Rats!

[tallpines]

How do you GET them?

Son brought a couple of small Conabear traps over and FINALLY -- we got our first RAT! But still have many more to go.

We've been afraid to use poison for fear for our pets.

How do you get rid of them?

[Fire-Man]

Originally Posted by tallpines

How do you GET them?

Son brought a couple of small Conabear traps over and FINALLY -- we got our first RAT! But still have many more to go.

We've been afraid to use poison for fear for our pets.

How do you get rid of them?

It takes time, keep trapping them. I have had a few Big rats in and around my chicken feed and in the chicken pen. I got two kittens a few months back---they are about 1/2 grown now----One had her first rat that I know of last night--------I pulled up about the time she caught him------a few minutes later she had him about 1/2 eaten-----the rat was about the size of a adult ground mold. I was glad to see her with it-----The other cat was trying to check it out but the cat was being fussy protecting her rat--LOL. Good Luck!! Randy

[Laura]

Rat Terrier. She's a killing machine and doesn't crap in the garden.

[cricket]

Coke in a bowl. Leave where they can get to it and then be prepared to clean up the carnage. It makes them explode.

[Pony]

There was a REALLY good thread on this a while back...

Lemme look.

Rats! (Pun intended.) Couldn't find the one I wanted, but here are some good ones:

http://homesteadingtoday.com/showthr...light=rat+trap

http://homesteadingtoday.com/showthr...light=rat+trap

http://homesteadingtoday.com/showthr...light=rat+trap

Of the three threads I cited, the most popular rat trap seems to be the 5 gallon bucket trick.

Good luck!

Pony!

[pookshollow]

We have dumb rats. They drown themselves in the goats' water buckets.

And I think the barn cats might get one or two.

[jen74145]

Cricket;
Are you kidding?! Not that I don't believe you, just got be a bit wide-eyed this morning....

[mwhit]

Originally Posted by jen74145

Cricket;
Are you kidding?! Not that I don't believe you, just got be a bit wide-eyed this morning....

I've never heard of that either... I have heard that plaster of paris will kill them (it hardens inside) but I've never heard the coke thing!!

[tinknal]

Only thing I heard concerning coke is mixing it with golden malrin flybait.

[MullersLaneFarm]

We use poison and take advantage of a rat's natural curiousity and inability to pass up a hole.

Construct a small box with rat sized hole cut out the side. On a piece of board, nail 2 nails to wedge the bait. Put the box over the bait board and put it where the rats travel.

They will go inside the hole, find 'food', eat peacefully and go die.

[james dilley]

My first thought is have you removed there hiding places?? What about junk piles?? And are you cleaning up any left over feeds?? .You will need to do that ,Because for ever Rat you see there are dozens you don't. So please check the area and close off any and All holes With hardware cloth. And then remove any places they can breed. A rat breeds at 3 months of age. and can have 12 litters A year of 8-12 at A time. So Sanatation is needed. I Am not saying you are not trying already to elevate the areas that the hide in.

[TedH71]

Buy a few corn snakes and release them in the barn. I promise you the snakes will clear the mice out first then they get big enough, they'll eat the rats.

[cricket]

No, I'm really not kidding. My dd did this...an exterminator told her to do it. The rats all took off for water and exploded in the neighbor's yards....she lived in the city at the time. She says it's pretty gruesome. I've also heard of mixing with the malrin but that's toxic to everything. It will kill flys byt the gazillions though.