Chicken coops are a rat magnet, especially during the fall and winter weather, once their external food sources are depleted by harvest. They carry the risk of spreading diseases to your flock (and you) and can even become predatory, feeding on chicks and adult chickens. How do you get rid of rats in your chicken coop?
Get rid of rats in your chicken coop by removing the clutter and debris and closing all holes. Then, remove the chicken food water at night and store the feed properly. Next, you can get a cat or set traps to catch the remaining rats. Lastly, build barriers to keep them out of the chicken coop.
Have your ladies fallen victim to a rat infestation? If so, here are several effective strategies to keep your girls safe and the coop rodent-free.
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Getting Rid Of Rats In Your Chicken Coop
While backyard chickens and rodents aren’t naturally paired together, rats and grain are like Ben and Jerry. Therefore, good husbandry is an absolute must to keep the vermin at bay.
What if it’s too late?
If your girls’ coop is already infested with rats, you’ll need to get rid of them as soon as possible. The best ways to get rid of them include:
- Cleaning the coop by getting rid of the clutter and closing any holes that they can use as potential homes
- Starving the rats out by removing the food water at night and storing the feed properly
- Setting traps or getting a cat to get rid of the remaining rats
- Building barriers to keep rats out of the chicken coop
Clean The Chicken Coop
The first step is to remove the temptation for rats to want to move into the coop in the first place. Rats thrive in messy and cluttered areas. So, use a bit of elbow grease and give the chicken coop a spring clean to help keep these pests at bay.
Start by shoveling old droppings, dirt, feathers, cobwebs, and nesting material with a shovel and broom. You can add the debris to your compost pile. Then, clean any clutter in or outside the coop, including wood, bricks, leaves, tools, and other junk. Decluttering your yard will discourage rats from nesting in your yard.
Next, ensure the grass around the chicken coop is cut neatly and remove brush piles and scrap lumber near the chicken coop. Then, if you have empty feed bags lying around, store them away properly instead of leaving them to pile up outside the pen.
You’ll also want to rat-proof your compost pile – compost is a rat haven! It provides a warm home with comfortable bedding, plenty of food, and a safe place to breed.
Pop your food scraps into a steel garbage bin with several tiny holes drilled into it instead of putting the leftovers into an open compost bin. In addition, frequently soak the compost pile with water and use a pitchfork to turn the compost; this will disrupt potential rodent dwellings.
Close all the holes in or near the coop. In addition, we recommend installing a metal plate underneath the cage to prevent the rats from burrowing underneath.
Starve The Pesky Buggers
Rats absolutely love eating grain and chicken feed! The number one reason that these nocturnal rodents raid your coop is food.
Cut off the food sources by removing leftover food and water from the feed boxes at night to avoid attracting more rats. In addition, the sustaining food source poses a risk for diseases and parasites from the rat droppings that contaminate the food and water.
You can refresh the food and water supply in the morning. Alternatively, opt for a treadle feeder designed to be rodent-resistant.
Clean up the spilled leftovers and table scraps to prevent attracting more rodents. Keep your chicken feed in heavy industrial or metal container drums with tight lids. Rats are hardy pets that can chew through plastic bins in no time!
Rats are opportunistic predators that will happily start eating your chicken eggs. So, ensure you remove all the eggs daily. Also, don’t leave your trash bags outside, as rats will chew through the plastic to gorge on your garbage.
Get Rid Of The Remaining Rats
If you still have rats raiding your chicken coop, it’s time to get your hands dirty and take vengeance.
Get rid of rats by:
- Getting a barn cat
- Setting traps
Cats Help Keep Rats Out The Chicken Coop
A suitable mouser is an excellent defense mechanism against a looming rat population.
Cats – most farm cats anyway – will sniff out and hunt rats. In addition, the cat’s scent will help deter rodents from your yard. However, if you have a lazy cat that’s only good for cuddles, move on to the next option.
Set Traps To Catch Rats
There are various ways to catch rats.
- Rat Zappers: Rat zappers are a humane way to exterminate rats from your coop. These zappers mostly contain 40 to 50 kills per battery set. Once the rat enters the trap, it gets zapped, and the trap shuts. In addition, these traps are incredibly convenient for disposing of the remains – you don’t have to touch the rodent.
- Live Rodent Traps: You can use a live trap that closes once the rat enters for the bait. However, the biggest dilemma is figuring out how to dispose of the rats. After setting them free, the rats often make their way back to the coop.
- Snap Traps: Old-fashioned snap traps are an inexpensive way to catch rats. However, they must be used cautiously and placed away from areas your girls can be caught.
- Glue traps: Although effective, glue traps are extremely inhumane and not high up on the list. The rat’s feet stick to the trap, and it dies from panic or starvation if you don’t get rid of it. You’ll also have to be careful with your chickens and other animals getting near the trap.
Old-fashioned rat traps, clamp traps, and glue traps aren’t ideal for chicken coops. Not only are these traps inhumane, but they pose a risk of catching your chickens. Chickens are curious and can lose their beak or toe if they interfere with the trap.
Hire A Professional
Sometimes we have to throw in the towel and get professionals to assist when we can’t get rid of the rats in our chicken coop on our own.
Exterminators are qualified in what they do and can quickly help you get rid of your rat problem.
To Use Poison Or Not To Use Poison?
Using poison to eliminate rats in your chicken coop may sound like a quick and easy solution. And although effective, it poses a massive threat to your girls.
Using poison isn’t a feasible option for your chickens and other animals. Only use it as a last resort and with extreme caution. Poisoned rats can cause other animals, including your chickens, to be poisoned if they eat the rat. In addition, many rats have developed immunity to poisons.
Build Barriers To Rat-Proof The Chicken Coop
You’ll need to rat-proof the coop to prevent it from re-entering.
We recommend repairing broken doors, floors, or holes to restrict access to the chicken coop. Cover the flooring, ventilation areas, and existing holes with mesh hardware cloth.
Note: Most rats can squeeze through spaces as tiny as a quarter. So, be thorough when covering the holes.
You can plant fresh herbs around your coop or sprinkle cuttings into the bedding and nesting boxes. Rodents are appalled by the scent, and your chickens will find the aroma comforting.
The best herbs for deterring include:
- Mint
- Peppermint
- Lavender
- Catmint
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Cloves
- Sage
- Oregano
- Basil
Conclusion
Rats dwelling in your chicken coop pose a considerable risk. While elimination may sound cruel, it’s vital for your flock’s health – and yours!
Spending extra time rat-proofing your coop will keep your girls happy and healthy.
