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rats

(78 Posts)
etheltbags1 Sun 13-Dec-15 20:32:49

I looked out of the kitchen window today to see a huge rat nibbling the bits that had dropped from my bird feeder. It was joined by another who did the same, I was about to put some stale bread out but decided against. A third rat was running around too.

My problem is that if you aren't on benefits it costs £75 for the council rat man to poison them, I asked my neighbour if shed seen them but she said she had not and wouldn't report the matter as it would be free for her.

I just haven't got £75 especially at Christmas so what would others do, a friend who lives in the countryside just buys some poison for £2.50 or so and that does the trick, however I couldn't find any in asda so where do I get it from, also I know rats are full of nasty diseases but they are so cute, I wish I didn't have to kill them, does anyone know of a humane way to get rid, maybe trapping and setting them free in the open fields nearby.

sazz1 Mon 25-Mar-19 15:28:23

In our old house years ago we had a rat problem caused by a neighbour constantly throwing bread for the birds on her garage roof. My friend next door lost her beautiful great Dane dog to Weils disease after the rats contaminated it's outdoor water bowl. Best place to feed birds is at a park, beach or fields.

Bellanonna Sat 16-Mar-19 10:23:24

Reported

Caroldillard Sat 16-Mar-19 10:04:06

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Alea Sat 28-May-16 22:01:41

Well,if they are allowed to advertise, (reported three times to no avail, think GNHQ must be at Chelsea) here is the whole thing for information. I note the free survey and review- tempting grin
I wonder if they do wasps' nests as well? , I have a bit of a problem in our back wall, but Fred the Rat Man has said he will come out one day next week.
He is about 90, mind you, hope he lasts out!

Rodent Control in Sacramento, Elk Grove, Roseville, & Davis
At California Rodent Control, we are experts in the control of rodents. With careful inspections we can determine potential rodent harborages both inside and outside your home or business. We offer a free rodent control survey and review that will include points of entry as well as sources of food and water. Upon completion of this survey, we will suggest rodent control procedures and preventative measures. Our carefully planned and executed rodent control service works so well that we offer a 2 year Guarantee on our work

Alea Sat 28-May-16 18:28:06

I prefer "Fred the Rat Man" myself. Ooh, I hope that is not advertising???
Why on earth is the Califirnian ad still up, GNHQ??

grannylyn65 Sat 28-May-16 16:08:36

grin

GandTea Sat 28-May-16 12:13:58

Ask them over for a free quote

Alea Sat 28-May-16 12:01:11

Bit of a long way to come, so pointless advertisinggrin
Reported though.

mikedurant Sat 28-May-16 11:55:32

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pompa Fri 29-Apr-16 08:01:11

I use poison, rats spread disease and do untold damage. Trapping and releasing sounds good, but where are you going to release them, farmland ?, would you want a farmer to catch his rats and release them in your garden ?. Playing field ?, weils disease, woodland ? balance of existing wildlife ?
Wherever you release them, if they are from a domestic property, they will return to another property.

fredm123 Fri 29-Apr-16 07:43:28

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Lona Thu 17-Dec-15 18:01:06

My house smells very, very clean tchgrin

Lona Thu 17-Dec-15 17:59:27

bags its a very large vent with a cage over it, but I had thought of trying tiny mesh chicken wire. As it has only happened 3 times in 23 years, I'm hoping it will go away! ?

Anya Thu 17-Dec-15 16:55:08

That's very odd Lona - we had a rat problem at the allotment last year. They were climbing up the plant and eating all our sweet corn. We found their rat runs, and traced them back to our shed and this was where we put the bait.

Changed it every 5 days (? I think) for two weeks. Problem solved.

I hated doing it but the GC come down to the allotment and rats spread Weil's disease.

I have heard of super-rats that are becoming immune to certain poisons.

thatbags Thu 17-Dec-15 16:29:25

I would have thought it should have a rat-proof grid over it anyway.

thatbags Thu 17-Dec-15 16:28:38

Can you block your boiler vent with scrunched up chicken wire, Lona? It wouldn't prevent movement of air/gases but would effectively block it to vermin.

Lona Thu 17-Dec-15 16:27:20

I already have bait down Anya. In theory rat eats bait then goes off and dies! In practise, rat eats, goes away, comes back for more or sends a mate! hmm

thatbags Thu 17-Dec-15 16:27:16

When we moved into out Oxon house in the late nineties, DH suffered quite badly from cat flea bites (I had some too but didn't react quite so badly). The previous owners had had five cats. Once the cats were gone the fleas had no option but to bite the only other warm-blooded creatures available, namely us.

At that time, Oxon County Council treated the house, successfully, free of charge. I guess council funding cuts since then are the reason such services have now been out-sourced.

Anya Thu 17-Dec-15 16:23:13

Buy bait yourself and put it down.

rosequartz Thu 17-Dec-15 15:49:18

All dead, I might add

rosequartz Thu 17-Dec-15 15:48:55

Can you borrow a fierce cat Lona?

I remember when friends lived near a pig farm and their very tiny cat used to come home with presents of rats nearly as big as her.

Lona Thu 17-Dec-15 10:08:45

My rat came back again last night! However he didn't eat much bait, probably because he was paddling in neat bleach!
I think he comes in through the boiler vent, so I can't block it. So I've poured bleach outside as well now.
If I called out the council man, he would only put a tray of bait down, have a look round outside, and charge £40!

I know it may sound OTT, but I feel violated by this rat!angry

aggie Thu 17-Dec-15 08:59:13

We are one the list for regular calls by the pest control firm sad The last bill was £80 , but that was for him to nip in and check things everytime he was passing . Seems we are pest free at the minute , we stopped feeding birds 3 years ago but still have loads of birds in the ivy and sitting pecking at the bugs on the bushes and the rodents would have gone except that our neighbour started throwing bread out on the yard sad

Katek Thu 17-Dec-15 08:32:36

Just checked Aberdeenshire services online-there aren't any from council direct, They have contracted service out and have nothing to do with its operation. Charges from private company seem reasonable-£22.50 per visit for rats/mice (min 2 visits) £55 for 4 room flea/bug infestation.

loopylou Thu 17-Dec-15 07:17:17

The birds here seem ravenous, although we live in a rural setting! They're emptying my feeders every two days.......that's 3 peanut feeders and a 10 ball fatball feeder plus two large seed feeders. I've got flocks of all the Tit families, greedy so and so's.