willie.macleod
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If you keep ferrets anywhere near your hens they will doubtless sort out the rat problem but will also be highly likely to carry on and finish off the hens as well for supper....
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zeppelin builder
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JACK RUSSEL
My family used to keep chickens, relatively recently got rid of them as my parents wanted more room for the dog and didn't want to keep up looking after the dog and chickens together.
The only way you'll keep chickens away from that type of feeder; which is an inferior design is by enclosing it with the chickens in a 100% rat proof enclosure; which is hard to achieve without a lot of expense. Likely it'll have to be in the hen house at night, which is more often going to result in food wastage.
For rats to occupy a space they need regular access to water, food and shelter. For most people who keep chickens you will end up providing all of the above. If someone or an animal like a dog is free where the chickens are kept during the day and all food and water is removed, ideally into the house, or otherwise fully proofed from pests at night you will cut down the likelihood of getting a rat problem, but once they've found a home there hard to get rid of.
You need to analyze every opportunity for rats to get access to water, food and shelter. Best case is that the only access is what you provide; so if you keep bedding down to a minimum in the hen house, discard grass shavings promptly, etc and keep all supplies in pest proof storage inside and don't leave any water out at night - chickens will be fine, as long as they have water in the morning, there is a good chance you can avoid the problem and or it'll help you get rid of them. If you have something like a stream or a neighbor as a pond nearby you have to be even more careful and it may be impossible to get rid of all of them.
On feeders; you can get more modern feeders which attach to the wall of the hen house and are higher up so they don't get fouled by mess and food waste is reduced, which all goes to avoiding attracting pets in the first place. Another option is a treadle feeder, where it takes the weight of a chicken on a platform to let feed out into a feeding tray. They are often constructed out of galvanized material and are largely rat and mice proof.
The only way you'll keep chickens away from that type of feeder; which is an inferior design is by enclosing it with the chickens in a 100% rat proof enclosure; which is hard to achieve without a lot of expense. Likely it'll have to be in the hen house at night, which is more often going to result in food wastage.
For rats to occupy a space they need regular access to water, food and shelter. For most people who keep chickens you will end up providing all of the above. If someone or an animal like a dog is free where the chickens are kept during the day and all food and water is removed, ideally into the house, or otherwise fully proofed from pests at night you will cut down the likelihood of getting a rat problem, but once they've found a home there hard to get rid of.
You need to analyze every opportunity for rats to get access to water, food and shelter. Best case is that the only access is what you provide; so if you keep bedding down to a minimum in the hen house, discard grass shavings promptly, etc and keep all supplies in pest proof storage inside and don't leave any water out at night - chickens will be fine, as long as they have water in the morning, there is a good chance you can avoid the problem and or it'll help you get rid of them. If you have something like a stream or a neighbor as a pond nearby you have to be even more careful and it may be impossible to get rid of all of them.
On feeders; you can get more modern feeders which attach to the wall of the hen house and are higher up so they don't get fouled by mess and food waste is reduced, which all goes to avoiding attracting pets in the first place. Another option is a treadle feeder, where it takes the weight of a chicken on a platform to let feed out into a feeding tray. They are often constructed out of galvanized material and are largely rat and mice proof.
Not seen one of these before.
It is also worth mentioning that you also should avoid feeding birds in your garden; the rats will come for the left over bird seed and stay once they smell the chickens; because they represent provided food, water and shelter for the rat/mouse.
Thanks for all of the advice so far.
Getting rid of the birds isnt an option - we like having them, so need to find a way to solve the issue.
I will take a closer look at these, can big rats open them?? I wonder if Willie's post may provide another answer...
These look interesting - is there a limit to the number of birds per hopper? They will all try to feed at once when they are let out in the morning although I am sure they will adapt. Do you have an opinion on whether the spring version is any better? They show the spring with their chickens. I can see a small overhead shelter built in their pen housing this so that they can eat in the dry even in bad weather. The only time it may need to go in the house would be when the fox is about and they need to be shut in but other than that it could live outside.
Got one!! And he is the laziest JR that you will ever meet! He has killed a few. The lab has had more though. Might have to train the rottie as a ratter - they wouldnt stand much chance if he can catch them!
Getting rid of the birds isnt an option - we like having them, so need to find a way to solve the issue.
I will take a closer look at these, can big rats open them?? I wonder if Willie's post may provide another answer...
These look interesting - is there a limit to the number of birds per hopper? They will all try to feed at once when they are let out in the morning although I am sure they will adapt. Do you have an opinion on whether the spring version is any better? They show the spring with their chickens. I can see a small overhead shelter built in their pen housing this so that they can eat in the dry even in bad weather. The only time it may need to go in the house would be when the fox is about and they need to be shut in but other than that it could live outside.
Got one!! And he is the laziest JR that you will ever meet! He has killed a few. The lab has had more though. Might have to train the rottie as a ratter - they wouldnt stand much chance if he can catch them!
Good question, just tested mine with a measuring jug and water. It started to open at about 500g (depending how far out on the treadle). I suppose the position of the chains could always be moved to adjust the leverage..
Migmac
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Rats will get in and out that easy. Best option is make it rat proof, minimal food left out and traps.
willie.macleod
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We have about 200 hens and generally feed them twice a day so the wright feeders are mainly for ad-lib feeding, we have 3 in use just now with either poultry corn or layers pellets in them. I have plastic milk churns that I use for the containers which take a 20Kg bag of feed each or thereabouts.
I wouldn't touch the spring versions, they are rubbish and can dump loads of feed out once the wrong animals work out how to abuse it or the spring rusts/fatigues. I have plenty of sheep, deer, ravens, a sea eagle, rabbits, rats and the odd rogue ferret trying to either eat the chickens or the chicken feed but the wright feeders just work, never seen a non-chicken manage to get anything and the feed rate means I'm pretty sure I'm not losing much overnight to vermin either, even the ducks seem to manage to learn how to get something out of them! Get your height set correctly and I think you should be OK.
We've had rats in the garden, had to sop feeding the birds which has disappointed us, found some dig holes under the fence and have caught sight of them feeding off the crumbs the birds leave (very messy eaters wild birds).
Considering digging down a foot and meshing into the ground under the fence with it fixed to the fence at ground level to proof it and also in the process of making a bird feeder with a catchment tray to catch the crumbs.
We were pretty narked to find rats as our previous house we spent over a year trying to get rid of rats in the loft, terraced house, the only thing that worked was proofing the loft with steel mesh and cement, which in a loft sealing every possible hole both sides and cavity tops (whilst maintaining ventilation) is quite a task. At least here they're external only.
brightspark
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if you cement holes up they dig it back out. shot broken glass in the mix and they don't 
if the holes are away from buildings just flood the holes with propane and oxygen. shove some wire wool in the hole prod a couple of leads in it stand back and connect to a battery job done 
if the holes are away from buildings just flood the holes with propane and oxygen. shove some wire wool in the hole prod a couple of leads in it stand back and connect to a battery job done
Migmac
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if you cement holes up they dig it back out. shot broken glass in the mix and they don't
Naughty boy
http://rodenator.eu/natural-england
On a fish farm we had a wooden box about 2 foot long X 6inch X 6inch. low section in middle to hold rat poisen and about 2 inch holes in the ends. It worked well.
BTw do these things do any good?......... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Plug-...hash=item1a5af5f028:m:mlg8MUD4di61jkZ13sFOuOg
BTw do these things do any good?......... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Plug-...hash=item1a5af5f028:m:mlg8MUD4di61jkZ13sFOuOg
slim_boy_fat
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Personally, I'd keep my money where it is.
Migmac
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Had a good one plugged in and the manufacturer was very confident, so much so, they gave you a money back guarantee if it didn't work...I got my money back.
brightspark
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no they don't work . wifey has one in the shed and ive put bait blocks in over 5 weeks and all of it got scoffed so it didn't work. they are all dead now as the remaining blocks haven't been touched
brightspark
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my mates go ferreting . he showed me the pictures of a days work 250 dead rabbits 
Christ just think of the devastation of crops with that lot
Christ just think of the devastation of crops with that lot
arther dailey
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after spending over £200 on rat poison because neighbours had chicken but refused to lay poison I can understand everyones thoughts on it , one thing I did was core an apple,fill with poison replace core ends, did several and jammed them down the rat holes in their bank , layed poision baits everywhere along the boundary...cost a lot but eventually got on top of it , country saying is where theres feather theres always fir (rats) , watching out the neighbour would fill the tro with feed, walk in and slam door, at that a raft of rats swarmed from under the shed like out of a horror movie, covered that trough ,dozens and dozens , poor chicken were getting starved to death.
Dirty b-sard things rats, they used to be in the salmon fish food store, funny thing was they were quite tame as salmon feed has a bit of tranquiiser in it to keep caged salmon from getting aggressive and killing each other. We could throw a net over the rat as it just sat looking at us, then go over and stamp it to death.
