not sure if you can see but next to the fence on the last pick there is a entry point that was dug last night

 

now all of that i can deal with but now look what happened !!!!!

 

the crafty feckers have tunnelled in underneath and come up right under one of the feeders

 

 

i cant use the fenns in the run, i have tried the live trap but they aint having any of it !!!

 

options are :

 

1. do i start baiting the tunnels and live trap ?

2. do i bait outside the run and sit out with the air rifle ?

3. anyone ever tried a cocker spaniel at ratting ?????????

4. how easy is it to snare rats instead of using the fenns ?

5. what the hell do i do with the run thats into the pen ?

 

any help would be appreciated guys

 

cheers

[IanB 0]

Turn the ground over using a spade to collapse the existing tunnels, then just pad down... As you already have a food source, they want that, thats what there feeding on, use a blind tunnel and place them away against a fence or wall and bait them using the grain.... Ensure the trap is bedded into the ground slightly so its stable, set nice and light..

[meinnotts 1]

cheers ianb

 

i did turn the ground over a couple of days ago but they tunnelled back in already

 

when you say a blind tunnel do you mean one with no entry holes ????

 

think i will try baiting up a few traps tonight and see what happens

[glass22 0]

Would it be possible to put some kind of concrete base down and then soil on top, would permently solve rat problems.

 

I think a rat would beat a cocker spaniel up

[IanB 0]

cheers ianb

 

i did turn the ground over a couple of days ago but they tunnelled back in already

 

when you say a blind tunnel do you mean one with no entry holes ????

 

think i will try baiting up a few traps tonight and see what happens

 

 

One entry hole and baited at the back with grain...so it has to pass over the trap..

[meinnotts 1]

ok, been out and baited a few of the traps, fingers crossed ! i have also put the live trap in the the chicken run with some grain baited at the back of the trap fingers crossed for the morning

 

concrete isn't really a option, as for the rats beating up my cocker, quite possible just didn't know if anyone had ever tries a dog other than a terrier ratting, she goes crazy round the chicken pen and digs like a nutter at the holes but i have no idea what the hell would happen if a rat shot out ................. might find out soon though !!!

[ben2 0]

put the chickens away at night locked up and place the fenns in the areas they have dug inside cover with a bit of dirt or remove feed at night and bait fenns pain in the arse i know but you need to remove the food to get them on to yours

 

ben

[meinnotts 1]

put the chickens away at night locked up and place the fenns in the areas they have dug inside cover with a bit of dirt or remove feed at night and bait fenns pain in the arse i know but you need to remove the food to get them on to yours

 

ben

 

cheers ben, i know it sounds mental, but i hadn't thought of locking them in and then trapping in the run, think that could be the winner !!!! i will try it tomorrow night

[gnipper 6,426]

Take the food hopper out and feed the chickens by hand for a few days so there's no scraps for the rats and that way you'll have more joy with the baited tunnels and cages.