Food and water left out is likely to attract vermin such as rats … Remember rats come for : 1. 1. Food. I needed to use rat poison because the rodent infestation had grown so large by the time I recognised it that any other, longer-term way would have been potentially putting my chickens at risk of disease. Your neighbour should ensure that their chicken food is in a dispensing, or peck-type feeder so the rats cannot access it. Rats multiply very quickly. And Portland has a rat problem, which makes people wonder how to keep rats away and whether chicken coops are making the problem worse. They will come for rubbish, food on bird tables, etc. Neighbours. Disputes between neighbors arise with rats, chickens afoot ... and clarified a city regulation prohibiting residents from maintaining conditions on their property that can attract rats. Any populated area is going to attract rats. We had rats in our garden long before we had hens - next door has the European compost mountain, that;'s why. We had an exterminator come over and tell us that the rats most likley are coming from the pile of junk. Rats don't come for chickens, they come for mess or compost. Rats will eat the chickens, the chicks, the feed and the eggs 2. Apart from deterring rats, good hygiene will keep your poultry healthy and avoid unpleasant smells annoying people. Getting rid of rats with poison. Local Councils have powers to ensure that rodent control is carried out and may serve enforcement notices on land owners. If you’ve got chickens in your backyard or garden you really don’t want rats running about so you need to take some action to avoid attracting them. This explains why "the first thing that attracts rats to a house is garbage bins, if they are not well-covered with lids,” points out Robert Benanti, broker and owner of 365 Realty, in Orlando, FL. And rats pose a definite threat to chickens and their owners. While your chickens won’t want to eat or drink at night, rats will, so make sure they are not attracted to your area by seed from wild bird feeders, or cat or dog food left out overnight. Opinion: Poison may be an effective means of extermination, but it's not a long-term solution. … My parents get rats and none of their neighbours keeps anything resembling a chicken. Portland, Oregon, is just one of many cities across the country that has embraced the popular trend of backyard chicken coops. These concerns are usually about vermin, odours or noise. Some are quick to criticise chicken keepers but people feeding wild birds in their back garden are as likely to have rats and vermin as chicken keepers. I haven't seen a rat in ages. Our neighbors so kindly pile up junk in back of their shed, so that it is next to our yard. Vermin. 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