Rabbits in the chicken run?

[Dry Rot]

Any bright ideas how to control rabbits in the chicken run? I am on sand and have rather a large chicken run which has become a haven for rabbits. It is now like a minefield! Any ideas how to control them? Shooting isn't going to work and I don't want to use ferrets. Has anyone had any experience of live traps? Are carrots really a good bait? I suspect I am going to be taking the chooks out of traps all day if I go down that route!

 

[Wurzeetoo]

Any keen air rifle guys in your area? Few nights lamping should lower the percentage. I’d be more concerned with rats moving into the burrows after the bunny’s tbh

 

[Lincs Lass]

Ferrets and purses .

 

[ImLost]

So @Dry Rot says "shooting won't work and don't want to use ferrets"

What are the first 2 suggestions??

 

[Lincs Lass]

Theres no other way ,,,not like you can bribe them out ,,traps are hit and miss

 

[Paddington]

Need a good dawg, our lab/collie will catch any sparrow that ventures into the hen house when the door is open. Cleaning out a henhouse a couple of years ago he kept sticking his head in the door carrying a dead rabbit. I assumed it was the same rabbit, but going outside found him sitting proudly beside a pile of five dead ones.

 

[Wurzeetoo]

@Lincs Lass perhaps a strongly worded letter to the head rabbit maybe more in keeping? Or just ask them nicely to move on?

 

[scottish-lleyn]

Traps will work well carrots as bait but you need plenty of traps and decent ones.

 

[Lincs Lass]

@Lincs Lass perhaps a strongly worded letter to the head rabbit maybe more in keeping? Or just ask them nicely to move on?

Or put a tv and dvd player in the run playing Watership down ,,,You've read the book ,seen the film now taste the stew

 

[melted welly]

would a Drop trap work?

 

[JSmith]

Start feeding the chickens a bit of rabbit everyday an maybe they’ll get the taste for it and help themselves, problem solved

 

[Jerry]

Drop trap if you can get them directed over it. Set right band hens won’t bother it.

 

[michael N123]

Shoot them or drop traps

or if your feeling nasty you can gas them with poison pellets down the holes

 

[Dry Rot]

The little beggars dig everywhere. I'd snare the exit holes but they are now so big, there is no run to put the noose in, just a motorway...and I'm sure to catch a hen. I think I'll try traps. There was a video on Youtube showing how to make them and it will keep me from chasing the girls for a while. But I think Lincs Lass's idea is also worth a try.

 

[ImLost]

Could you post any pictures of the chicken run and the problem parts of it? It might help to get some perspective of what's going on and what would be relevant.
A large chicken run to some would be 4m x 4m, to others it may be an acre.

 

[milkloss]

Curious..... why not ferrets? Would be the perfect solution I thought.

 

[ImLost]

Curious..... why not ferrets? Would be the perfect solution I thought.

Not necessarily ideal near chickens.

 

[Lincs Lass]

I think fereting and netting the the runs might be the only option,,shut the chucks in for the night and I bet the bunny problem would soon disappear

 

[Dry Rot]

It really is a minefield! There are holes everywhere. Impossible to net and the shot spread from a shotgun at close range means it would be like shooting bolting rabbits with a rifle. In retrospect, I should have netted the floor as well as the roof. I don't think my ferrets could manage. Anyway, I suspect they are vegans. They've never been much good.

I think I'm going to try cage traps.

 

[Paddington]

It really is a minefield! There are holes everywhere. Impossible to net and the shot spread from a shotgun at close range means it would be like shooting bolting rabbits with a rifle. In retrospect, I should have netted the floor as well as the roof. I don't think my ferrets could manage. Anyway, I suspect they are vegans. They've never been much good.

I think I'm going to try cage traps.

Can you get to the far end of the run ?
We have rabbits digging up into our veg beds, the plot is next to our neighbour's hedge, so presume they have lodgings under there. In this case the dog is a liability as he would dig up all the veg trying to get the rabbits.