Rats, Rats

[DrainPondDesign]

Bearhawk,

The subject has pretty much been covered.

*Secure the food supply in rodent proof containers.
*Don't feed more grain than your horses will eat in a day.
*Barn cats are nice & some become friends with the horses. (well fed cats are better mousers than hungry ones)
*I do not use poison because it is not target specific and can harm both rats and the animals I want to protect.
*Traps are good & you can put them inside of boxes so that horses & cats can't reach them through the hole & dead rats are not seen by visitors (or the wife).
*Fire arms or pellet guns are target specific & with care are safe but you have to be there. Zinc pellets with nylon skirts are available if you are concerned about lead in the barn or paddock.
*My 70lb terrier would love to help out but his slamming into things chasing rats may do more damage than the rats.
*Anyone dealing with rodents should read up on Hanta virus at the US Center for Desease Control Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scary stuff but better to know about it.
*I have not seen any independent test report claiming that any rodent (or bird) repelling device works long term.
*Rodents are a fact of life around barns & the barn cat seems to be the most popular way of dealing with them. For a little kibble they work 24/7 & are nice to pet once in a while.

Good luck & happy hunting

 

[moa-berg]

Everywhere.

Any tricks for driving them out without hurting the rest of the animals?

I thought of the shotgun, but the horse might not like it.

Thoughts?

Jim

You can't just use weapons against rats and mouses! Americans and guns is no good composite! Use some thing like snares for rats and those stuff, that is much better and the horses has nothing against it.

 

[F350]

I've been down this road. I used to raise Gamefowl.

Get a .22 rifle, a Rat Terrier, and a Water Hose. Find the Mouse/Rat holes and stick the hose down the hole and crank up the water. After a while they will start to come out. Thats when you engage the .22 and the Rat Terrier.

DieselPower, That is a beautiful rifle......

 

[Soundguy]

I'd like to see the explanation behind that one...

Soundguy

Americans and guns is no good composite! .

 

[F350]

SoundGuy, I agree....

 

[bearhawk]

Let's not get too worked up over a 2 post user trying to get somebody's goat.

I did go get some of the Candy Bars today, and my friends should be enjoying a last meal.

Thanks for all the help.

Jim

 

[shvl73]

Well I tried some of the .22 shotshell ammo. The results weren't good. Two rats shot, two rats ran away. I'm going to go back to the .22LR, which stops them cold.

 

[WayneB]

Well I tried some of the .22 shotshell ammo. The results weren't good. Two rats shot, two rats ran away. I'm going to go back to the .22LR, which stops them cold.

Yep, and now they will die in the walls somewhere and you will smell them for a week or two.

 

[wushaw]

A pellet gun will kill a rat also.
I have a 5mm sherridan and one of them brake over .177 springer guns that I know will do the job for alot cheaper than .22 shells.
I had to kill a skunk with the .177 springer gun last year under my shed.

 

[Soundguy]

Not worked up.. but I'd be interested in hearing his rationalization behind the comment..

soundguy

Let's not get too worked up over a 2 post user trying to get somebody's goat.

I did go get some of the Candy Bars today, and my friends should be enjoying a last meal.

Thanks for all the help.

Jim