Wow you guys had a big problem and you did a great job dealing with it. I really appreciate the information you shared today! I don’t live on a farm but I did move to the country and already we dealt with two different ant invasions- luckily there are non-toxic-to-pets ways to deal with ants but we’ve been worrying about potential mice/rat infestations. Now I know what to do! Thank you and good luck to yous!
I really hope it helps if you ever have to deal with it! Look up "Natural rodent prevention" and use some of those methods so you never get to where we are!!
Thank you for the warning before you discussed rat extermination. I grew up on a farm and struggled when we had to do many of the same things in the barn. I know it's necessary, but when you love animals it's not easy.
Earlier this week my sister said, "Let me know how things are going just don't tell me any gory details!" I figured you all might like the same approach. Thanks for the comment--you're right, it's the hardest thing when you love all animals and hate to ever hurt anything!! ❤️
Oh thank goodness! I read a farm blog earlier this week that said the rule of thumb is that for every 1 adult rat or mouse you see, there are 25-50 more in a nest somewhere. That literally sent me into a meltdown! This is before we started getting after it with the traps. Happy to report that as of this morning there is very little to no activity in the barn...I think we're over the worst of it!
We are in the county just outside of Huntsville and when this area has continued to grow, as they cleared land for subdivisions, here came the rats. I had to stop feeding my birds for awhile, bird feed attracts them too. We did try the dunk method but never caught anything. We found snap traps to be the kindest, instant death option, UNTIL, it doesn’t catch them cleanly to kill! Several times we only caught a body part, and, well, then you gotta do your duty…..they are so smart and intelligent, I just hate it! I’ve had pet rats! But boy!, can they populate fast!
That's what makes it so hard to kill them--I know people keep them as pets and they're incredibly cute and can be raised to be so friendly...but having them take up residence in unwanted places is just horrible! I wish we'd gotten after it faster so that we didn't have to kill them...you're right, at least the snap traps are the quickest and most humane when it does get them the way they're intended.
Took a coffee break after reading this note. I was hurting for you to have to do this, absolutely necessary for a farmer for sure but nonetheless incredibly hard. It made me think about going fishing with my family as a child. I had such a hard time with the death of any creature that when my family members caught a fish I would run up into the forest behind the river or lake, close my eyes and cover my ears so I didn’t have to see or hear the fish getting knocked on the head after it was pulled in. To this day it is hard when I go home. My grandkids like to catch bugs and worms, I always make sure they are gentle and return them to their homes. I also put bugs outside that I find in the house😊
You are keeping your chickens and formers healthy and safe and as a farmer you have that responsibility ❤️Thanks as always for sharing.
That's the mindset we've tried to keep - for our health, for the health and safety of our animals, for the safety of our structures, and in order to protect this farm, it's a must. Wish we'd gotten ahead of it sooner but here we are. At least we all know now! Thanks for your incredibly kind and thoughtful words.
Such interesting reading with my coffee this morning!🤪 Who knew? This city dweller wouldn't have the first clue about rats. Thank you for always looking for a safer, more natural way to solve problems. And yes, my heart would be sad about having to eliminate them, even though it's necessary.
Thanks for reading as always! During my research I learned that cities are having the hardest time managing rats right now because while everything was shut down during the pandemic that created the perfect opportunity in restaurants, subways, sewers, etc. for their populations to multiply exponentially. Now, we're seeing the after effects from that time.
One thing I forgot to mention in the note is that this is the first year our hay field hasn't gotten mowed since the farmer isn't here this year with his cows...we think this is a huge contributing factor to why it got this bad this year.
Great information to know. I have mice get in to my house but the cats get them. Can you share a photo of the size of the Tupperware method ong with the amounts of mix?
Oh my friend I have been there. Not on this large scale but I’ve been there. I live in a double wide mobile home. No foundation so a lot of mice/rat opportunities. I’ve been here just under 14 years. Within a year of being here I had a dead rat under my home. The smell coming from under my kitchen sink was the most foul thing ever. Who knew a dead rat would run me out of my home? Pest control came out once, didn’t find anything, the smell continued. They came out a second time and found it under my house. I now have a quarterly check. I’ve had the occasional mouse since that first time but never inside my home. Last year a rat took up residence and I would hear him chewing inside my walls. Freaked me out. My pest technician came out the next day and figured out where Mr. Rat was getting in. He baited and set a few traps and with his advice I spent several days digging a 5 inch trench around the perimeter of my house and filling it with pea gravel. Every day after work for about 2 weeks I’d go home and find a hole about a foot long dug out of my pea gravel in the exact same spot. He was still getting in and I was hacked off. I’d fill it back in. I hate killing creatures. Bugs, spiders, any living thing but if they’re destroying my home they have to go. I too capture spiders and set them free outside. It took about 3 weeks but he finally was killed in a trap. I’ve also found a mouse nest in my car, behind my glovebox, when I changed my cabin filter. Tons of what looked like stuffing from a toy and a clear mouse shaped indentation directly on my cabin filter. Scary to think I was breathing that in every time I used my heater. Ugh. Killing them feels awful but it has to be done. Sometimes harming one to protect others is necessary. I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with this.
I'm so glad you were able to get after the problem and you're right, they do smell so horrible and it's the worst when they die in/around your home in either the walls or crawl spaces or in some hard to reach spot. Thanks for sharing this--I hope it helps someone who reads it!!
We had a mice infestation in our garage and they ate both of the wires under the hoods of both of our cars. Irish Spring soap is excellent, I shave it into small pieces and replace every 2 weeks. I also spray Irish Spring soap mixed in water all over the exterior areas. Cayenne Pepper sprinkled on the ground helps as does Peppermint oil. Growing up on a farm I can relate to this issue. I'm sorry you have to do this but you need to protect your other animals. Be kind to yourself as this task progresses.
Oh gosh that's so awful! We've been worried about our vehicles too because it's an easy place for them to scurry to and run up into them when they leave the coop--fingers crossed we don't run into issues there. All of those things are super helpful and we'll put them in place once we've tackled the population control. Thank you for your kind advice and grace--y'all are amazingly sweet and compassionate.
Oh My Goodness!! I am NOT a rodent person at all!! First my mind goes to all the diseases they carry & second I just don’t want them anywhere near my property! WOW, what an experience! 🫢😱 I did not know all the “fun” facts about rats. How horrifying! I am SO sorry you are having to deal with this issue! But as always you two find a way…I am so impressed! I, too, avoid, at all cost, using poisons for fear it will harm my cats. So I have battled mice (not rats, thankfully) with snap traps & used steel wool to plug every crevice or crack. It was horrifying to learn from an exterminator that mice can flatten themselves to a quarter of an inch to get in places. 😳 I hope you keep us posted - and I pray for you that this gets resolved quickly! 🙏🏼
Well of course they're all cute as all get out and it breaks my heart every single time we've caught one...I hate killing things and I really hate to have to kill so many at this scale--it's awful! It is totally gross how they can flatten themselves like that to get into just about anything. And certainly we'll keep you posted. I think we're definitely over the worst of it, thankfully!!
Oh boy - this is my nightmare situation. I grew up in inner city Detroit and they were an issue.. I now fear/hate rodents. You're doing the right thing by being kind to neighbors, Black kitty and other animals. We live in the suburbs now and rats are always a problem - especially with garden and dog waste left out (yep they love it). Any chance the donkey manure is a source of food - you'll want all the sources known. You are so brave for dealing with it as you have - it means hands on and I could not do it. Glad to hear the bucket works - thought of trying that to curb the chipmunks we have here before they ruin the foundation. Sending you good luck and good mental health - what stress this must be! Big hugs!
Thank you so much for not going the poison route. They are so harmful to other species especially the owls that just want dinner. I know you and Chris like to take day trips, if you have not already you should check out VINS in Quechee, VT. They care for a selection of raptors that can no longer be in the wild, for a variety of reasons. Its a really cool place and they have a tree top walk way that's a lot of fun.
Wow you guys had a big problem and you did a great job dealing with it. I really appreciate the information you shared today! I don’t live on a farm but I did move to the country and already we dealt with two different ant invasions- luckily there are non-toxic-to-pets ways to deal with ants but we’ve been worrying about potential mice/rat infestations. Now I know what to do! Thank you and good luck to yous!
I really hope it helps if you ever have to deal with it! Look up "Natural rodent prevention" and use some of those methods so you never get to where we are!!
Thank you, I’m looking that up right now!
Thank you for the warning before you discussed rat extermination. I grew up on a farm and struggled when we had to do many of the same things in the barn. I know it's necessary, but when you love animals it's not easy.
Earlier this week my sister said, "Let me know how things are going just don't tell me any gory details!" I figured you all might like the same approach. Thanks for the comment--you're right, it's the hardest thing when you love all animals and hate to ever hurt anything!! ❤️
This sounds like a horrible situation. Thank you for sharing your tips and strategies.
We had a field mouse get into our house years ago. He took up residence in the oven. We used a snap trap baited with peanut butter.
I was nervous that his buddies would show up but they never did. Whew!
Oh thank goodness! I read a farm blog earlier this week that said the rule of thumb is that for every 1 adult rat or mouse you see, there are 25-50 more in a nest somewhere. That literally sent me into a meltdown! This is before we started getting after it with the traps. Happy to report that as of this morning there is very little to no activity in the barn...I think we're over the worst of it!
We are in the county just outside of Huntsville and when this area has continued to grow, as they cleared land for subdivisions, here came the rats. I had to stop feeding my birds for awhile, bird feed attracts them too. We did try the dunk method but never caught anything. We found snap traps to be the kindest, instant death option, UNTIL, it doesn’t catch them cleanly to kill! Several times we only caught a body part, and, well, then you gotta do your duty…..they are so smart and intelligent, I just hate it! I’ve had pet rats! But boy!, can they populate fast!
That's what makes it so hard to kill them--I know people keep them as pets and they're incredibly cute and can be raised to be so friendly...but having them take up residence in unwanted places is just horrible! I wish we'd gotten after it faster so that we didn't have to kill them...you're right, at least the snap traps are the quickest and most humane when it does get them the way they're intended.
Took a coffee break after reading this note. I was hurting for you to have to do this, absolutely necessary for a farmer for sure but nonetheless incredibly hard. It made me think about going fishing with my family as a child. I had such a hard time with the death of any creature that when my family members caught a fish I would run up into the forest behind the river or lake, close my eyes and cover my ears so I didn’t have to see or hear the fish getting knocked on the head after it was pulled in. To this day it is hard when I go home. My grandkids like to catch bugs and worms, I always make sure they are gentle and return them to their homes. I also put bugs outside that I find in the house😊
You are keeping your chickens and formers healthy and safe and as a farmer you have that responsibility ❤️Thanks as always for sharing.
That's the mindset we've tried to keep - for our health, for the health and safety of our animals, for the safety of our structures, and in order to protect this farm, it's a must. Wish we'd gotten ahead of it sooner but here we are. At least we all know now! Thanks for your incredibly kind and thoughtful words.
Such interesting reading with my coffee this morning!🤪 Who knew? This city dweller wouldn't have the first clue about rats. Thank you for always looking for a safer, more natural way to solve problems. And yes, my heart would be sad about having to eliminate them, even though it's necessary.
Thanks for reading as always! During my research I learned that cities are having the hardest time managing rats right now because while everything was shut down during the pandemic that created the perfect opportunity in restaurants, subways, sewers, etc. for their populations to multiply exponentially. Now, we're seeing the after effects from that time.
One thing I forgot to mention in the note is that this is the first year our hay field hasn't gotten mowed since the farmer isn't here this year with his cows...we think this is a huge contributing factor to why it got this bad this year.
Being in Houston, I'd like to think the summer heat and coyotes help to manage the rats in the burbs...I've never seen one but confident we have them!
Great information to know. I have mice get in to my house but the cats get them. Can you share a photo of the size of the Tupperware method ong with the amounts of mix?
Yes I'll go back and add them to this post and then share them on IG as well! Thanks for asking!
Oh my friend I have been there. Not on this large scale but I’ve been there. I live in a double wide mobile home. No foundation so a lot of mice/rat opportunities. I’ve been here just under 14 years. Within a year of being here I had a dead rat under my home. The smell coming from under my kitchen sink was the most foul thing ever. Who knew a dead rat would run me out of my home? Pest control came out once, didn’t find anything, the smell continued. They came out a second time and found it under my house. I now have a quarterly check. I’ve had the occasional mouse since that first time but never inside my home. Last year a rat took up residence and I would hear him chewing inside my walls. Freaked me out. My pest technician came out the next day and figured out where Mr. Rat was getting in. He baited and set a few traps and with his advice I spent several days digging a 5 inch trench around the perimeter of my house and filling it with pea gravel. Every day after work for about 2 weeks I’d go home and find a hole about a foot long dug out of my pea gravel in the exact same spot. He was still getting in and I was hacked off. I’d fill it back in. I hate killing creatures. Bugs, spiders, any living thing but if they’re destroying my home they have to go. I too capture spiders and set them free outside. It took about 3 weeks but he finally was killed in a trap. I’ve also found a mouse nest in my car, behind my glovebox, when I changed my cabin filter. Tons of what looked like stuffing from a toy and a clear mouse shaped indentation directly on my cabin filter. Scary to think I was breathing that in every time I used my heater. Ugh. Killing them feels awful but it has to be done. Sometimes harming one to protect others is necessary. I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with this.
I'm so glad you were able to get after the problem and you're right, they do smell so horrible and it's the worst when they die in/around your home in either the walls or crawl spaces or in some hard to reach spot. Thanks for sharing this--I hope it helps someone who reads it!!
We had a mice infestation in our garage and they ate both of the wires under the hoods of both of our cars. Irish Spring soap is excellent, I shave it into small pieces and replace every 2 weeks. I also spray Irish Spring soap mixed in water all over the exterior areas. Cayenne Pepper sprinkled on the ground helps as does Peppermint oil. Growing up on a farm I can relate to this issue. I'm sorry you have to do this but you need to protect your other animals. Be kind to yourself as this task progresses.
Oh gosh that's so awful! We've been worried about our vehicles too because it's an easy place for them to scurry to and run up into them when they leave the coop--fingers crossed we don't run into issues there. All of those things are super helpful and we'll put them in place once we've tackled the population control. Thank you for your kind advice and grace--y'all are amazingly sweet and compassionate.
Oh My Goodness!! I am NOT a rodent person at all!! First my mind goes to all the diseases they carry & second I just don’t want them anywhere near my property! WOW, what an experience! 🫢😱 I did not know all the “fun” facts about rats. How horrifying! I am SO sorry you are having to deal with this issue! But as always you two find a way…I am so impressed! I, too, avoid, at all cost, using poisons for fear it will harm my cats. So I have battled mice (not rats, thankfully) with snap traps & used steel wool to plug every crevice or crack. It was horrifying to learn from an exterminator that mice can flatten themselves to a quarter of an inch to get in places. 😳 I hope you keep us posted - and I pray for you that this gets resolved quickly! 🙏🏼
Well of course they're all cute as all get out and it breaks my heart every single time we've caught one...I hate killing things and I really hate to have to kill so many at this scale--it's awful! It is totally gross how they can flatten themselves like that to get into just about anything. And certainly we'll keep you posted. I think we're definitely over the worst of it, thankfully!!
Oh boy - this is my nightmare situation. I grew up in inner city Detroit and they were an issue.. I now fear/hate rodents. You're doing the right thing by being kind to neighbors, Black kitty and other animals. We live in the suburbs now and rats are always a problem - especially with garden and dog waste left out (yep they love it). Any chance the donkey manure is a source of food - you'll want all the sources known. You are so brave for dealing with it as you have - it means hands on and I could not do it. Glad to hear the bucket works - thought of trying that to curb the chipmunks we have here before they ruin the foundation. Sending you good luck and good mental health - what stress this must be! Big hugs!
Thank you so much for not going the poison route. They are so harmful to other species especially the owls that just want dinner. I know you and Chris like to take day trips, if you have not already you should check out VINS in Quechee, VT. They care for a selection of raptors that can no longer be in the wild, for a variety of reasons. Its a really cool place and they have a tree top walk way that's a lot of fun.
Lol - when I read this I thought - ooh a place you can rent hawks for rodent patrol! oops.
But seriously Sarah - adding owls to the property might help! :)