Rats!!

[CharlesHarris]

[Mortblanc]

You guys really take all the fun out of it!

poison? dogs?

Nothing beats a little one on one rat shooting action!

Plus now they have a good wood pidgin, rabbit and squirrel collector that does not have to be housed, fed and groomed.

[MaryN]

Well, I'm not going down the terrier route. I like dogs, but yappy little terriers get on my nerves. Besides, we already have enough mouths to feed. I intend to make sure that any intruders are dealt with quickly by OH. I'm hopeful I may even get a pigeon or two out of his new-found air rifle friend. I may even try to persuade him to teach me how to shoot.

[Stewart]

Old chainsaw with blade removed and rubber pipe on exhaust. Mix oil and petrol thickly.smoke the buggerls out and let dogs catch them.prefer .25 calibre air rifle for short range ratting.fenn traps work well but get the British made ones.bury them for a couple of months and wear gloves when you handle them to keep your scent off them.buy your poison in bulk now as law changes this year on amounts you can buy if not trained to use it

[harrypalmer]

Mary, you won't get rid of the infestation by pinging a few rats, be realistic and set traps and poison, if you don't have the shooting skills now and won't trap and bait then you will have furry friends for years to come.

[Stewart]

With a good team of dogs and lads we have had 300 + a session.poison is the way to go.get proper bait box's and keep poison down all the time.don't think when poison has gone the rats are dead that's how rats build up immunity to it if they only eat small amounts

[MaryN]

Guys, I understand the lure for some of poison and traps, but we tried those with absolutely no result at all. In fact, I think the rats were enjoying our efforts. We don't have a massive problem (we have cats that keep most of the vermin down to a manageable level - hell, our biggest moggy is partial to bunnies), but the lure of the chicken coop draws the little buggers in. If OH can keep rat city down by pinging one or two now and then when they venture into the run, I shall be happy.

[CharlesHarris]

Stewart's plan to smoke them out works to shoot them as well as to let the dogs loose. A combination of both, perhaps.

Train the terriers to chase and bring to ground any escaped cripples, and to bring dead ones to the pile for a tasty treat!

[CharlesHarris]

[MaryN]

OMG, Charles, smoked rats?? What, like rat deli? I'm going to have to be pretty desperate to try that.