How rats steal eggs: useful information, methods of controlling rodents

Damage from rodents in a chicken coop

The rat is an intelligent and complex animal. She is able to defeat a cat and injure a dog. And in the chicken coop she is calm, safe and has something to enjoy. For permanent residents - chickens, rats pose a particular danger because they:

They carry dangerous infections that affect not only birds, but also humans.
Birds are infected with helminths, fleas and ticks.
They eat food from trays consisting of grains, root vegetables and vitamin supplements.
Rats steal eggs from the chicken coop, considering them a delicacy.
Hatched chickens and young animals are killed.
They cause harm to the health of adults by biting off scales on their paws during sleep, which leads to stress in the birds, and this, in turn, negatively affects egg production and weight gain.

Rats are not stopped by strong walls and concrete foundations. In the hunt for food, they gnaw passages, make tunnels, and get to the delicacies that are in the chicken coop by any means. It’s amazing how rats steal eggs.

How to properly use rat repellers in a chicken coop?

Reliable protection of the chicken coop from rats can only be provided by sufficiently powerful repellers. In particular, the effectiveness of the Chiston-2 and Chiston-2 PRO devices, as well as the Bioguard, was tested - according to the results of the experiments, they made it possible to get rid of rats and mice in the premises in approximately 9 cases out of 10.

Such repellers are quite expensive:

Chiston-2 - approximately 2000 rubles;
Chiston-2 PRO - about 3,000 rubles;
Chiston-4 Bioguard - about 4,000 rubles.

There are also many less reliable ultrasonic rat and mouse repellers, and, as a rule, the less the device costs, the lower the likelihood that it will actually help get rid of rodents. However, sometimes even inexpensive models work.

The repeller is installed directly in the chicken coop, plugged into an outlet and works constantly. Practice shows that when using a powerful device, rats leave not only the chicken coop, but also the adjacent buildings.

However, even if a fairly powerful device works constantly, there is a risk that rats running into its area from time to time will cease to be afraid of it. Therefore, after the result is obtained, measures should be taken that in the future simply physically will not allow rats to enter the chicken coop.

On a note
It should be borne in mind that ultrasonic radiation is effective only in the area where the repeller is directed and, like rays of light, cannot overcome physical obstacles - walls, partitions, etc. In addition, it is not recommended for a person to remain in the area of operation of a working device, especially a powerful one, for a long time. In some cases, this can cause headaches or ringing in the ears, so it is recommended to turn off the device before doing any work in the coop.

Difficulties in fighting rats

People have been fighting them for a long time. They get rid of rodents in different ways. That is why rats have developed many methods of defense and the ability to survive in any conditions. Do not underestimate the mental abilities of animals, which also complicates the fight against them.

Rats sense danger and behave very carefully. They deftly bypass prepared traps and warn other individuals about them. Their intelligence is also evidenced by the fact that rats steal eggs from the chicken coop (photo posted in the article). Experts say that they do not abandon their elderly relatives and take care of them, and teach the young to hunt and avoid danger. Therefore, when choosing methods of rodent control, all these nuances should be taken into account. A person will have to use cunning and ingenuity to defeat the dangerous pest.

How to get rid of rats using chemicals

Rats are not only harmful and dangerous animals, they are also cunning, which complicates the process of fighting. Control methods such as setting traps are not always effective, since rats easily bypass them. They will always find a loophole into the chicken coop, even if it is equipped with a strip concrete foundation. These pests easily make a dig, after which they enter the room and do their dirty work. However, their nest may be located in a completely different place.

Over the course of many centuries, man has been able to come up with quite reliable ways to protect poultry and get rid of rodents. There are rat-catching cats, but it is very difficult to find such a hunter. Regular house cats don't want to catch mice, let alone rats. Therefore, we have to resort to traditional methods of struggle, as well as the use of chemicals. The most important thing is to start the fight in time so that the rat does not have time to “clean up order” in the chicken coop.

Toxic substances are used only in extreme cases when rodents cannot be controlled. There are ultrasonic repellers, but they do not act so quickly. During this time, rats can cause serious damage to the owner.

On a note! Since there is poultry, toxic substances must be used very carefully, otherwise chickens can be poisoned along with the rats. The poisonous bait is placed so that poultry, including pets, cannot reach it.

How to Protect Chickens and Pets from Poisonous Bait Poisoning

Pets and birds often die after they manage to reach the bait. Therefore, it is very important to protect them from chemicals. Many owners use one suitable method that does not require any time or money. To make the necessary device, you will need materials that can always be found on the farm, plus, you will have to spend very little time. Despite the simplicity of the device, with its help you can protect yourself from troubles.

Stages of manufacturing the device:

Take a wooden box. It is better if it has a lid that opens so that it is convenient to place the bait.
Holes 8-10 cm in size are made on all sides of the box so that rats can easily get inside the box.
Cats, dogs, chickens and children will not fit into such a hole.
A wooden box with bait can serve as an additional perch for chickens.

Many owners use chemical control agents because they act quickly and effectively. At the same time, care must be taken to ensure that toxic substances cannot be tasted by pets and birds. If you have such confidence, then you can safely begin the operation to exterminate rats.

how to deal with rats. rats in the chicken coop. Watch this video on YouTube

Means "Goliath"

Technical data:

An effective drug that has the function of mummifying dead animals.
This drug is used by special services. The substance is sold in volumes from 1 to 10 kg.
The action of the drug is based on the fact that when the substance enters the stomach of a rodent, it causes a feeling of oxygen starvation, after which the rodents try to get out of their hiding places.
After 10-12 days, the individuals begin to die, after which they become mummified. This does not alarm the other rats, and they continue to try the bait, after which they die.
For 1 kg of a toxic substance you will have to pay 2800 rubles, and for 5 kg - all 9000 rubles.

Carbonation

It is the indoor spraying of substances such as chlorine, hydrogen phosphide and carbon monoxide. This processing method is very complex and requires certain knowledge and skills. Therefore, aeration is used only in large poultry farms. The work is usually carried out by disinfection service employees.

You can use the pollination method. Poisonous powder is scattered on the floor, which sticks to the paws and fur of rodents. Rats are very clean, so they lick themselves often. Thus, particles of powder enter the stomach, causing poisoning and death. This method is very effective, but is not suitable for a chicken coop.

Means "Ratid-1"

Description of the substance:

An effective product is produced in Ukraine and is intended for use in both non-residential and residential premises.
Available in granule form.
One package (40 granules) is enough to rid the chicken coop of rats.
It has the property of mummification, which prevents the decomposition of dead carcasses, eliminates the smell of the chicken coop and makes it impossible for poultry to become infected.
There is an improved version of the product - “Ratid-2”.
The product is sold at an affordable price - for 100 g of poison you need to pay 60-70 rubles.

Everyone should know this! Any of the drugs is accompanied by instructions for use. Under no circumstances should it be ignored. A high effect directly depends on compliance with proportions.

Storm

The drug is quite cheap and effective in the fight against rats. Sold in briquettes individually and in sets of 4 pieces. There are also packages with pellets (granular substance) and in containers up to 16 kg.

Mortorat

With the help of this substance you will not have to search for and remove rodent corpses. The drug mummifies them. It differs from other baits in its high efficiency and safety of use.

Appearance: a briquette with a gel-like substance, carefully packed so that there is no contact with the skin (it is better to use gloves when working).

A hole is laid in the hole and then sealed with plaster or cement. There will be no one left to damage the walls.

Rat death

Purpose: large-scale persecution of all types of rodents. The Italian manufacturer guarantees quick freedom from pests.

Sold in two versions. Difference in composition:

first option: the main component is brodifacoum;
second type: the basis is bromadiolone.

Ratindane

The bait is effective. Used only in combination with additional ingredients (food). Methods of use: pollination, dilution in liquid or with food.

Destruction of chicken eggs by rodents

Can rats steal eggs from a chicken coop? It turns out they can, and they even have several ways. They act:

One at a time - they take the egg with two front paws, and move with the help of their hind paws, crawling.
In twos, one grabs the prey and turns over on its back, while the other drags it by the tail to a secluded place.

It is noted that rats store stolen goods in a certain place and feast on them when the product goes rotten. Now you know how rats steal eggs and ruin their owner. Moreover, these animals move not only on the floor, but also on the walls and ceiling.

Preventive measures against the appearance of rats

Try to carefully inspect the entire room

A far-sighted farmer must anticipate the danger of rodents and take preventive measures even at the stage of building a chicken coop. This will be of great help in protecting the chickens when rats are invading their home.

Chicken coop walls and floor

During construction, it is recommended to adhere to the following recommendations:

The floor of the room must have a concrete base.
To build walls (or at least parts of them half a meter from the ground), it is best to use brick - it is much more difficult for pests to get through such a barrier than through wood.
The bottom of the walls must be sheathed with sheet iron and preferably so that each sheet goes deep into the ground.
It is better to cover the foundation of the chicken coop with fine mesh galvanized mesh or lay it under a layer of plaster if the walls will be treated with plaster.
There should be no voids in the floor and walls; any cracks and holes must be carefully sealed with glass wool and cement with the addition of broken glass.
When installing doors, you need to make sure that they close as tightly as possible.

Rat poison

Even if the rats have not yet visited the chicken coop, there is a reason to purchase and place rat poison in advance in places inaccessible to chickens and other domestic animals.

Even if the rats have not yet visited the chicken coop, there is a reason to purchase and add rat poison in advance

Such a means of defense will help destroy at least some of the rats trying to get into the house and scare away their relatives.

Glass and crushed stone

A mixture of crushed stone and glass is a common and effective method. This mixture is used at the construction stage when laying the foundation.

Crushed stone is mixed with a large amount of broken glass and poured into the foundation. After this, it is filled with concrete, into the solution of which broken glass is also added. A rat can overcome ordinary concrete, but it will be difficult for it to fight glass.

A mixture of crushed stone and glass is also laid out on the ground around the perimeter of the entire chicken coop. A solid layer at least 15-20 cm wide will become a serious obstacle to pests.

The mixture can also be placed in the chicken coop itself - it is safe for the rough skin of chicken feet.

Methods for getting rid of rats

Before you start fighting rodents, you need to think carefully and choose the most suitable methods. There are five main ways to get rid of rats, these include:

mechanical – involves the use of traps;
chemical - using insecticides;
biological - the safest and most frequently used;
folk - time-tested without harm to chickens;
modern - the use of ultrasonic repellers.

Each method has its own positive and negative qualities. Depending on the specific conditions, you can choose one of them or use several at once.

Poison in the chicken coop. In no case?

It should be understood that no matter what the poisoned bait for rats is and no matter what it looks like, there will definitely be chickens who will find it and taste it. Moreover, if the owner of the chicken coop himself is not particularly worried about choosing a product. As a result, there are numerous cases of chicken poisoning with rat poison, most of which resulted in the death of the birds.

The main symptoms of chickens being poisoned by rat poison are refusal to feed, lethargy, ruffled feathers, incoordination, trembling, convulsions, vomiting and bloody droppings. These signs may appear immediately or within 1-5 days, depending on the toxic substance.

In cases of poisoning of a large number of birds, it is advisable to contact a veterinarian to provide qualified assistance; in case of isolated poisonings, you can act independently. Your task is to remove the toxin from the body as quickly as possible. To do this, you need to rinse the stomach with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or activated carbon by oral administration (you can use a syringe) in a volume of up to 2/3 of the crop.

On a note
You should not eat eggs or meat from birds that have been poisoned. There are known cases of poisoning by the eggs of such chickens even 10 days after treatment. Depending on the toxic substance, the process of removing the poison from the bird's body can take more than 2 weeks. A veterinarian can give an accurate prognosis.

But let’s return to the considered method of getting rid of rodents in a chicken coop using poison and note another of its inconveniences - the need to search for and collect dead rats in order to avoid infecting domestic animals with pathogens, the appearance of an unpleasant odor, as well as possible eating by their relatives.

As a result, there are only two acceptable ways to exterminate rats in a chicken coop using poison:

All chickens are temporarily transferred to another room, and poison, for example, “Rat Death” or “Zookoumarin” is laid out in the old chicken coop. The rats die, then the chicken coop is cleaned and the birds return. To implement this method, additional space and about a week or two of time are required;
Another option is possible - the same box is placed in the chicken coop as for installing a rat trap. A heavy ceramic plate is placed in the box and beer is poured with the addition of liquid poison for rats (Brommus, Bromed, Brodifan, Indan-Fluid, etc.). The principle here is that rats willingly drink beer and smell it well, but they will only be able to eat poison in the closed box itself, where chickens will not get into. The same can be done if you replace the beer with milk, but in this case the process may take longer because the milk does not smell as strong and rats may not immediately detect it.

As in the case of traps, to prevent chickens from eating rat poison, it can be placed in special plastic houses available for sale today, which are analogues of homemade boxes. Here you should also use only liquid poisonous baits that the rats will not be able to pull out of the house. However, in general, these bait stations are quite expensive, and it can be easier to make your own from a cardboard box, which allows you to effectively get rid of rats without additional cost.

Poultry house reconstruction

The main purpose of a chicken coop is to keep the birds comfortable and to protect the premises from pests. This should be taken care of at the stage of its construction or during operation. Remembering how rats steal eggs, showing their agility, you need to create unfavorable conditions for them. Since there is plenty of food in the chicken coop, you need to be concerned about its tightness. For this:

When building a chicken coop, place a concrete foundation under it.
Make the walls impenetrable. Rats are able to penetrate through a very small hole, so it is advisable to cover the side surface of the building with metal sheet to a height of at least a meter.
Install metal doors so that there are no gaps.
The windows should be glazed and the floor concreted; the rats will gnaw through all other materials and insulation.
Keep the room clean. Systematically remove droppings, monitor the hygiene of food trays, and collect eggs in a timely manner.

Having eliminated the access of rodents from the outside, you can start exterminating them inside: yourself or invite specialists.

How to protect a chicken coop from rats entering it?

It is important to remember that even if the rats were successfully removed from the chicken coop, it is necessary to provide protection against their re-entry. Otherwise, you will have to fight rodents regularly.

As a rule, to prevent rats from getting into the coop, it is enough to:

Strengthen the earthen floor - remove a 40 cm layer of earth, fill in 30 cm of expanded clay and lay a fine mesh metal mesh (preferably with cells no more than 5x5 mm) over the entire area, then fill the earth back. It is important to ensure that such a barrier on the floor is no lower than the base of the foundation of the chicken coop, otherwise there will be little point in these measures;
Or you can make a normal concrete floor, which will be sprinkled with sawdust or sand on top;
You should also caulk all the cracks in the walls and roof through which rats can enter the chicken coop, caulk the joints between the walls and the foundation of the building, and ideally, make full-fledged stone walls. Even a half-brick wall will be an insurmountable barrier for a rat.

Of course, it is also necessary to keep the chicken coop clean - in this case, it will be easier to notice traces of rat activity, for example, broken eggs and rat excrement. The latter, by the way, is the easiest way to establish the presence of rodents.

On a note
Rat droppings are dark in color, reach 10-14 mm in length and are usually located in small piles. The simultaneous presence of large and small excrement already indicates the presence of some population of rodents (large and small animals).

Other telltale signs that should make you start dealing with rats as soon as possible:

ammonia odor, especially strong in closed places;
chewed surfaces – the constant growth of teeth forces rats to taste literally everything;
“treadmills”, which are traces of rodent movement visible in dusty places.

And even more so, holes made at the junction of the foundation and walls, as well as eggshells next to them, clearly indicate that pests have gotten into the habit of dragging eggs here, and you need to start fighting them as soon as possible.

Interesting video: an example of how a cautious rat hunts in a chicken coop

Mechanical methods of struggle

Can rats steal eggs? Yes, they can and do come up with clever ways. The owner of the chicken coop can suffer significant damage, so it is imperative to fight them. For this purpose, mechanical traps are used, inside which bait is placed.

They are installed in places inaccessible to hens and chicks so that they are not caught instead of rodents. And cunning rats can bypass them. Glue traps are often used, which are ineffective for strong adults that can tear their paws off the smeared surface. Another drawback: the rodent remains alive and must be destroyed or released by someone.

Traps in the chicken coop and the specifics of their use

The easiest way to get rid of rats in a chicken coop is to use a rat trap in a special protective box. The implementation of the design is quite simple:

Take any box of sufficient size, cardboard or wood;
Several holes with a diameter of 5-6 cm are cut in its walls right near the bottom;
A loaded trap with bait is placed at the bottom of the box;
The box is closed as tightly as possible, and its lid or opening flaps are sealed with tape. This is necessary so that if the chickens turn it over, it does not open;
The entire structure is installed under one of the perches.

You can check this trap about once a day by removing the tape and opening the box.

On a note
There are special houses on sale today in which you can place both traps and poisons for rats, but due to their relatively high cost they are not in great demand.

It is easier to work with a live trap - it is simply charged and installed anywhere in the chicken coop. What to do with a caught rat is up to each chicken coop owner to decide for himself. Usually they just give it to the cat. The only question here is whether a rat trap is needed if a cat lives on the property...

It is important to remember that there may be several rats in a chicken coop, and traps should be used as long as pests continue to be caught in them periodically. If not a single rat has been caught in two weeks, then we can conclude that there are no rats left in the chicken coop.

Biological methods

This method of struggle deserves special attention. It is effective and does not require the use of harmful substances. To do this, get a dog or cat that can catch rats. Not all pets are capable of destroying them, so it is advisable to first ask which ones will be useful for this role. In addition to animals, they use plants that have a strong odor that is unpleasant to rodents. These include: elderberry, mint, chamomile, wild rosemary. They are planted near the chicken coop or twigs are laid out near animal burrows. The good thing about this method is that rodents leave places that are unpleasant for them, and there is no need to bother with corpses.

Under what conditions do rats appear?

The likelihood of rats appearing near the farm and near the chicken coop increases in late autumn. In summer, rodents can easily find food among waste and in fields with crops. But when the crops are already harvested and it begins to get colder, rats are drawn to warmth, where there is water and a lot of food. The food intended for laying hens is an attractive treat for both birds and rodents. Farms near which there are crop fields and forests are especially affected by rat infestations. These are barns with winter supplies, cellars, poultry farms, farms.

Remember! Rats build entire tunnels underground, so protective devices need to be placed not only around, but also under the chicken’s home.

Folk remedies

If mechanical and biological means are ineffective, you can try folk remedies:

Wood ash. It is scattered along the walls. It does not pose any danger to chickens, but the alkali present in it corrodes the paws of rats. It is activated when the rodent begins to lick its dirty paws. The appearance of discomfort forces them to leave the coop.
A mixture of flour, alabaster, sugar and lime. Rats like its taste, but once inside, it causes organ burns and the rodents die.
Barrel of water. It should be filled halfway with water, and pieces of lard should be placed on the surface. Place boxes near the barrel, making a kind of ladder out of them so that the rats can get to the treat, the smell of which they can smell well. All that remains is to collect and dispose of the corpses of drowned rodents.

How rats steal eggs: useful information, methods of controlling rodents

Rodents always settle near human habitation. With the onset of inclement, cold weather, they move to living quarters and outbuildings. And if there is a chicken coop on the property, then uninvited guests will definitely appear there.

It is warm, there is always food and it is safe. Pests cause irreparable harm to the farm, spreading infections and eating animal feed, as well as eggs. How rats steal them, as well as what pest control measures are, we’ll look at this in the article.

Damage from rodents in a chicken coop

They carry dangerous infections that affect not only birds, but also humans.
Birds are infected with helminths, fleas and ticks.
They eat food from trays consisting of grains, root vegetables and vitamin supplements.
Rats steal eggs from the chicken coop, considering them a delicacy.
Hatched chickens and young animals are killed.
They cause harm to the health of adults by biting off scales on their paws during sleep, which leads to stress in the birds, and this, in turn, negatively affects egg production and weight gain.

Difficulties in fighting rats

Experts say that they do not abandon their elderly relatives and take care of them, and teach the young to hunt and avoid danger. Therefore, when choosing methods of rodent control, all these nuances should be taken into account.

A person will have to use cunning and ingenuity to defeat the dangerous pest.

Destruction of chicken eggs by rodents

Can rats steal eggs from a chicken coop? It turns out they can, and they even have several ways. They act:

One at a time - they take the egg with two front paws, and move with the help of their hind paws, crawling.
In twos, one grabs the prey and turns over on its back, while the other drags it by the tail to a secluded place.

Before you start fighting rodents, you need to think carefully and choose the most suitable methods. There are five main ways to get rid of rats, these include:

mechanical – involves the use of traps;
chemical - using insecticides;
biological - the safest and most frequently used;
folk - time-tested without harm to chickens;
modern - the use of ultrasonic repellers.

Each method has its own positive and negative qualities. Depending on the specific conditions, you can choose one of them or use several at once.

Poultry house reconstruction

The main purpose of a chicken coop is to keep the birds comfortable and to protect the premises from pests. This should be taken care of at the stage of its construction or during operation.

Remembering how rats steal eggs, showing their agility, you need to create unfavorable conditions for them.

Since there is plenty of food in the chicken coop, you need to be concerned about its tightness. For this:

When building a chicken coop, place a concrete foundation under it.
Make the walls impenetrable. Rats are able to penetrate through a very small hole, so it is advisable to cover the side surface of the building with metal sheet to a height of at least a meter.
Install metal doors so that there are no gaps.
The windows should be glazed and the floor concreted; the rats will gnaw through all other materials and insulation.
Keep the room clean. Systematically remove droppings, monitor the hygiene of food trays, and collect eggs in a timely manner.

Having eliminated the access of rodents from the outside, you can start exterminating them inside: yourself or invite specialists.

Mechanical methods of struggle

Biological methods

In addition to animals, they use plants that have a strong odor that is unpleasant to rodents. These include: elderberry, mint, chamomile, wild rosemary. They are planted near the chicken coop or twigs are laid out near animal burrows. The good thing about this method is that rodents leave places that are unpleasant for them, and there is no need to bother with corpses.

Folk remedies

If mechanical and biological means are ineffective, you can try folk remedies:

Wood ash. It is scattered along the walls. It does not pose any danger to chickens, but the alkali present in it corrodes the paws of rats. It is activated when the rodent begins to lick its dirty paws. The appearance of discomfort forces them to leave the coop.
A mixture of flour, alabaster, sugar and lime. Rats like its taste, but once inside, it causes organ burns and the rodents die.
Barrel of water. It should be filled halfway with water, and pieces of lard should be placed on the surface. Place boxes near the barrel, making a kind of ladder out of them so that the rats can get to the treat, the smell of which they can smell well. All that remains is to collect and dispose of the corpses of drowned rodents.

Chemical method

But it is important to remember that pesticides are not safe for birds. Therefore, when using them, the chicken coop is cleared of its inhabitants for a while, moving them to another room.

Gaseous preparations are considered the most effective means, but to use them you need to invite a specialist.

When treating with chemicals, you should always remember that rats can develop immunity to them. It is best to use new drugs that have just appeared on the market. They do not have an immediate effect, so it is necessary to remove the corpses of pests in a timely manner.

Ultrasonic repeller

Such devices are sold in any hardware store and are one of the most humane ways to control rodents.

The device produces sound waves that are not detected by the human ear, but cause panic and anxiety in rodents, and they urgently leave the room.

To select an effective rat repeller, professionals advise paying attention to the following details:

Power. When choosing a device, take into account the range of action.
Scene. Ultrasound only travels indoors.
Safety. The device must operate in the absence of people.
Change of vibrations. To scare away rats, the oscillation frequency changes automatically so that they do not get used to it.

Conclusion

Now you know how rats steal chicken eggs. In order to destroy them, they use a variety of methods that are also effective for eliminating mice. Rodents adapt to any conditions, they develop immunity to toxic substances, so there is no universal method of combating these pests.

Chemical method

To the question of whether rats steal chicken eggs, there is only an affirmative answer. Therefore, it is imperative to get rid of rodents in the chicken coop. Insecticides, the range of which is very large, are suitable for this. But it is important to remember that pesticides are not safe for birds. Therefore, when using them, the chicken coop is cleared of its inhabitants for a while, moving them to another room. Gaseous preparations are considered the most effective means, but to use them you need to invite a specialist.

How rats steal eggs, video

08/06/2019 Rodent breeders strive to diversify the diet of their charges in every possible way and add treats and treats to the diet. But can everything be used as a treat for your pet? This article is designed to help pet owners answer one of these questions and tell them whether rats can have eggs or not.

The danger of rats getting into the chicken coop

One of the main dangers of rats in a chicken coop is egg theft. Rodents carry this delicacy constantly, so a person may suffer certain losses. Rats are predators, and quite strong and arrogant.

They can injure even larger animals. If a rodent wants fresh meat, it may well attack the chicken. He can easily cope with both young and adult birds, and the rooster will not be able to protect them.

Rodents attack every day.

A hungry rat can eat a whole chicken. In other cases, she kills the bird and leaves it after biting it. The rodent destroys chickens very quickly.

Rats are carriers of ticks, fleas, bedbugs, helminths and various diseases:

plague;
typhus;
rabies;
toxocariasis;
toxoplasmosis;
salmonellosis;
tularemia;
rickettsiosis;
leptospirosis;
listeriosis;
hemorrhagic fever;
streptobacillosis.

Many diseases are dangerous not only for poultry, but also for humans. In addition, the presence of a dangerous predator makes chickens anxious, which is bad for their health and productivity.

Rats reproduce quickly, are always hungry and chew a lot. This harms not only the inhabitants of the chicken coop, but also the property. It is not uncommon for a person to discover the presence of rats only weeks or months later until they notice missing eggs or an injured bird.

The danger of rats also lies in their intelligence. They rarely fall into a trap if this has already happened to their relatives. Rat cubs are numerous, and adults teach them to avoid various poisons and traps.

Ultrasonic repeller

Such devices are sold in any hardware store and are one of the most humane ways to control rodents. The device produces sound waves that are not detected by the human ear, but cause panic and anxiety in rodents, and they urgently leave the room. To select an effective rat repeller, professionals advise paying attention to the following details:

Power. When choosing a device, take into account the range of action.
Scene. Ultrasound only travels indoors.
Safety. The device must operate in the absence of people.
Change of vibrations. To scare away rats, the oscillation frequency changes automatically so that they do not get used to it.

Signs of rodents

Measures to get rid of mice and rats in the chicken coop should be taken immediately, before the animals have time to breed and cause significant damage. The following signs will help you understand that uninvited guests are trying to inhabit territory that does not belong to them:

The smell that is characteristic of rodents. Experienced poultry keepers will recognize it immediately; others need to pay attention to the light plume of ammonia in the air. At the slightest suspicion, you need to more carefully look for other traces of animals.
The presence of rodents can be revealed by droppings. Black small pellets mean that a rat or mouse, if not yet settled, is already appearing in the chicken coop regularly.
Peculiar “paths” in the corners of the room leading to holes in the wall or holes in the floor show that rodents have been living here for quite a long time. Because leaving a noticeable trail with their weight is not a matter of one day. Gnawed walls will eloquently indicate the presence of rodents.
If the rats have already become accustomed to the place and are no longer afraid at every rustle, then they can eat the eggs right on the spot, without trying to drag them into the hole. The shell will give away the presence of these creatures.

Destruction

If it is not possible to remove the rats, you will have to use more radical measures - physical destruction. You can do this as follows:

Biological

You just need to introduce natural enemies of rodents, such as cats, into your household. Fluffy hunters will quickly eliminate the rats on your property.

This method, proven over thousands of years, is ideal for farms of any size. The main thing is to choose a real hunter who will enter into a real fight with rats.

The best rat traps are the Siberian cat breed. In addition to the genetic potential, they are perfectly adapted to the harsh Russian winters. Sphinxes also make excellent rat catchers, but they can only work on hot summer nights.

Mechanical

This method includes all kinds of traps and traps. It is worth noting that the effectiveness of this method is questionable. Rats are very smart predators, so set traps usually remain empty. But they will contain chickens, and even more so chickens.

Chemical

Carbonation

Poison

It is much easier to purchase baits made from toxic substances on the market. Due to their composition, such baits attract rats with their smell and pose a mortal danger to them. It is worth noting that this effective method has two significant drawbacks:

Most chemicals are dangerous not only to rats, but also to humans;
Baits attract not only rodents, but also chickens and domestic animals (cats, dogs), and sometimes children.

The most effective means include:

Ratid-1

This is a poisonous agent in the form of small granules. Recommended for use in residential and utility rooms. One package (40 granules) is usually enough to clear rodents from your home and chicken coop.

Ratid-2 recently appeared. The advantages of baits are that they contain an additive that prevents the decomposition of corpses, causing tissue mummification. As a result, there is no odor or microbiological hazard on the farm.

Packaging 100 gr. costs about 60 rubles, comes from Ukraine.

Goliath

This product is sold on the market in containers from 1 to 10 kilograms. It is considered one of the most effective and is widely used by pest control companies.

The principle of action of this drug is as follows. After entering the stomach of a rat, the substance does not cause instant death, thereby scaring away other rodents. The poison begins to act after 10-12 days, and all this time, the rats eat the bait, considering it safe.

“Goliath” causes oxygen starvation in rodents, so they tend to leave the room and go into the open. This will greatly facilitate the process of collecting the bodies of dead rats.

The corpse is also mummified.

The cost of the drug depends on the volume of the package:

1 kg.	2,800 rub.
2 kg.	4,300 rub.
3 kg.	6,500 rub.
5 kg.	9,200 rub.
10 kg.	from 15,000 rub.

Krysin

Fast-acting and effective drug. On the market this substance is sold in ampoules. This bait is used as follows: one ampoule is mixed with 500 grams. seeds and a tablespoon of sunflower oil.

The resulting mixture is laid out near rat holes and in places where rodents often appear. Any bulk food products can be used as ingredients. After eating the poison, the animal dies within 1-2 minutes.

Despite the apparent ease of use, poisons are the worst option for fighting rats. In addition to the dangers for birds and humans, a huge number of cats die from them: if they eat a poisoned rodent, they almost certainly die too.