Rodents always settle near human habitation. With the onset of inclement, cold weather, they move to residential premises and outbuildings. And if there is a chicken coop on the site, then uninvited guests will certainly appear there. It is warm, there is always food and safe. Pests cause irreparable damage to the household, spreading infections and eating animal feed, as well as eggs. How rats steal them, as well as what are the measures to control pests - this will be considered in the article.
Rodent harm in the chicken coop
The rat is a smart and difficult animal. She is able to defeat the cat and injure the dog. And in the chicken coop, she is calm, safe and has something to feast on. For permanent residents - chickens, rats are especially dangerous because they:
- They carry dangerous infections that affect not only birds, but also humans.
- Infect feathered helminths, fleas and ticks.
- Food from trays is eaten, consisting of grain, root crops and vitamin supplements.
- Rats steal eggs from the chicken coop, considering them a delicacy.
- Hatching chickens and young animals are killed.
- They damage the health of adults by biting the scales on their paws during sleep, which leads to stress of birds, and this, in turn, negatively affects egg production and weight gain.
Rats do not stop strong walls and concrete foundations. In the hunt for food, they gnaw passages, make digs, and by any means select the delicacies that are in the chicken coop. And how rats steal eggs, one should only be surprised.
Difficulty fighting rats
People have long been fighting with them. They get rid of rodents in many ways. That is why rats have developed many methods of protection and the ability to survive in any conditions. Do not underestimate the mental abilities of animals, which also complicates the fight against them.
Rats feel danger and behave very carefully. They cleverly bypass cooked traps and warn other individuals about them. Their fact 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 elderly relatives and care for them, and young animals are trained to hunt and evade dangers. Therefore, when choosing methods of controlling rodents, all these nuances should be taken into account. A person will have to use cunning and ingenuity to defeat a dangerous pest.
Killing eggs by rodents
Can rats steal eggs from a chicken coop? It turns out they can, and they even have several methods. They act:
- Alone - they take an egg with two front paws, and move with the help of their hind legs, crawling.
- In two - one captures the prey and turns on its back, and the other drags it by the tail to a secluded place.
It is noted that rats store the stolen in a certain place and regale it when the product is rotten. Now you know how rats steal eggs and ruin the host. Moreover, these animals move not only on the floor, but also on the walls, ceiling.
Methods for getting rid of rats
Before you start a fight with 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 often used;
- folk - time-tested without harm to chickens;
- modern - the use of ultrasonic repellers.
Each method is endowed with its positive and negative qualities. Depending on the specific conditions, you can choose one of them or use several at once.
House reconstruction
The main task of the chicken coop is the comfortable keeping of poultry in it and protecting 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, it is necessary to create unfavorable conditions for them. Since there is plenty of food in the chicken coop, concern must be expressed about its tightness. For this:
- When building a chicken coop, lay a concrete foundation under it.
- Make walls impervious. Rats are able to penetrate through a very small hole, so it is advisable to stud the side surface of the building with metal tin to a height of not less than a meter.
- Put metal doors so that there are no gaps.
- The windows are glazed and the floor is concreted, all other materials and insulation of the rat will be gnawed.
- Keep the room clean. Systematically remove droppings, monitor the hygiene of food trays, and collect eggs in a timely manner.
Having removed access of rodents from the outside, you can do their destruction inside: on your own or invite specialists.
Mechanical methods of struggle
Can rats steal eggs? Yes, they can and come up with clever ways. The owner of the chicken coop is able to suffer significant damage, so they must be fought with. For this, mechanical traps are used, inside of which the bait is placed.
They are installed in places inaccessible to chickens and chickens so that they do not fall instead of rodents. And cunning rats can get around them. Often use glue traps, which are ineffective for strong adult individuals that can tear off their paws from the smeared surface. Another drawback: the rodent remains alive and needs to be destroyed or released by someone.
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 is able to 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, plants with a strong odor that are unpleasant to rodents are used. These include: elderberry, mint, pharmacy chamomile, ledum. They are planted near the chicken coop or sprigs are laid near the burrows of animals. The method is good because rodents leave places that are unpleasant for them, and you do not have to bother with corpses.
Folk remedies
With the ineffectiveness of mechanical and biological agents, you can try folk:
- Wood ash. It is scattered along the walls. For chickens, it poses no danger, and the rats are corroded by the alkali present in it. It activates when the rodent begins to lick its stained paws. The appearance of discomfort makes them leave the chicken coop.
- A mixture of flour, alabaster, sugar and lime. Rats like its taste, but once inside, it causes organ burns, and rodents die.
- Barrel with water. It must be half-filled with water, and on the surface lay pieces of bacon. Put boxes near the barrel, making them a kind of ladder, so that the rats can get to the treat, the smell of which they feel well. It remains only to collect and dispose of the corpses of drowned rodents.
Chemical way
When asked whether rats steal eggs, there is only an affirmative answer. Therefore, in the chicken coop, it is necessary to get rid of rodents. For this, insecticides are suitable, the assortment of which is very large. But it is important to remember that pesticides are unsafe for birds. Therefore, when they are used, the chicken coop is exempted from the inhabitants for some time, moving them to another room. The most effective means are gaseous drugs, but to use them you need to invite a specialist.
When processing chemicals, one should always remember that rats can develop immunity on them. It is best to use new drugs that have just appeared on the market. They do not have an instant effect, therefore, 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 fight rodents. The device produces sound waves that are not captured by the human ear, but cause panic and anxiety in rodents, and they urgently leave the room. To select an effective rat repeller, professionals are advised to pay attention to the following details:
- Power. When choosing a device take into account the radius of action.
- Scene. Ultrasound is distributed only indoors.
- Security. The device should work in the absence of people.
- Change of vibrations. To scare away rats, the vibration 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, use a variety of methods that are effective for the elimination of mice. Rodents adapt to any conditions, they develop immunity to toxic substances, therefore, a universal method of combating these pests does not exist.