been down to parents house today to feed chickens while they're on holliday

neighbours seen rats around

hes put traps + poison down to try that

ive spotted a possible nest as one came out of it, so im going to put a hose pipe in it and take my air rifle down tommorow

ive blocked the route they used to get to the chicken feed

any other ideas?

Why don't you put some poison down also - then the environment and the balance of mother nature can be chipped away at just a little more

Make sure your air rifle license its all up to date too

and watch you don't get the rifle stuck in the pipe !!!

rifle liscence??

last time i rang the police to try and dispose of it they said it didnt need a liscence

send them a letter before rat cion

tried they sent back a letter with a load of S*** in it

like most companies really

Also take some James Cagney movies with you.

been down to parents house today to feed chickens while they're on holliday

 

neighbours seen rats around

 

hes put traps + poison down to try that

 

ive spotted a possible nest as one came out of it, so im going to put a hose pipe in it and take my air rifle down tommorow

 

ive blocked the route they used to get to the chicken feed

 

any other ideas?

rifle liscence??

 

last time i rang the police to try and dispose of it they said it didnt need a liscence

Rules on gunbuying and licencing in the UK

To buy a shotgun in Britain you need to hold a Shotgun Certificate, and to buy a rifle you need to hold a Fire Arm Certificate. You can ask for forms for these from your local police station.

http://www.gundealer.net/rules.htm

You could also try not putting down so much chicken feed, as this is more likely what has attracted the rats in the first place.

Not only that - putting too much feed down for chickens isn't good for the chickens as becomes bad, thus attracting what people see as "vermin" (rats, but that's a matter of opinion) - thus resulting in happier chickens and rats that aren't lured to their death

Give the Pied Piper a call.

get a jack russel terrier, no you dont need a shotgun or firearms licence for an air rifle, as for rats you will always get them when you have chickens.

score so far

next doors trap 1.5

air rifle .5

(trap snapped on one it got out and nearly got away before i shot it)

memo to self airrifles dont work best after 10 years in a garage

as for rats you will always get them when you have chickens.

I've just had chickens and I never got rats. I just got roast potatoes, carrot, turnip and gravy.

You want to be careful that rifle doesn't backfire on you

Also, just in case you weren't aware - you can purchase humane traps, then release any rodents caught. Then perhaps clean up the area where the chickens are kept so you don't have any further problems.

Did you check that you had a valid firearms certificate? As you didn't seem to think you needed one.

Do Rats eat Budgies !!!

Well, my Uncle bred budgies in the 50's-60's, and they had a very big rat problem back then, but none of his were ever eaten by a rat! Also my OH's Dad had aviaries too, with budgies, finches, cockateels and he even kept a minor bird (although it did die of cold when an unexpected cold snap came during the night), also he kept chickens, but no deaths due to rats there either.

Rats if they can get in a birds nest would probably eat a chick if it were unable to get away - but again that's part of nature and the natural course of the food chain.

I don't see any wrong in animals dying for the purpose of feeding another and being part of the food chain - but being killed just because it's either classed as vermin or just for the sheer fun or profit of hunting - is very sad I feel.

DW he dosnt need as firearms certificate for an air rifle, not sure about trapping and letting go though, I just let the cats catch any round our way (very rural) trouble is though they seem to prefer catching rabbits

DW he dosnt need as firearms certificate for an air rifle, not sure about trapping and letting go though, I just let the cats catch any round our way (very rural) trouble is though they seem to prefer catching rabbits

You do now Blondie http://www.gundealer.net/rules.htm

To buy a shotgun in Britain you need to hold a Shotgun Certificate, and to buy a rifle you need to hold a Fire Arm Certificate. You can ask for forms for these from your local police station.

It is an offence to fire a gun within 50 feet of a roadway, public footpath or bridleway if by doing so any member of the public is endangered. It is an offence to carry a loaded gun in a public place without good reason. An gun may be considered loaded even if the bullets (or pellets in the case of air rifles) are in a detached magazine.

Post 1997 rule changes

From 1997, firearm and shotgun certification became more stringent. Among the extra hurdles added, people who now apply for Firearms Certificates have to provide two referees, and the police are able to revoke a Firearms Certificate in cases where the holder no longer has a good reason to possess firearms or ammunition.

Another animal doing what comes naturally is nature, we live in a rural area and I've never even seen a rat - usually nature keeps it's own balance especially in rural areas!

Perhaps Labrat doesn't want to let the rats death be in vain, and maybe will eat it? They do in China

I remember when even common shrews were classed as vermin (many moons ago lol!) - and I found one dead in my bin shed after my neighbour put poison down! But they're protected now under the wildlife and countryside act (1981).

rang police and checked - no liscence needed as long as its below 12fps muzzle velocity - it was around 11fps when i brought it and i doubt its got any stronger sitting in the garage

and the only reason im shooting them is humane traps havent worked - at least the ones the neighbour tried, its bated with areo bubbles which are the same as what the non humane traps that have worked are bated

ive had another look and ive found what looks like a few tunnels, ive had the hosepipe down a couple and stuffed bricks down the rest

think labrat (+ the police) is correct, no licence needed as per velocity/repeat mentioned. but, would still have to stick to certain firearms law; boundary, endangerment, supervision, age restrictions, etc as mentioned.

Oh well that's good - just as long as you don't end up being arrested for a serious crime if you didn't know about the new firearms laws!

Just a tip for the humane traps - rats are very partial to "Cadbury" chocolate, well at least mine were, they would turn their noses up at nestle

........., and maybe will eat it? They do in China

 

...

they do here as well! heston bloominwhatshisname likes cook them for eg. (no wonder his resty got shut down for a bit or was that for something else? i don't know. just what i read/saw somewhere, on the www prob). like pigeons (rats with wings), now a la carte!

 

Just a tip for the humane traps - rats are very partial to "Cadbury" chocolate, well at least mine were, they would turn their noses up at nestle

When I got mice in the house once (four cats, all too damn lazy to even look at the mice!) I baited the humane traps with Galaxy. It took great willpower not to eat it myself everytime I went past! The mice didn't touch it and eventaully cleared off of their accord - possibly to someone with a supply of Dairy Milk!

When I got mice in the house once (four cats, all too damn lazy to even look at the mice!) I baited the humane traps with Galaxy. It took great willpower not to eat it myself everytime I went past! The mice didn't touch it and eventaully cleared off of their accord - possibly to someone with a supply of Dairy Milk!

You know Janie, that wouldn't surprise me in the slightest! There is something about Cadbury chocolate that they can't resist!

So Labrat? Please if you're reading this - please, please, please try Cadbury chocolate in the humane traps

Oh and don't you just love cats Janie? That is a sign that your cats are very well fed, not in the least bit bored - and extremely contented! Oh and just ever so slightly lazy

Yeah, I love my puddies! All are so very different in personality (purrsonality?) and absolutely gorgeous!