A poison Question for the pest controllers

[vfr400boy 3,340]

I have been putting a bit of rat bait down on my alotment under the sheds in small bowls when its empty top it up again I cant remember the brand now but it's the whole weat and its blue , now the alotment committee are saying because the pest controller who has 5 or 6 rat boxes on the site is using the red poison my blue stuff is counter acting his position? I think this is bull crap ??? What u lot think ? 

 

[comanche 2,955]

2 hours ago, vfr400boy said:

I have been putting a bit of rat bait down on my alotment under the sheds in small bowls when its empty top it up again I cant remember the brand now but it's the whole weat and its blue , now the alotment committee are saying because the pest controller who has 5 or 6 rat boxes on the site is using the red poison my blue stuff is counter acting his position? I think this is bull crap ??? What u lot think ? 

 

Well the colour varies from manufacturer to manufacturer   blue ,red, purple etc is just a warning that indicates a poison but not the specific type of poison .   

Using different active ingredients on the same site is wrong because  the rats are eating an  unapproved formulae , ie a cocktail of two approved chemicals which combined create  an unapproved formulation.   

Also the risks of creating a resistance or aversion to both poisons are combined. 

Sticking to one active ingredient in one presentation  method ( for instance block or grain or pasta) means that there are options of using an alternative poison or presentation  type should the first prove unpalatable or ineffective.

Basically the colour of your wheat is meaningless except as a warning it is poison and to be used with the correct care and legal conditions. 

Open topped trays are not good practice and probably  illegal in the situation you describe due to risks to other wildlife .

Also are you sure your bait is being taken by rats?    If it's  being eaten by wood/ field mice you are definately  breaking the Law as the only approved poison  for them can only be used by trained persons in limited situations.

Basically l think your allotment  overlords have it wrong if their ideas are based on poison colour alone but it might be worth getting your campaign in line with the professional guy's .    

Good luck

 

 

[vfr400boy 3,340]

5 minutes ago, comanche said:

Well the colour varies from manufacturer to manufacturer   blue ,red, purple etc is just a warning that indicates a poison but not the specific type of poison .   

Using different active ingredients on the same site is wrong because  the rats are eating an  unapproved formulae , ie a cocktail of two approved chemicals which combined create  an unapproved formulation.   

Also the risks of creating a resistance or aversion to both poisons are combined. 

Sticking to one active ingredient in one presentation  method ( for instance block or grain or pasta) means that there are options of using an alternative poison or presentation  type should the first prove unpalatable or ineffective.

Basically the colour of your wheat is meaningless except as a warning it is poison and to be used with the correct care and legal conditions. 

Open topped trays are not good practice and probably  illegal in the situation you describe due to risks to other wildlife .

Also are you sure your bait is being taken by rats?    If it's  being eaten by wood/ field mice you are definately  breaking the Law as the only approved poison  for them can only be used by trained persons in limited situations.

Basically l think your allotment  overlords have it wrong if their ideas are based on poison colour alone but it might be worth getting your campaign in line with the professional guy's .    

Good luck

 

 

We pay for a professional rat man to come I think from the council but he only comes a few times a year and often misses out the bait box nr my plot , I keep hens and pigeons so do have a passing rat from time to time iv 4 traps set all the time and catch one or 2 a month they is people on the plots with 2 or 3 hens that use massive feeders so feed more rats than hens , so what your saying is am best to stop using poison n stick to the traps 

[comanche 2,955]

52 minutes ago, vfr400boy said:

We pay for a professional rat man to come I think from the council but he only comes a few times a year and often misses out the bait box nr my plot , I keep hens and pigeons so do have a passing rat from time to time iv 4 traps set all the time and catch one or 2 a month they is people on the plots with 2 or 3 hens that use massive feeders so feed more rats than hens , so what your saying is am best to stop using poison n stick to the traps 

I reckon the allotment committee might do well to "mention " the missed boxes to the pest controller, or his bosses  .Sounds like the chap is skimping.  Possibly looking for excuses for his lack of success even. The Commitee should have a copy of a risk assessment , method of control and site survey from the pest controller. It might be worth asking for them to make sure it us up to date and adhered  to . Especially as rules on baiting open areas away from buildings have recently become very strict .

It's common for pro  pest controllers to infer the public shouldn't have access to rat bait but if the guy's not being effective  and you can satisfy the legal requirements as to it's  use you are quite entitled to do your bit . It's  worth reading up on poisoning guidlines and legalities if you go that route though. The knowledge  will certainly provide you with a well researched answers  should the allotment committee use the silly argument that everything is your fault   for using the wrong colour bait !

Chicken and bird feeders on adjacent plots and gardens over which they have no control are  a real bugbear for pro and amateur  pest controllers .

It sounds like you are trying to do your bit while others aren't. 

It's  easy for the person who does take responsible measures to end up paying to control a problem caused by other people. It can be  expensive to do!  

I kinda think that if you do go your own route with poison you could  start using rat boxes and ideally the same sort of poison the rat-person uses . Then nobody can unfairly call you out as the cause of the problem . 

Or as you say stick with the traps   . You only pick off the silly rats but at least you are doing something  while others are standing about placing blame. 

 

 

Edited November 17 by comanche

[DIDO.1 22,661]

If you want to use poison it might be worth you doing a one day rodent course. I've not looked at what's available for a while but I think they were only £150 or so. This would then allow you to buy larger amounts which would probably work out cheaper. You would also be able to back up anything your doing if anyone accuses you of doing anything wrong. If the council bloke is doing a rubbish job perhaps you could come up with a deal for you to top up all the boxes and knock it off your rent. 

 

[DIDO.1 22,661]

Rodent Control on Farms | Harper Adams University

WWW.HARPER-ADAMS.AC.UK