How do I keep a presistant rat out of my garden, without poison.
Related Discussions
GNATS - How to get rid of them?
Somehow my house and garden got tiny gnats that killed my fuchsia plant and fly everywhere. I have tried ALL the Web recommendations - soap and oil dishes, sand in th... See more
Marigolds growing! Should I pinch the buds?
My marigold plants are growing. I heard that pinching the buds until Autumn will allow them to grow without killing the plant. Is this true?
Growing garlic
Growing our first garlic, should we wait until the leaves are drying out before we pick it? Husband picked first one today along with our first potatoes.
How to keep mice out of your garden?
Hi everyone, I have mice in my garden destroying my vegetables and I have also noticed them in the barn and shed. Please can someone tell me how to prevent them from ... See more
What's the best flower/plant to grow in Texas?
I know that opinions vary, but what's your opinion?!I have great luck w Rosemary plants. Green all year long.
How can I keep my dogs out of my fairy garden without putting a fence
They go in and knock things over, go to the bathroom, and chew up my houses.Any ideas?
Oh no!! Try placing cotton balls around the permiter of the coop, check it out: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/outdoor/pest-repeller/q-how-to-get-rid-of-rats-mice-in-the-garden-16668750?expand_all_questions=1
Good luck!!
Why are they there? Food? Shelter? Eliminate or make it easier to leave...
make sure your chook food isn't in an open container that the rats can get to food you can place rat traps around outside the coop. Do you know where it is getting in? As if you do that would be a good place to put rat trap. The big thing is to not feed your chooks on the ground as this is a great way to attract rats. If you breed your own chickens rats will kill the young ones so you need to get on top of it
Because of the chickens, many of the rat repellents are out of the question, even the natural ones. Rats don't like mothballs, ammonia, or peppermint. I just read that a perimeter of mint plants work as a rat deterrent, and might be worth a try. Bay leaves are eventually fatal to rats, I've read, and even plain baby powder is supposed to deter them. Ground pepper, sprinkled around entrance holes might be worth a try too. I just discovered a rat nest in a duct leading into my attic, (and have several rescue cats living near that entry point!) so I am buying a humane trap, along with trying several of the natural deterrents. Finally, if you can find an entry point, wait until night, when rats are normally most active, and away from their dens, and stuff it full of steel wool. If that goes undisturbed for a day or so, permanently block the entrance and start looking for others.
I almost forgot, I don't know how the chickens will feel about this, but I have heard that owl feathers and plastic snakes in the area can deter rats, also used kitty litter (but I doubt this last one, because I have actual CATS living near the rat's nest I just found, and it doesn't seem to deter them at all )
I have many owl feathers I've gathered when walking in the woods, so I might give it a try.
If you can, use the copper type scrub pads instead of steel wool. They chew right through steel wool. Put the chicken feed in a metal, tight lidded container. Spray with a really strong Irish Spring and water soap mixture. Follow up with cayene pepper.