Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [Guest] Rats and Hay Sheds

Our hay barn was INFESTED with wood rats.  I trapped 17 of them before I
gave up and started putting out rat poison.  I put the trays in secluded
spots so that dogs and cats couldn't reach it.  It was the anti-coagulate
type of poison.  There were generations of wood rats that had been born and
raised in the barn, so they didn't know anything else.  Between the poison
and the fact that we finally ran out of hay and did a major cleanup, we rid
the barn of rats.  We now have grass and alfalfa hay, which the horses LOVE
and clean up much better than the oat hay, which the rats loved.  We think
the rats won't be attracted to the new hay because it doesn't have the
seeds.  It was pretty gross with all those rats.  We turned over a few
boards we had stored there and at least a dozen rats scampered across the
floor.

Barbara

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ridecamp Moderator" <ridecamp-moderator@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <guest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2002 4:38 PM
Subject: [RC] [Guest] Rats and Hay Sheds


>
>
> >Mary Abbott mabbottwizwire.com
> >Thank you everybody for your posts with hay shed construction tips.
There
> >was one aspect of our debate about putting in a wooden floor or not--and
I
> >know this sounds terrible, but its RATS!  Right now, I have a small three
> >sided wooden shed (yes, metal posts would be better) with pallets beneath
> >the hay.  Seems to be a great breeding ground for rats.  I figure,
though,
> >they would just do the same under a wooden floor.  (I'm sure they'd find
> >some way to get under there, don't you think?) At least we could pull the
> >pallets out for a good cleaning every now and then.  Anyone have any
> >pointers for the rat problem? They're so big they scare my cat away.  I
> >just picked up an adult Jack Russel Terrier, though.  (He's a kick!)
Once
> >he gets settled in, I am planning to turn him lose on them.  But I can't
> >keep him in the hay shed all the time...
> >
> >Any thoughts on the RAT situation?  Thanks again!
> >Mary
> >in Grass Valley, CA
>
>
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 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the Director at Large 
 and By Laws Elections.

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