Harvest is moving time for rodents – they must find a replacement food source and shelter quickly, and poultry housing can be the ideal new home. Both rats and mice cause problems on the laying farm, but in this article we will look specifically at rats, which cause the most damage.

Rat populations grow fast and exponentially, thanks to short gestation periods, litters of up to 12 rat pups, the speed at which they reach sexual maturity and their ability to conceive within 48 hours of giving birth. Just two rats on a laying farm can grow to a population of 1,250 within a year.

An average rat eats about 50g of food a day* [British Pest Control Association BPCA ] which amounts to around 18kg for a single rat in just a year – it could be costing farmers £4 to £7 a year to feed each of those invading rats.

The financial impact of rodent infestation

Poultry farms face significant problems when rats move in, all of which have an impact on their bottom line:

• Loss of productivity: the mere presence of rats is stressful for hens, potentially disrupting their intake of feed and water, and leading to loss of production.

• Loss of poultry food: rats are omnivores and will eat poultry feed - wasting resources and disrupting your ability to manage flock nutrition.

• Spread of infection and disease: rats are vectors likely to spread E.coli, red mites, avian influenza or salmonella, for example, through their fur, feet, faeces and saliva.

• Loss of eggs: rats will jump on the egg belt to eat eggs, and devour any bird carcasses.

• Damage and mess: rats can easily gnaw through insulation, wood and plastic to access what they need, and can enter through holes as small as a 50p piece. Once inside the hen house they can damage equipment such as the egg belt and nest mats; or bite through electrical cable, causing equipment failure or even power cuts.

How to limit rodent problems

Prevention

Rat invasions can be limited through an effective baiting programme, using a contracted rodent controller or by undertaking a suitable rodent control course.

Care must be taken to ensure that the baiting regime is responsive to any indications that the creatures are present – it is worth checking for signs of rats even when you have outsourced rodent control. Routine checks should include equipment such as the egg belt and leaking feed tracks to limit spillage into pits; and clearing any spillage by feed bins which will provide rodents with easy access to food.

Clearing vegetation and debris from around the shed also deters rats, who prefer not to cross open spaces. By keeping vegetation a few metres away you may discourage them from approaching your buildings.

Awareness

Perhaps most crucial of all is that poultry farmers stay alert to any signs of rats. Visiting the sheds in darkness may reveal rats scurrying for cover, but even without sight of rodents there may be clear signs of their presence, including:

• Rat droppings and footprints

• Access holes and signs of burrowing

• Damage to equipment

• Destruction of eggs and carcasses

• Disease and loss of production

• Grease trails

Winning the rat race

Fortunately it is possible to reduce the likelihood of a rat infestation doing serious harm to your flock and income by being alert to their presence and keeping on top of rodent control measures. With harvest afoot, now is the time to pay serious attention to this crucial race against rodents.

Humphrey Feeds and Pullets

Humphrey Feeds and Pullets have helped independent poultry farmers to optimise flock performance, welfare and profit since 1932.

If you have any questions relating to free range egg production, or anything related to it, please email us on enquiries@hfandp.co.uk or call us on 01962 764555.