Rats

Hfd Cattle

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Hereford
I have a creep feeder in the shed for weaned calves . It's kept reasonably full all the time . Last night while up with the dog he caught a rat in the manger part of the feeder and one got away . Next he was jumping up and going mad by the hopper . I thought there might be one in the hopper but couldn't see how . I lifted the lid up and there was about 20 in there . The lid is sealed so how on earth did they get in there .
Would they burrow up through the feed ?
It wasn't a pleasant experience as they were jumping out and 2 ran up my arm !!☹️☹️
Does anyone else have this problem .
I cautiously opened the lid this morning and there was no sign of them having been there .
 

Bogweevil

Member
I have a creep feeder in the shed for weaned calves . It's kept reasonably full all the time . Last night while up with the dog he caught a rat in the manger part of the feeder and one got away . Next he was jumping up and going mad by the hopper . I thought there might be one in the hopper but couldn't see how . I lifted the lid up and there was about 20 in there . The lid is sealed so how on earth did they get in there .
Would they burrow up through the feed ?
It wasn't a pleasant experience as they were jumping out and 2 ran up my arm !!☹️☹️
Does anyone else have this problem .
I cautiously opened the lid this morning and there was no sign of them having been there .

They can certainly burrow up through feed!
 

serf

Member
Location
warwickshire
I have a creep feeder in the shed for weaned calves . It's kept reasonably full all the time . Last night while up with the dog he caught a rat in the manger part of the feeder and one got away . Next he was jumping up and going mad by the hopper . I thought there might be one in the hopper but couldn't see how . I lifted the lid up and there was about 20 in there . The lid is sealed so how on earth did they get in there .
Would they burrow up through the feed ?
It wasn't a pleasant experience as they were jumping out and 2 ran up my arm !!☹️☹️
Does anyone else have this problem .
I cautiously opened the lid this morning and there was no sign of them having been there .
I'd put 10 or so live capture traps down .
 

serf

Member
Location
warwickshire
Got some lads coming in with some terriers . They been doing the neighbouring farm ...caught 67 last night !
That should make a start on them but suppose lots will disperse and need to keep the traps going to keep numbers down , springer traps are good if you can put them somewhere safe !
 

Cornish bob

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cornwall
We have one creep feeder up on the moors not far from some scrubby trees,and it's not rare to open the hopper lid and get a squirrel jump out at you .it was quite a shock for the first time or two but this has now been going on for 3years , and we still don't know how it's getting in !
 

Yale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Could you cut out a hole near the top of the hopper attach a ramp or grips.Then fabricate a short pipe and a see-saw ‘plank’ which would drop any rats into a barrel they couldn’t climb out of?

May work well if done right perhaps welded as a module to the side of the hopper.
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
Is there any way you could 'hand feed' for a few days? I mean put feed in a trough first thing, just enough to last them so the calves clean up before dark? There's nothing like taking his groceries away to upset Mr Ronald.

Also, maybe move the feeder before you put down traps. Ideally, you want to put traps down before the rats arrive so you kill the scouts and they don't have a chance to lay 'safe trails' (as they do).

Poultry were all fed by hand first thing here, so no rats and the feeders have gone out again. I will revert to hand feeding if they return. Of course, for this to be effective, all other sources of feed must be removed or secure.
 

Hfd Cattle

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Hereford
Is there any way you could 'hand feed' for a few days? I mean put feed in a trough first thing, just enough to last them so the calves clean up before dark? There's nothing like taking his groceries away to upset Mr Ronald.

Also, maybe move the feeder before you put down traps. Ideally, you want to put traps down before the rats arrive so you kill the scouts and they don't have a chance to lay 'safe trails' (as they do).

Poultry were all fed by hand first thing here, so no rats and the feeders have gone out again. I will revert to hand feeding if they return. Of course, for this to be effective, all other sources of feed must be removed or secure.
Will revert back to hand feeding but the terrier boys want the feeder left in situ for a few days cos the terrier boys say the rats will be accustomed to it .
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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