|
Post by sallyw on Jan 23, 2007 17:29:57 GMT
Has anyone else got super rats? They were coming into the back of our wooden stables, so we reinforced all around the bottom edges. Today, unbelievably I discovered that they had tunneled up through the edge of the concrete floor and through the rubber mats into the stables. It begs the question "Why?" since my greedy ponies never leave any food. There were bits of concrete, stone and earth in the pony's bed and altogether a right mess. We don't like poison as our chickens and our terriers are always around in the stable yard ( and the dogs do catch rats) but what the hell do I do?!!!
|
|
|
Post by Dont Like on Jan 23, 2007 17:35:08 GMT
Luckily for me I don't, but I hope for your sake this cold weather kills some off, I have never understood the purpose of rats.
|
|
kilty
Full Member
Posts: 380
|
Post by kilty on Jan 23, 2007 17:37:10 GMT
We've tried the humane traps before, but they just figure out how to get the food out without getting caught, clever little beggars! Don't know what else to suggest, they're resourceful devils
|
|
avie
Junior Member
Posts: 152
|
Post by avie on Jan 23, 2007 17:42:05 GMT
we had some, as neighbouring yard has given up on there place so rats have been having a great time, put bait down but that didn't really work, so in affraid in the end found their tunnels and holes they were coming in and broke some jam jars in each. cruel but its killed then off, along with the 16 year old jack russell who decided to catch one and put herself in the pond with it which almost killed her off instead!
|
|
|
Post by cake on Jan 23, 2007 17:57:36 GMT
I am so relieved that someone else has got super rats! I saw one on Saturday sitting on the hay and I swear it was the size of a cat , I think it must have been a pregnant queen and being scared sh**less I didn't attack it with a pitch fork (suggested by husband) but I ran away cos I hate rats big or small. We have tried poison but they gobble it up and just get fatter. I have got some poison coming with looks like a bar of soap and you put it in a drain pipe to stop any other animal getting to it ,I will let you know it's name and if it works.
|
|
|
Post by Rat catcher on Jan 23, 2007 18:11:57 GMT
Rats are horrid & i sympathise however i thought that you might find it helpful to know..... Being a pig farmers wife we have enlist the services of a good pest control man. Now I am not talking your average Jo Bloggs out of the yello pages here Don't get me wrong the man we use is above board, licensed etc, he has to be as we provide product into the food chain. However it is possible to exterminate these nasty beasties without putting any other animals at risk, if your Rolands are becoming a pain then i would get in touch with a local farmer who will point you in the right direction. PLease don't be tempted to spend you hard earned cash on the man from the yello pages as i have yet to hear of one that works
|
|
|
Post by RAts on Jan 23, 2007 21:52:00 GMT
Ok, I pondered and wondered what the hell the rats were eating, as my feed is in sealed bins and I wash feed buckets out etc, and sweep spillages up,
RATS EAT MANURE! Thats how they survive! Get a decent rat man to flush them out with poll cat and terriers!
|
|
|
Post by tanina on Jan 24, 2007 7:51:08 GMT
Its the cold bringing them in at the moment !!!
We believe, not sure if its true or not, that if you have mice then you won't have rats as they don't mix!!!
We have had them in the past, But havn't recently (famous last words) except for a dying one that turned up summer 2005 - but it had thick luxurious fur!!! never seen anything like it - still horrid tho!!
Tanina ps just going to check if the mice are still there
|
|
|
Post by pho3nix on Jan 24, 2007 8:41:51 GMT
Has anyone else got super rats? They were coming into the back of our wooden stables, so we reinforced all around the bottom edges. Today, unbelievably I discovered that they had tunneled up through the edge of the concrete floor and through the rubber mats into the stables. It begs the question "Why?" since my greedy ponies never leave any food. There were bits of concrete, stone and earth in the pony's bed and altogether a right mess. We don't like poison as our chickens and our terriers are always around in the stable yard ( and the dogs do catch rats) but what the hell do I do?!!! yup we got them too! we had cleared them out last year, but they are already back and burrowing... the corner of the tack room has an ever growing mound of fresh soil. Luckily, the yard owner has two dogs, one a jack russel and the other is a kind of terrier, lovely lil begger, really cute and affectionate... unless you're a rat! She got about 5 of them herself the other day. The cat is pretty useless tho, he is never about when the rats are... What does work (for squirrels too if they are a pain) is a humane trap. u put food in the middle which they cant get to unless they go in, and when they do the door slams shut. After that its upto u what u do with them. Now, the next part isn't a nice read so look away if u dont want to know now..... the tried and tested way to kill them, is and this does have the backing of the RSPCA, is to place the said trap with said rat, in a bath which is full of water and walk away. not plesent reading i know, and the thought is awful, but it is meant to be the least painful way. The rat posions you can get that make them "go to sleep" only works coz it shuts their bodily functions down and that causes a lot of pain, especially if they fight it. i've also tried to shoot them, at home before now, but the cost of ammo is a little high after a while
|
|
|
Post by julie on Jan 24, 2007 10:18:18 GMT
OH is known as Dead Eye willy as he is a brilliant shot both live and with clays but cant shoot rabbits or rats, Lord knows why! We regularly put bait down though I havent seen any for quite a while though I was very worried with the arrival of the puppies their scent coupled with all the food for Poppy might attract them... we have two cats who kill birds/mice but draw the line after baby rats!
This recycling lark (now have three bins in kitchen) always makes me nervous too... we live in a barn conversion so mice are inevitable I think....
|
|
kilty
Full Member
Posts: 380
|
Post by kilty on Jan 24, 2007 10:19:25 GMT
Thanks to this thread I had a bizarre dream about a pet rat (I would actually like one) that kept escaping through the floor of a caravan I was living in with my ex-boyfriend Amongst all this I noticed that the caravan had a bar so I started drinking gin....
|
|
|
Post by I dont think so on Jan 24, 2007 10:36:31 GMT
Bugger that Kilty! If you think you are borrowing my caravan and putting a pet rat and a boyfriend in it, think again!!! ;D
|
|
|
Post by skint on Jan 24, 2007 10:43:18 GMT
This is spooky, was just looking at the devastation this morning in my feed place caused by the rats which just seem to have decented on me last night and then came on here to find this thread. I have got some traps down but they have got too crafty with them. Will have to go and get some poison again it seems to be the only thing which work.
I had the council out last year as there was quite a few of the little bu***rs my stables are at the bottom of my garden down a quite long drive. I explained to the dozy girl on the phone that they seemed to be having parties in the feed area at the back of the stables. I got home from work to find a note shoved thro the door to say they had been - I looked all over but couldnt find any evidence of them being there. I finally found one bait box under the bush next to my back door 200 yeard from where my stables are - really helpful or what !
|
|
|
Post by ponies4me on Jan 24, 2007 10:57:26 GMT
Put biscuit crumbs or mars bars on the traps and put them directly where they come out of the whole. works all the time! he hehhe
|
|
kilty
Full Member
Posts: 380
|
Post by kilty on Jan 24, 2007 11:49:25 GMT
Bugger that Kilty! If you think you are borrowing my caravan and putting a pet rat and a boyfriend in it, think again!!! ;D Don't worry, it was a very rickety old caravan - nothing like yours! Hence why the rat kept escaping, there were holes in the floor by the wooden stairs
|
|
|
Post by pho3nix on Jan 24, 2007 13:47:44 GMT
Thanks to this thread I had a bizarre dream about a pet rat (I would actually like one) that kept escaping through the floor of a caravan I was living in with my ex-boyfriend Amongst all this I noticed that the caravan had a bar so I started drinking gin.... lol that dream is your sub conscious telling you that u think ur ex is a rat that runs away and cant provide u with a decent living, so u need to drink Gin to cope ;D
|
|
kilty
Full Member
Posts: 380
|
Post by kilty on Jan 24, 2007 14:00:33 GMT
;D Fantastic - I knew there was logic in there somewhere Try this one: A few nights after Olympia I dreamt that I was judging and couldn't understand why a particular sec. C was being proclaimed the winner until I had a piece of it and found it was the most delicious chocolate cake. It turns out the entire M&M class was made up of cakes.... I thoroughly enjoyed judging it....
|
|
|
Post by pho3nix on Jan 24, 2007 14:27:07 GMT
;D Fantastic - I knew there was logic in there somewhere Try this one: A few nights after Olympia I dreamt that I was judging and couldn't understand why a particular sec. C was being proclaimed the winner until I had a piece of it and found it was the most delicious chocolate cake. It turns out the entire M&M class was made up of cakes.... I thoroughly enjoyed judging it.... That is you remembering Olympia but wanting to be in the ring with the horses but at the same time back in the real world, your body telling u that u need a sugar fix! Obviously as there is reference to M&M's.... they melt in your mouth, not in your hand ;D
|
|
kilty
Full Member
Posts: 380
|
Post by kilty on Jan 24, 2007 14:31:11 GMT
LOL Not quite as satisfactory as your last explanation but better than I've been able to do I put it down to general strangeness on my part! But just think - an Olympia sized ring full of different cakes.... mmmmmmm
|
|
|
Post by pho3nix on Jan 24, 2007 14:35:14 GMT
yeah i admit i was trying to blag that one
|
|
|
Post by lolly on Jan 25, 2007 9:55:29 GMT
OUTDOOR CATS..we have had three little boys at our farm, rats have all disappeared, not seen one at all this year. they are marvellous. They are neutered and sleep in the stables.
|
|
|
Post by Rockstar on Jan 25, 2007 15:34:09 GMT
Peanut butter on traps - rats and mice LOVE it, my Dad has caught hundreds of the little critters with his peanut butter traps!
|
|
|
Post by pho3nix on Jan 25, 2007 15:38:55 GMT
Peanut butter on traps - rats and mice LOVE it, my Dad has caught hundreds of the little critters with his peanut butter traps! yea thats very true! It attracts them coz of the buttery bit is sweet and its scent carries on the wind better then just a peanut on its own... problem is, it attracts over similar type creatures like squirrels...
|
|