Rats in calf troughs

[Bald Rick]

Seems like my resident rat population have discovered that CCF calf pellets are the dogs and are getting in to the hangover troughs every night.
That would be bad enough but the rascals are cra**ing in copious amounts which don't look unlike the pellets themselves. Whilst I fish them out every morning, there is no doubt that the calves aren't ecstatic about taking mouthfuls of admixture.

Ideas gratefully received.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Take the ad lib away for a few days and leave some bait boxes out of calf reach to catch your rats.

 

[Bald Rick]

Take the ad lib away for a few days and leave some bait boxes out of calf reach to catch your rats.

Could do but I have a batch of 10 that are just weaned and another in their final week of milk so really need the ad lib there.

And of course I forgot that rats are incontinent in to the bargain ........

At least I can console myself that it's ratatouille for supper tomorrow

 

[pappuller]

saw on face ache about a guy who made a water rat trap out of a 20 litre chemical bucket

 

[Bald Rick]

saw on face ache about a guy who made a water rat trap out of a 20 litre chemical bucket

How does that work then seeing as the little pluckers are good swimmers?

 

[Kevtherev]

Mix pink plaster with the calf pellets and place where Roland is about.
Away from the calves obviously.
Roland then has a drink and instant lego

 

[Ballygreenan]

Can you get the lend of a couple of Jack Russell terriers for a few days? Leave them in the shed each evening with a light or two on.

 

[Blue.]

How does that work then seeing as the little pluckers are good swimmers?

You have the water level down the barrel so they can't get out.

What about one of these?

www.jfcagri.com/cattle/gate-feeders/cf150/

 

[multi power]

Just put some poison out for them

 

[O'Reilly]

Cats

 

[pappuller]

How does that work then seeing as the little pluckers are good swimmers?

Like a log roll fixed across the bucket smeared with peanut butter and half full of water, 2 ramps up to each end of tube across

 

[Roy_H]

Like a log roll fixed across the bucket smeared with peanut butter and half full of water, 2 ramps up to each end of tube across

I made a smaller version of that because I got mice in my greenhouse. It worked like a charm!

 

[Cowcalf]

hard to understand how anyone can tolerate rats as easy enough to sort out , or get someone in that can

 

[Moors Farmer]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
As above. Use a professional - easy, no hassle, more effective poisons, ticks farm assurance boxes, and fairly inexpensive (£35 per month.

Very very rarely see a rat.

 

[MarcFloyd]

Lead pellets. Straight into their heads.

 

[wr.]

Surely there's someone around your way with air rifle and NV. When the rats are feeding in troughs, they are so easy to pick off.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Tack toothpaste tubes on top the rafters and cut them open lengthwise.
Toothpaste is actually very toxic, especially to rodents

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Or jam some cheese in a wine bottle neck and have that over a drum half filled with water AKA what @pappuller said

 

[Bald Rick]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
As above. Use a professional - easy, no hassle, more effective poisons, ticks farm assurance boxes, and fairly inexpensive (£35 per month.

Very very rarely see a rat.

Funnily enough, a few days after I posted this, Tony the rat destroyer (moles also a speciality) rocked up on the farm asking if I had a vermin problem!

Chuffing heck I don't know what poison he uses but it is now rare to find any rat pellets anywhere. In fact I had to boot a sick one out of the straw before I could bed the babies down this morning.
£25/hr plus materials and cheap at half the price.

 

[holywell farmer]

Funnily enough, a few days after I posted this, Tony the rat destroyer (moles also a speciality) rocked up on the farm asking if I had a vermin problem!

Chuffing heck I don't know what poison he uses but it is now rare to find any rat pellets anywhere. In fact I had to boot a sick one out of the straw before I could bed the babies down this morning.
£25/hr plus materials and cheap at half the price.

Do tend to see many rats come summer time on any farm ?