Rats

[Erichalfbee]

Certainly

 

[dpearce4]

good reason to get an air rifle

 

[pargyle]

good reason to get an air rifle

Got one ... nice one Weihrauch .177 with uprated spring and telescopic sight - I can hit a stationary target at 15 feet every time in the same place with it on a stand ... Now, if you can tell me how I can get Roland to stand still with me fifteen feet away for more than 2 seconds and I will shoot the little beggar ...

 

[enrico]

Swap it for a 12 bore....you won't miss then!

 

[pargyle]

Swap it for a 12 bore....you won't miss then!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Lead free shot only?

another fallacy - no real evidence that lead is harmful to the birdies anyway.

We're kind to all our kites and buzzards around here, making sure there are always plenty of fox carcasses lying around.

 

[Hivemaker.]

another fallacy - no real evidence that lead is harmful to the birdies anyway.

The ones i see don't seem to come out of it too well... when they get in a bit of a dust up concerning lead shot.

They don't look too healthy if it is lead free either.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The ones i see don't seem to come out of it too well... when they get in a bit of a dust up concerning lead shot.
.

Should have been more specific - ingested lead shot.

I've got no issue with using steel shot though, especially since the old spaniel died - SWMBO bought me a more maintenance free replacement - a BFO magnet

 

[oliver90owner]

I can hit a stationary target at 15 feet every time in the same place with it on a stand

I would hope you could! I am assuming this stationary target is not the inside of a barn? Assuming it is rather smaller than the barn door, too! 5 yards range is a bit OTT for a 'scope as well!! We usually zeroed the 0.22 airgun at around 20-25 yards in the old days. 177s have a flatter trajectory than the 22, too. Are you sure you meant 15 feet, and not 15 yards?

Using an open sight at fifteen feet might be a lot easier, or increase the range threefold.

Ohh, and a 12 gauge full choke (or improved cylinder) at 15 feet has little spread (that is what makes them more dangerous than a rim-fire rifle at close range). Probably splatter it with the wadding or shot pouch, if that close. What you need is a very old fashioned blunderbuss!

RAB

 

[pargyle]

I can hit a stationary target at 15 feet every time in the same place with it on a stand

I would hope you could! I am assuming this stationary target is not the inside of a barn? Assuming it is rather smaller than the barn door, too! 5 yards range is a bit OTT for a 'scope as well!! We usually zeroed the 0.22 airgun at around 20-25 yards in the old days. 177s have a flatter trajectory than the 22, too. Are you sure you meant 15 feet, and not 15 yards?

Using an open sight at fifteen feet might be a lot easier, or increase the range threefold.

RAB

NO ... Fifteen feet and I'm a lousy shot with lousy eyesight ... Had it all nicely set up with a stand and the target at ground level against a wall where I've seen Roland and his mate running from the hen run ... chair in place and a nice lump of peanut butter on a tile as a bait station in place of the target ... you would think he's bloody pyschic because he will stand there and eat the bait when I'm not with the gun ... soon as I get the gun and sit and wait I could put a ratfeast on the tile and he just runs past !! My reactions are not quick enough to hit a moving targrat ! (With either the gun or the back of a shovel !)

 

[enrico]

They are after the food, we always take the chicken food away at night and hang it fairly high during the day. Touch wood we have never had rats in our chickens but then they free range most of the time with their food outside so if yours re in a barn I can imagine there will be food spillage on the floor. I would have thought a good squirrel trap would do the job, I have caught wild kittens and rabbits in those but I am not sure if the bars are too wide for rats!
E

 

[Swarm]

Forget poisons and guns and let the Terriers do the job.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Have you got any I can borrow?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Forget poisons and guns and let the Terriers do the job.

but don't forget to tuck your trouser bottoms inside your socks

always handy to tote a hockey stick or cricket bat for any the dogs miss as well

 

[mbc]

but don't forget to tuck your trouser bottoms inside your socks

always handy to tote a hockey stick or cricket bat for any the dogs miss as well

A spade is the traditional rat bludgeoning tool, Shirley?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

A spade is the traditional rat bludgeoning tool, Shirley?

Not nowadays ratting is fast becoming a popular and inclusive sport with people from the cities travelling to the countryside to join in the sport

 

[Erichalfbee]

Does one dress in Pink?

 

[pargyle]

They are after the food, we always take the chicken food away at night and hang it fairly high during the day. Touch wood we have never had rats in our chickens but then they free range most of the time with their food outside so if yours re in a barn I can imagine there will be food spillage on the floor. I would have thought a good squirrel trap would do the job, I have caught wild kittens and rabbits in those but I am not sure if the bars are too wide for rats!
E

Mine have a fox proof run with the coop attached but were allowed to free range in the garden from around lunchtime until late afternoon when they were happy to go inside - encouraged by a 'tea' of corn. The rats were attracted to the food but we didn't leave it in the run overnight - mainly spillage from the hen's 'tea' of corn and other minor leftovers. Sadly, the fox got our two Sussex White Stars in the middle of the afternoon a week last Sunday .. so henless at present - pity the fox ain't finding Roland. But I will ! I've tried a wire cage trap but despite leaving it unset and baited they take the bait when it's not set and as soon as the spring is loaded they ignore it or tip the cage over to release the bait ! I'm going to modify it so that they can't tip it over and try again ... constant battle !! Cheeky little sods appear completely unphased by the presence of humans - they run off into the undergrowth but not that urgently !!

 

[beehive1234]

Guns or dogs, get the Rolands' out of their burrows by filling them with exhaust fumes from a strimmer or other petrol engine, via a pipe.
Human urine is great at deterring foxes from areas where chickens live. Liberally apply around the boundary.
Dogs urine even better.

 

[pargyle]

Guns or dogs, get the Rolands' out of their burrows by filling them with exhaust fumes from a strimmer or other petrol engine, via a pipe.

That's a good idea ... I'll try that ...

Human urine is great at deterring foxes from areas where chickens live. Liberally apply around the boundary.

Not tried that but up for anything !

Dogs urine even better.

Clearly, our 85lb Labrador Dog (who has the full run of the property) does not have the right ingredient !!