Tuesday 24 June 2014

Day 41. Oh Rats!!

Bugger and blast.

My nosy bint of a neighbour took great delight in telling lovely fella that she's seen a rat sitting on our bird feeding station. Sure enough, as I was sitting outside earlier, there was a rustling in the ivy that runs riot over the brick shed and as I looked up I watched as the seed bar container was pulled into the leaves.  I went over to investigate and could hear ratty scuttle back up over the ivy.   Just to make sure, I kept a watch for a while only to see it happen again.  I've removed the seed bar holder and I could plainly see the seed bar gnawed down considerably.

So what do I do now then? I'm loathe to put anything on the bird table.  I hate killing anything but I have the chicken to consider.  Closer inspection of the run tonight has revealed a suspiciously rat sized hole burrowed out under the perimeter of the run.

What do I do bloggers?


8 comments:

  1. Enjoy it. Rats are cute and an essential part of the ecosystem, even if most of the human race hate them!

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    1. I don't hate them - I'm just a bit concerned that there's a nest somewhere I guess and they get into the coop. GAH!! Stress!! lol

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  2. Borrow a reasonably powerful air rifle (or put down poison). You must get rid of it (them) asap; they multiply very quickly. As for your nosy neighbour; how reassuring to know that she is surveying all that happens chez Kim.

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    Replies
    1. Hmmm... I don't know about reassuring. She doesn't miss a trick. She's a bloody nightmare. The stories i could tell - but that's another post altogether!

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  3. You could ask the council to lay a trap (I think) or get in a pest controller who should be able to deal with it.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks DC. Man has ordered a trap from the t'interweb now. It's sad but it has to be done methinks.

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  4. We had to dispatch a rat in our compost heap this year. I loathe it but needs must as they will breed rapidly. Last year we got a man in to deal with the same problem but this time we bought the poison from Wilko. They will kill chickens- one took out a bantam at a farm I was working at so best rid.
    Arilx

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