February 2012 Vol. 1
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| February
2012 |
Deborah
: We too had a horrible invasion of rats right after our first lovely hens arrived.
We are not sure if the rodents had always been living in the untended upper quarter
acre or not, but the chickens and the intensive gardening really brought them
to our attention. Here in Fair Oaks CA, we found it was the water that was the
big draw. We moved the water to the rat proof night enclosure. We continued re-filling the bait stations, but were terrified a dying rat would wander into the area used by our English Setters. The setters would gobble it down and we were afraid of poisoning them. We discovered a very effective do-it-yourself rodenticide - peanut butter bon-bons! Mix equal parts creamy peanut butter and plaster of paris. (Keep out of reach of chickens, dogs and children!). We put it down holes and in the bait stations. It works! Deborah Bean Naomi : Please tell Cheska that I have learned this: There is something called Balsam Fir Oil, which I order from a place in Maine. I had many little mice running into the coop at night. I sprinkled drops of this oil across the entrances to the coop and I've had no mice since. Apparently they hate it. It smells great. It's fairly expensive, but a little goes a long way. We also have lots of roof rats around here, and I've never really had a problem with them. Now
if someone could please tell me how to repel squirrels from the bird feeders,
I'd be very grateful!!!
Cliff : In reply to your question on how to get rid of rats I have found two ways that work very well. Borrow a Jack Russell or two as they just love rats or sit very still with a air gun and wait for them to come out. The rats will take some time to get used to new bait like your peanut butter but if you keep putting it down they will start to take it. If I lived closer I would come and help as I have Three Jacks who love a spot of ratting. Cliff in Kent England. |
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