spudlington 3 Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 Alright so i've got a chest freezer full of venison, just started a veg patch (my first ever ) shelves of homebrew ale cider lager and wine and I have herbs growing outside the house. Next step, do I knock up a hen-house under the apple trees and let them run free when the dogs are in their run or do I get a few ferrets???? In the ferrets favour: I've got a big lump of permission for bunnies at the moment and it's going to keep on growing, got two longdogs and will be getting a Harris Hawk this year. lots of requests for bunny control so a few ferrets and a longnet might be just the job. In the chickens favour: Well I could do with a source of white meat and would use a few eggs a day no problem. Love to branch out into poultry keeping but am I inviting the rats in by getting chickens??? Could I keep both???? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
earth&hounds 94 Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 Alright so i've got a chest freezer full of venison, just started a veg patch (my first ever ) shelves of homebrew ale cider lager and wine and I have herbs growing outside the house. Next step, do I knock up a hen-house under the apple trees and let them run free when the dogs are in their run or do I get a few ferrets????In the ferrets favour: I've got a big lump of permission for bunnies at the moment and it's going to keep on growing, got two longdogs and will be getting a Harris Hawk this year. lots of requests for bunny control so a few ferrets and a longnet might be just the job. In the chickens favour: Well I could do with a source of white meat and would use a few eggs a day no problem. Love to branch out into poultry keeping but am I inviting the rats in by getting chickens??? Could I keep both???? YOU CAN KEEP BOTH MATE JUST DONT LET THE FERRETS OUT WITH HENS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sue 1 Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 same as e&h get both you carnt go wrong with fresh eggs and a few bunnies Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ditch_Shitter Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 am I inviting the rats in by getting chickens??? Could I keep both???? Fowls and rats are like bread and butter, mate. Ye practically Can't have one without the other. Ferrets need only take up a tiny corner. Go for both. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spudlington 3 Posted April 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 Cheers for the replies lads. So Ditch have you any suggestions on how to minimise the attraction to rats?? Was planning on sectioning off a spot near enough the house for the hens and putting ferret hutch down between dog-run and aviary for hawk. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sue 1 Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 get a terrier that will keep the rats down Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spudlington 3 Posted April 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 Cheers Sue. The little Whippet/Terrier I have seems to be patrolling the land like a good thing so I might take a chance and hope he does the business! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ditch_Shitter Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 Cheers for the replies lads. So Ditch have you any suggestions on how to minimise the attraction to rats?? Yes, mate. In fact, I was about to give the advice to someone else on here (Bogwoppit). Only Dean O's turned up with 'Supplies' and I don't like to turn my back on my provendor. I'll knock out a Post on this subject later tonight or else tomorrow. Terriers? Yeah. 'The Idiot Above' has a good rat infestation and, as I passed by this afternoon, he was out there, dribbling, as his stupid little cur sniffed about. " He's killing the rats! He's got two! " the retard called. " Oh? Yeah ..... " was my response. If keeping a terrier about the place could keep ground rat free, I'd be breeding terriers for a living. Work it out Later. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leegreen 2,173 Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 I have both. Just get yourself a decent air rifle and you have yourself an evening past time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
victor 10 Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 both. keep the ferrets in a chook proof hutch. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Funfuret 1 Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 The keepers at a children zoo I know takes the birds out the aviaries and pop their ferrets in for a short time every once in a while. They told me that keeps the rats away. Also, I've heard people say that ferret poo keeps rats away. So maybe keeping ferrets as well as chickens would help keep the rats down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 6,173 Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 If you put both your ferret hutch and hen house up on legs at least one foot high then there will be less place for rats to burrow in underneath plus you'll be able to see if they are burrowing in and around the area. Keep rubbish to a minimum so there's no place for them to hide. We only get the occasional rat and I always keep a couple of traps set round the back of my sheds on what used to be a rat run: well away from the dogs and chickens and covered over with planks so birds don't walk into them and get smacked. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spudlington 3 Posted April 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Cheers Skycat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dogs-n-natives 1,182 Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 So maybe keeping ferrets as well as chickens would help keep the rats down. Get both, both well worth having- in my opinion! Ferrets wont stop the rats comming. I keep ferrets, 30 odd hens, dogs, etc.. My ferrets are always kept in secure spacious hutches. I have had one get out and do a bit of damage to the poultry once, but I forgot to put the latch on the hutch live and learn! Best way to do it, like Skycat said, keep things like sheds hutches raised off the ground, and keep feed stuff well secured, in a rat proof place. As soon as you notice any rat shit, diggings, eggs being nicked etc.. get 'em sorted straight away. Even better, set up some permanent tunnels to house fenns, at stratejic points, as prevention is better than cure. Poison should be a last resort, try traps(theres many available), fenn mk4 being a good'un for rats. Some areas are worse than others for rats, like near rivers or farms. Let us know how you get on Regards DNN Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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