Selfsufficientish.com

An update to the rat invasion.

I know I'll probably sound like a bit of a wuss, but the options suggested that I actually kill a rat in hand-to-hand combat aren't really my cup of tea. As for the barrel of squealing rats, I blanched at the thought of having to empty the rat soup afterwards So I opted for well concealed poison in long lengths of drain pipe so the dog couldn't get at it. The bait was taken over a few days and then stopped and no rats seen for a few days. There is an old mill across the road and a tunnel under the road for the river to pass under. I think that's where the little varmints are coming from. Nothing I can do about that except keep the eyes open and plan the next offensive should another invasion occur.

We have an orchard around the house and I think the old windfalls attract them because it always seems to be winter/spring when they visit (less food I suppose). This year I'm just going to have to turn ALL the apples into cider so there are none left for 'visitors'.

Good job I don't have any livestock because they'd die of old age if I had to do the killing!

TRY A PIT BULL,THEY HAVE THE RECORD FOR KILLING RATS.
BUT THEY ARE VERY LOVING DOGS JUST NOT THAT SOCIAL WITH OTHER ANIMALS.


CORDWOODGUY

Thurston Garden wrote:I read this method, although cannot remember the source:

Put a breeze block on end in the bottom of a barrel, fill the barrelwith water up to the level of the top of the block and cover the top of the barrel with polythene tied around the top rim of the barrel. Cut a slit in the polythene lid.

Put a board from the ground up to the top edge of the barrel so they can walk up and place something tasty at the top of the plank, at the edge of the slit in the polythene.

The first rat finds the food but slips through the slit in the polythene and falls into the water...climbs onto the block 'island' and screeches for help. The next rat, answering the screech call slips though too and fights for the position on the top of the block, one rat is dead. The winner screeches for help and so it continues. In the morning there should only be one rat to kill - sitting on top of the block. Gruesome but rats are 'orrible

You've been reading my blog, then?

I have Stonehead but have to say that somebody else suggested the rat soup method earlier in the thread. I prefer to use your advice for making the nettle beer, cider etc.

Hope you don't use the same barrels for both jobs or if you do, give it a good old rinse out first!

Clig.

If you can find the nest, flood it. They won't come back to that particular part because they know its dangerous.

Get a Manchester Terrier (specifically, a ratting one). We have one, and he's caught 4 rats in his 2 years here...but we haven't seen any other rats for a long long time!!

I don't think the nest is on my property, I think it's either down by the river or around a mill (that I don't own). Since the sun decided to shine, our dog has been out in the garden all day and I haven't seen a rat since, it could be the poison that did it though.

Pooch will just have to get dressed up in mac and wellies and stay outside a bit longer in the bad weather me thinks.

Try soaking a piece of red meat in iether pisen or white spirit then putting it in your garden or just away from your home.
If you dont want to kill them try putting a bit of food down away from your home and they will go there insted of neer you

jenko