Nasty surprise today!

[Robin Spark]

dont think I am going to get much sleep tonight

Found out today I have got blxxdy rats up my loft, there are droppings everywhere and I have seen one as well!

I am sleeping downstairs on the sofa with the cats as close to me as possible!

 

[sellers]

rats in a loft, im no expert but I thougt lofts were more of a mouse thing? Get some poison up there, and some traps!

 

[Robin Spark]

I have put some rat/ mouse poison up tonight, but after doing a bit of internet search tonight it looks like traps are a better idea as you can remove the dead rat and dispose of quickly, whereas with just bait the rat/s crawl off and die somewhere leaving a nasty stink maybe under the loft boards or a cavity.

Going to call the council in the morning but not sure what they will do?

Also spoke to rent a killer? They wanted

 

[sellers]

Sounds like we're in the wrong job!

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Council will come out and sort it.

Rat poison you buy in shops is not very strong...

Council rat man has access to more effective stuff..

we have had rats in the garden a few times & had the council rat man out

Rats are a pest & you don't have to pay for council man to sort it!

:x

p.s.

I have caught a couple myself in traps before now..

Traditional trap.. just like a real big mouse trap!

Think I just put some bacon & cheese on it?

 

[Robin Spark]

To specs,

I just done a search on rats and found your post with the photos on chewed cable by rats and the wooden board with rat traps and bait placed on it!

I hope mine doesnt get that bad

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

To specs,I just done a search on rats and found your post with the photos on chewed cable by rats and the wooden board with rat traps and bait placed on it!

I hope mine doesn't get that bad

Rats are bu99ers...

they can chew through concrete if they feel that way inclined...

ALSO..

once you have caught one in a trap in one place its mates can become a bit clever and avoid it a second time.!!!!! :_| :_| :_|

 

[Apache]

Can I thoroughly recommend glue traps.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rat-Glue-Trap-2-Pk/dp/B000LZ9NCK

The problem with poison is a rat dies and does smell bad for quite a while, the smell fades from a mouse after a week or so.

You can buy 'proper' poison from an agricultural merchant. The supermarket/B&Q stuff isn't worth the hassle.

When you meet the [dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner] rat man you will see they do nothing special. If you can dress yourself you can do all they can!

 

[Robin Spark]

Ok, so the rat gets glued to the trap then what -

1. hammer, spade, sds chisel ughh!!!! cant do any of those things dont want blood everywhere!

2. Insulation resistance test, maybe 1000v my fluke had new batteries today.

Need some ideas please on easiest, cleanest and quickest way to put the rat out of its mysery and out of my bloomin loft!!!!!!!

Thanks

 

[sellers]

an afternoon listening to steptoe talk about TT systems?

 

[Apache]

Ok, so the rat gets glued to the trap then what -1. hammer, spade, sds chisel ughh!!!! cant do any of those things dont want blood everywhere!

2. Insulation resistance test, maybe 1000v my fluke had new batteries today.

Need some ideas please on easiest, cleanest and quickest way to put the rat out of its mysery and out of my bloomin loft!!!!!!!

Thanks

You a man or a mouse [semi intentional rodent pun there]? You want to hit it with something blunt with some weight, lump of 2X2. If you use a hammer you will have blood everywhere.

You don't want dead decomposing rats in your house.

As SL says, you may catch one or two in a live trap, but they get wise. You really need a combination of methods, the old spring rat trap works ok.

Once the problem is under control some poison in a suitable bait station will get anything quickly if they come back.

The most satisfying method is an air rifle!

[never had rats in the house, but had mice in old house and get rats in the garden with the chickens, so am in constant battle].

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the rat

:slap

It's not just one rat mate!

 

[Robin Spark]

I dont really like hurting or killing anything, but as this is a needs must situation then will try a piece of wood to the head,...the rats head not mine.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Apache]

I dont really like hurting or killing anything, but as this is a needs must situation then will try a piece of wood to the head,...the rats head not mine.Thanks for the advice

If you are going to handle the rat or droppings wear disposable gloves and wash your hands well afterwards. A dust mask isn't a bad precaution. They carry some awful diseases,

 

[paul b b]

I got told by an old farmer that if you burn one alive its screams scares all of the othere rats away, never tried it though the thought of rats appering from every nook and cranny and running all around me is to much to bare

 

[Apache]

I got told by an old farmer that if you burn one alive its screams scares all of the othere rats away, never tried it though the thought of rats appering from every nook and cranny and running all around me is to much to bare

That would be cruel - don't do that!

 

[Bwy]

They may be Rats and you may not like Rats but they are living creatures with feelings just like you.

In fact, I may be wrong on this but I suspect a rat would not kill another animal just because it did not like it. Only we really clever intelligent human beings do that.

To burn any animal, no matter what animal it is, I would find totally unacceptable and revolting.

Killing an animal in a humane manner I can accept even if I can not like it but to burn one to deliberately make it scream.....well....I have no words for such a disgusting action.

This is only my opinion but I am an animal lover so perhaps it does not count for much.X(X(X(X( X(

 

[Apache]

In fact, I may be wrong on this but I suspect a rat would not kill another animal just because it did not like it. Only we really clever intelligent human beings do that.

They do kill. I have had chickens killed by rats. I have had chickens and ducks killed by foxes.

 

[cadspark]

I live in the country so vermin are common place. Quite a few people around here use plug in sonic repellers that seem to work. We use them in self catering cottages on the farm where I live and don't see anything unless somone leaves a door open.

 

[revjames]

lived in NZ and house was made of timver. Rats would climb up inside the timber framing and run around in the loft. I put bait down and they went mad over it running all over the place. gradually over the next few days the noise decreased until they were gone. The poison (proper stuff) dehydrates the rats and they go outside seeking water before dying so wont leave a smell.

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Also a good tip if you have woodworm. paint coka cola on the affected timbers and the wood will last longer. This is more humane as it doesnt actually kill the woodworm but rots their teeth.

:coat

 

[Apache]

lived in NZ and house was made of timver. Rats would climb up inside the timber framing and run around in the loft. I put bait down and they went mad over it running all over the place. gradually over the next few days the noise decreased until they were gone. The poison (proper stuff) dehydrates the rats and they go outside seeking water before dying so wont leave a smell.

Not the case in this country Rev, all the poisons are anti-coagulants that cause them to bleed to death internally. Not such a bad death really.