Are you having a problem with rats in your home? If you keep chickens, you would agree with me that rats can be so much of a nuisance. From eating chicken feed, biting young chicks to spreading diseases such as fowl typhoid, the list is endless.
Too many rats around the yard also end up attracting snakes.
In this article, I will share with you some ways to keep your home and fowl run rat-free:
1. Get a cat
Cats are really good at hunting down rodents. If you have no problems with cats around your house, I recommend you get one. You will see a big difference!
2. Rat mixture
This is one of the safest way of killing rodents.
You mix flour, soda, and sugar (1 part each). For instance, 1 tablespoon flour, 1 tablespoon soda, and 1 tablespoon sugar. If you decide to use 2 tablespoons then do the same for each item. You then mix the flour, soda, and sugar. Do not add any water.
Just mix the dry powders only. You then put in small lids or on paper and place in hidden areas where rats frequent. Rats will eat and enjoy the sweet taste of sugar but the soda and flour being consumed will cause bloating. Rats by nature cannot release the gases, so the bloating will result in the build-up of gases in the stomach and the rat will eventually die.
You may not notice a change in the first few days. However, after a week or two, you will never see rats around. Take note to check hidden areas such as car bonnet areas, ceilings, hidden corners in the house, and storerooms as most rats will find a secluded place and die there.
This mixture is safe even if dogs or cats eat rats that have died after eating this mixture.
3. Proper waste disposal
Clean up any feed spillages in your storerooms. Burn or dispose of waste properly away from the house. Avoid dumping litter in the yard as this attracts rats looking for food.
Keep the yard and fowl run clean and dry at all times. Throw away any debris lying around such as old roofing sheets, tyres, and rubbles as these are hideouts for rats.
4. Plant repellants
Most rats and mice are put off by strong herbal scents such as basil, mint, garlic, lavender, rosemary and thyme. To keep away the rodents, plant a border of these herbs around the outside of your fowl run. Once the rodents smell them, they will think your fowl run has nothing to offer and they’ll turn away.
5. Setting traps
One creative and safe way of killing rats is the bucket system. Here you take a big bucket and fill in with water almost to 3/4 level. You then put some little peanut butter on the edges of the bucket just above the water level.
When rats try to eat the peanut butter, the chances of slipping into the bucket are high and they will drown in the water. This system works and in the morning you can find a lot of dead rats in the water.
Need another rat trap idea? Check the video below that can also help solve the problem once and for all.
6. Rat poison
This is my last resort. Most veterinary shops sell rat poison in liquid form, tablets, and even powder. Take care to keep the poison away from children’s reach. Rat poison, though effective, poses a danger to cats and dogs if they consume poisoned rats. Use this option with extra caution.
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