Have you noticed droppings around your chicken coop or heard unusual noises at night?
If so, you might have a rat problem on your hands.
These pesky invaders can wreak havoc in your coop, posing severe threats to the safety of your chickens and your daily egg haul.
Don’t worry, though – we’re here to help.
With over 20 years of experience getting rid of rats in the San Francisco Bay Area, we’ve compiled our best tips into this helpful blog.
Key Takeaways
- To get rid of rats in your chicken coop, conduct a thorough inspection, set out traps and bait stations, seal all entry points, remove food and water rouses, remove rat droppings and clean the whole coop, monitor ongoing levels of rat activity, and contact a pest management professional if needed.
- Don’t waste your time on unproven methods like ultrasonic devices and natural repellents, which don’t work and will only be a waste of money.
- If you’re having trouble getting rid of the infestation, contact a professional like Smith’s Pest Management.
Before You Get Started
- Gather Your Supplies: Before you go to battle with rats, gather your gear! You’ll need sturdy gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, and closed-toed work boots. You may also want to grab a flashlight to check the dark corners of the coop for signs of rat damage.
- Move Your Chickens: Before you start, temporarily relocate your flock so they don’t accidentally get caught in traps or interfere with your cleaning and reinforcement efforts.
- Understand the Dangers of Rat Infestation: Rats can pose severe risks to your chicken coop! These little critters can consume chicken feed, harm or kill chicks, and compromise the health of your flock (they transmit a variety of diseases).
- Consider Hiring a Professional for Rat Control Services: If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times: rats can be tough to get rid of. If you’re not sure you’re up to the task on your own, call a pro like Smith’s Pest Management at (408) 871-6988. Our team has the expertise and tools to remove rats and prevent future infestations.
How to Keep Rats Away from Your Chicken Coop
1. Conduct a Thorough Inspection
Before you can control an infestation, you’ve got to know how bad it is.
That’s why we always recommend starting with a thorough coop inspection.
This critical step allows you to locate nests, droppings, and entry points and make a plan to address the problem(s) effectively.
How to do it:
- Check under the coop, inside nesting boxes, and around feeding areas for signs of rats.
- Look for droppings, gnawed materials, and burrows in the ground.
- Inspect the perimeter for gaps or holes that may serve as entry points.
2. Use Traps or Bait Stations
If the rats are already getting in and out, set rat traps near the exit and entry points since those are already their natural path of travel.
How to do it:
- Place rat traps near known rat entry and exit points.
- Remove the rats’ primary food sources for rats to increase the chances they’ll eat the baits you set out – remember that rats feeding around chickens are not going to switch diets for rat bait. Instead, you have to eliminate their favorite foods, so they’ll consider eating something else.
- Utilize food that the rats are already consuming as bait for the traps.
- Let the rats feed on the traps (without setting them) until they are all very comfortable eating from the traps.
- When the rats are used to the traps, set them and use a whole box of traps in a single night.
- Check traps regularly and dispose of captured rats humanely.
- Use bait boxes to contain rodenticides and control rat populations without putting your flock at risk for accidental ingestion.
3. Seal Entry Points
Rats find chicken coops super tempting and will do almost anything to get inside.
Once they set their sights on your flock, they’ll chew through wood and burrow underground to access the coop.
To keep them out, you’ve got to think about keeping rats in. It sounds counterintuitive, but as you reinforce your chicken coop, imagine you are building it to contain rats—not exclude them.
If you construct it well enough that a rat couldn’t escape if it were trapped inside the coop, it’ll have a hard time getting in from the outside, as well.
Here’s how to do it:
- Line the floor with stainless steel wire or concrete to deter rats.
- Use thick 4×4 wood for construction whenever possible.
- Identify and seal all gaps and cracks 0.5” or larger.
- Opt for stainless steel wire or concrete for the flooring.
- Make sure the wire along the edges is securely sealed against the floor.
- Seal all doors and the roof tightly to block potential entry points.
- Ensure any vents and openings are secured and covered with heavy-duty wire mesh.
- Conduct routine checks to maintain the security of the coop.
4. Remove Food and Water Sources
Eliminating food and water sources is one of the most effective ways to deter rats.
Without access to these essentials, they’re less likely to stay in or return to your coop.
How to do it:
- Store chicken feed in airtight and rodent-proof containers.
- Clean up spills of feed and regularly dispose of waste.
- Remove any standing water and ensure water sources are only available during feeding times.
- Purchase a few rat-resistant chicken watering and feeding stations. These stations will keep rats out of your chickens’ food and water without making it tough for your flock to get what it needs.
5. Remove Rat Droppings and Clean the Coop
Once you’ve removed food and water sources and sealed up all entry points, it’s time to focus on restoring a healthy living environment for your chickens.
The first step is getting rid of rat droppings and cleaning the whole coop.
Rat droppings can pose serious health threats, as they may carry diseases that can be transmitted to both chickens and humans.
To protect yourself during the cleanup, wear gloves, a mask, and goggles to prevent direct contact with or inhalation of harmful pathogens.
How to do it:
- Remove all bedding and nest materials.
- Use a dustpan and broom to sweep up rat droppings—never use a leaf blower to remove droppings, as it will only send the dust airborne and increase the chances you’ll breathe in dangerous materials.
- Place droppings and nest materials in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of it all in an outdoor trash can.
- Once you’re done cleaning, disinfect the coop with a flock-safe cleaning solution to eliminate any remaining bacteria.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling droppings and removing your protective gear.
6. Monitor Rat Activity
Now that you’ve (hopefully) rat-proofed your coop, you must monitor rat activity and deploy follow-up treatments if necessary.
How to do it:
- Continue inspecting the coop weekly for any signs of rats.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of traps and baits and make changes as needed.
- Once you have made your chicken coop rat-proof, set trap boxes outside the coop or use bait boxes with rodenticide to control any stragglers.
When to Consult A Pest Control Professional
If the infestation is severe or your attempts haven’t worked, it might be time to call an exterminator to handle the problem safely and effectively.
Remember – rats are crafty pests, and getting rid of them can be tough.
Pest control teams like Smith’s Pest Management have the tools, experience, and know-how to control your rat infestation and protect your flock.
Methods to Avoid
Whatever you do, don’t waste your time or energy on these unproven methods:
- Ultrasonic Devices: Ultrasonic deterrents usually don’t work well on rats. These rodents are less affected by high-frequency sounds than other pests, and studies have shown that these devices have little effect on their behavior or presence.
- Natural Repellents: Some natural repellents can work well, but make sure they’re safe for chickens. Essential oils might keep rodents away, but they can also irritate or harm your flock if used incorrectly.
- Rat Repellent Plants: Rats are adaptable and persistent, and so-called repellent plants like peppermint or marigold won’t put them off. While using these plants for landscaping is fine, do NOT expect them to get rid of your rat problem.
Turn to Smith’s for Help Reclaiming Your Coop!
Dealing with rat infestations near chicken coops can be challenging – these pests are clever and quick to adapt.
Even with careful monitoring and preventive steps, their behavior can be complex, often needing professional help to manage effectively.
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and have a rat problem around your chickens, contact Smith’s Pest Management for professional rat extermination services at (408) 871-6988.
Our experienced team can offer customized solutions to keep your flock safe and healthy from unwanted pests.
FAQs
How dangerous is it to have rats in a chicken coop?
Having rats in a chicken coop poses several dangers, including transmitting diseases like salmonella and leptospirosis, which can affect both chickens and humans.
Additionally, rats can compete with your chickens for food and resources, leading to stress and malnutrition in your flock.
Can rat droppings kill chickens?
While rat droppings may not directly kill chickens, they can carry harmful pathogens that can lead to serious health issues.
Do rats eat eggs in the coop?
Yes, rats will eat chicken eggs if given the opportunity.
They love to creep into nest boxes and munch on eggs, and because they can squeeze through tiny gaps, they’re often capable of getting into coops that seem secure.
Do rats attack chickens?
Rats can kill chickens, especially chicks.
While adult chickens are less likely to be attacked, vulnerable birds may be at risk, especially at night when rats are most active.
