Finally found a solution to my rat problem

[jon f mn]

Been fighting with rats for 5 years, and losing badly. Turns out they are smart and crafty. Lol, took me a long time to figure out a solution. The problem is there is so much feed around they reproduce faster than I was able to kill them. I tried every kind of bait, poison, and trap there is. Most didn't work at all, some a little. They took bait and poison by the bucket full but kept getting worse. I tried all the different kinds I could find in stores and online, none worked. Same with traps, Most didn't work at all as the rats were either too quick for the trap, like the Victor type, they would trip those but not catch them. They wouldn't go in the bucket type ans several other types. This kind worked with a modification.

They would catch them, but not hold them, until I screwed some sheet rock screws in along the edge. Then they worked good baited with peanut butter. I would catch one or two a day, but they still bred faster than I was catching them. I tried the internet suggestions as well with baking soda, but they wouldn't eat any of the recipes they had. It finally dawned on me that the bait was wrong. So I started mixing the baking soda with the hog and cattle feed and putting that out. They took that right away. I noticed a reduction in what I saw right away. Then I thought since the baking soda basically blows them up, maybe Alka seltzer would work. They took that too, and boy did that work. Lol They eventually slowed on eating that, I'm sure partially because there was less, but they also learned to separate the soda from the feed. So then I tried grinding the poison bait to powder and mixing that with the feed. That has about ended the problem for now. I'm sure it will take a while to get the last of them, but I went from seeing a dozen when I went in the barn or shed to seeing none now. Now I'll have to take the walls in the barn apart where they were living apart as it smells now. But at least I'm ahead of the little.....uhm, critters. Lol

 

[Charlie M]

I've battled rats off and on for years. I've been having some success with repellants. Tractor supply sells one with balsam oil and Lowes has one based in peppermint oil in a spray container. I know at least the peppermint oil is working because there are no rat droppings in my wheat bin. With rats prevention is a way better plan than extermination. In my experience rats won't touch any poison when other food is around and when they start eating a poison they will eventually figure it out and stop eating it.

 

[DoubleO7]

@jon f mn

I to used drywall screws driven in from the bottom board of the big old fashioned bale style rat traps the points sticking up just outside the bale when closed. Like shark teeth in the bottom jaw.
Then I wire tether the trap to an screw in the wall so they do not run off with the trap.

My bait is the bait bars that I run thru a cheese grater then mix it into peanut butter.

 

[matthies]

Cousin had rat problems years ago and had a guy come out that had poison in a fine powder that he would blow into the holes. That worked great as the rats would lick themselves and not realize they were eating poison.

 

[Charlie M]

Its called tracking powder. Around here you have to be a licensed rodent control guy to get it.

 

[Duner Wi]

Get there or four cats. They will monitor the situation going forward.

 

[paul]

Good info, thanks.

We get more rats or less rats and mice depending on how good the momma cats are here. Not every cat is effective and knows their business.

Have actually had 2 Tom cats that were very very good mousers, sometimes they are considered lazy but there can be exceptional ones.

The nice thing with the good cat is they work year in and year out. The poisons require me to remember and keep checking. Unfortunately I have to admit the good cat is more dependable….

Paul

 

[jhwis]

Get there or four cats. They will monitor the situation going forward.

Have a few cats around. Problem solved.

 

[tomturkey]

Well Jon. if I went in the barn and saw that many rats I'd probably burn it down. I absolutely am horrified by rats. I am glad you are getting a handle on it. I've watched utube videos of men with dogs killing rats, very entertaining, but creepy none the less. I enjoy your posts. gobble

 

[jon f mn]

Well Jon. if I went in the barn and saw that many rats I'd probably burn it down. I absolutely am horrified by rats. I am glad you are getting a handle on it. I've watched utube videos of men with dogs killing rats, very entertaining, but creepy none the less. I enjoy your posts. gobble

It was hard not to do just that. Hopefully this will work long term if I keep up with it.

 

[jon f mn]

It was hard not to do just that. Hopefully this will work long term if I keep up with it.

The dog I had before this wouldn't tolerate cats. He would get rats, but only if was around, so he never got ahead of them. He would also catch the sparrows in the barn, they are next in the list now that he is gone and they are also multiplying.

 

[paul]

As a kid the folks always had a rat terrier cross dog on the place. They are better critter control than a cat. I grew up only knowing what a raccoon, wood Chuck, or other such critters were by pictures, never had any live long enough on the place to see any.

When we shelled out the corn crib in early fall you would find the dog sitting by the corner of the crib, smile on his face and literally a pile of mice and rats beside him. Ear corn in a crib just invites those critters around, but those rat terrier crosses really worked on them. With enthusiasm.

A dog or cats doesn’t fit every person so I’m not saying that is the solution but a good one can do wonders.

 

[cjunrau]

Been fighting with rats for 5 years, and losing badly. Turns out they are smart and crafty. Lol, took me a long time to figure out a solution. The problem is there is so much feed around they reproduce faster than I was able to kill them. I tried every kind of bait, poison, and trap there is. Most didn't work at all, some a little. They took bait and poison by the bucket full but kept getting worse. I tried all the different kinds I could find in stores and online, none worked. Same with traps, Most didn't work at all as the rats were either too quick for the trap, like the Victor type, they would trip those but not catch them. They wouldn't go in the bucket type ans several other types. This kind worked with a modification.

View attachment 102726

They would catch them, but not hold them, until I screwed some sheet rock screws in along the edge. Then they worked good baited with peanut butter. I would catch one or two a day, but they still bred faster than I was catching them. I tried the internet suggestions as well with baking soda, but they wouldn't eat any of the recipes they had. It finally dawned on me that the bait was wrong. So I started mixing the baking soda with the hog and cattle feed and putting that out. They took that right away. I noticed a reduction in what I saw right away. Then I thought since the baking soda basically blows them up, maybe Alka seltzer would work. They took that too, and boy did that work. Lol They eventually slowed on eating that, I'm sure partially because there was less, but they also learned to separate the soda from the feed. So then I tried grinding the poison bait to powder and mixing that with the feed. That has about ended the problem for now. I'm sure it will take a while to get the last of them, but I went from seeing a dozen when I went in the barn or shed to seeing none now. Now I'll have to take the walls in the barn apart where they were living apart as it smells now. But at least I'm ahead of the little.....uhm, critters. Lol

I am curios why there is so much feed for them around. I know in a barn, and we had pigs in a barn that looked much like yours. we had issues with rats as well. Then we changed the way we fed. No more self feeders with grain. Grain bins were lifted off the ground and sealed up. All feed troughs were movable on the concrete floor. All holes in the wall were filled with poison and nailed or screwed shut. Cattle pens were lined with tin so no straw was against a wood wall. kept all feed bags and mineral where it was in the open and they could not hide around it. Just a few cats a the time and it didn't take long and no more rats.
Outside the hay and straw bales were stacked 200 yards from any building. Only way to get rid of them is to take drastic measures. glad you got yours under control

 

[JMOR]

Just don’t use poisons and cats/dogs at same time. Chew on a poisoned rat and can be the end, as was the case of several childhood dogs

 

[DRussell]

Best way I found to get rid of rats was to get rid of the dog and get cats. When I bought my dairy farm the prior owners had dogs that hated cats and the dairy barn was full of rats. You'd walk in the barn after dark and turn on the lights and there would be 25 or more rats scattering. After about 1-2 years of no dogs the rats were gone. The cats that took the place of the dogs took care of the rats.

 

[Non-farmer]

John F - try the Victor traps that look like a mouse trap on steroids. When i first moved here, there was a porous mobile home full of mice. I always have at least 2 cats and they couldn't keep up. I put out mouse traps and lost count of the number of times i'd see a mouse wandering around with a trap stuck to it. So I bought a few Victor rat traps. they are just GIANT mouse traps with the spring-loaded bar. Happily, I have no rats here, but no mouse survives a meeting with Victor. I just have to put them in cat-proof locations. They won't just break cat bones, they will easily break a human finger or toe.

A few years later, I tore down the mobile home and replaced it with a real house with a real-live walkout basement. My 2 boys are now able to keep up with the varmint population, so Victor is on an indefinite furlough

 

[Non-farmer]

Just don’t use poisons and cats/dogs at same time. Chew on a poisoned rat and can be the end, as was the case of several childhood dogs

Good advice, and so sorry to hear about the dogs. Tomcat makes bait with 2 different chemicals. One has "secondary toxicity" and will kill things that eat victims of the stuff. the other is milder and won't kill an animal that eats a victim. Sadly, not every vendor of the stuff makes that distinction clear to their customers. I wouldn't be without my cats, so I avoid the RED-labeled Tomcat.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Get there or four cats. They will monitor the situation going forward.

We have 4 cats,,,, two outside mostly,,, about the only evidence of rodents around here is the occasional corpse left on the patio as a gift to us, gm

 

[jon f mn]

John F - try the Victor traps that look like a mouse trap on steroids. When i first moved here, there was a porous mobile home full of mice. I always have at least 2 cats and they couldn't keep up. I put out mouse traps and lost count of the number of times i'd see a mouse wandering around with a trap stuck to it. So I bought a few Victor rat traps. they are just GIANT mouse traps with the spring-loaded bar. Happily, I have no rats here, but no mouse survives a meeting with Victor. I just have to put them in cat-proof locations. They won't just break cat bones, they will easily break a human finger or toe.

A few years later, I tore down the mobile home and replaced it with a real house with a real-live walkout basement. My 2 boys are now able to keep up with the varmint population, so Victor is on an indefinite furlough

I have tried them, they rarely caught a rat. The rats would trip them, but not get caught. The other black plastic trap I posted a pic of works much better.

 

[DoubleO7]

depending on how good the momma cats are here. Not every cat is effective and knows their business.

YEP!

We have had lazy, good for nothing cats that would be in the barn, curled up on top of a feed bag.
Sleeping their way away.
Cat gets up as we need some feed and low a behold there under the cat is a mouse nest with babies in it and they were not dead.