Rats...Help

abitofhelp

we have rats from time to time. we have fields at the back of the garden and our neighbour keeps chickens (he looks after them very well and always clears up after them) every time the rat man came the rats always returned, as i'm sure they do. however i was told to watch the rats to see what routes they were taking and to place bait there. luckily i could watch the rats from a bedroom window and did as i was told. i bought some bait boxes so dogs birds etc could not gain access.

gibson123

blossomhill wrote: »

...errr, OP saw it



and what would happen if the rat eats the poison then the dog eats the rat? Would it be ok?

It is very unlikely that a pet dog would eat a dead rat, they would perhaps play with it for a while but not eat it.

Also rats slink away to die from poison, normally back into their nest or sometimes they head for water (mice die on the spot)

If you are worried you should use the more humane snap traps (less effective)

gibson123

A quick note in baiting rat traps - rats are smart! They learn from experience, from each other and also remember about danger. They also do not see very well, so use smell. You need to use alternate baits, if a rat spots a dead rat in a trap baited with peanut butter, it will become averse or very wary about that smell, so you will only get the first rat. Any bait will do but try - dog food, dog biscuits, ham, nuts, peanut butter, chocolate, peas and their very favourite hazelnuts.

bluebird

Excellent advice from everyone,Hubby went to hardware store bought what i can describe as a plastic baited box with a hole on each end,we've set it near the fence as they're coming from another neighbours garden,so no litter,rubbish on my side.I hope this works.Our garden was landscaped a couple of years ago as my back problems made mowing the lawn too hard so its all paved but we have loads of plants growing in various pots.we do have a bird bath do you think the rats are coming for that water?

yorkieorchid

blossomhill wrote: »

...errr, OP saw it



and what would happen if the rat eats the poison then the dog eats the rat? Would it be ok?

No it would not be ok. The dog could be poisoned if it ate the dead rat. We very sadly lost one of our dogs after it had eaten a dead poisoned rat. Be very wary.

gibson123

yorkieorchid wrote: »

No it would not be ok. The dog could be poisoned if it ate the dead rat. We very sadly lost one of our dogs after it had eaten a dead poisoned rat. Be very wary.

OMG how awful for you, I have never had a dog that would eat any dead animal it found, just play with it and worry it, however my current dog would probably eat the trap to get to the poisoned bait.

yorkieorchid

gibson123 wrote: »

OMG how awful for you, I have never had a dog that would eat any dead animal it found, just play with it and worry it, however my current dog would probably eat the trap to get to the poisoned bait.

Yes it was awful. We dont know wether she actually ate the rat or just chewed it but the vet confirmed she had been poisoned. She couldnt get at the poison directly so she must have been poisoned via the rat.

SneaksyWhippet

If laying poison with dogs around, my advice would be to make sure you are positive it is IMPOSSIBLE for the dog to get the poison. My parents' dog had an emergency vet visit and night on a drip a few weeks ago, after dislodging a large length of drainpipe and dragging it round until she could get the poison out and eat it.

Apparently there is a type of rat "poison" that is dog safe. It works on the principle that rodents cannot vomit, so essentially they stuff themselves and die. I can't remember the name but if you search online you should be able to find it. After my parents' experience I wouldn't want any non dog safe poison in the garden with dogs, no matter how safely you think you've hidden it.

chelms38

Living out in the countryside as I do I think I would get an air gun to deal with vermin like rats if they came near my garden.

walkers-crisps_are_evil

abitofhelp wrote: »

...every time the rat man came the rats always returned,...

Sounds suspicious. Are you sure he isn't letting them out the back of his van the day before he comes round?