I’ve tried a whole bunch of different kinds of rat control over the years, and the classic snap traps just work the best for a number of reasons.
(Side Note: Please DON’T use rat poison. It’s a whole thing, but steer clear of this one, trust me… I learned the hard way.)
Here’s what works consistently for me:
🐀 Different rats have different tastes, like people do. Some can’t resist chocolate, for some it’s peanuts, fruit, meat, jelly, and so on. So I don’t bother trying to figure it out and I’ll put a tiny bit of each on the trap. Picture a rat-smorgasbord type of deal. Then whatever it is they prefer, odds are they’ll find it.
🐀 I use peanut butter/jelly/honey to stick the bait pieces onto the trap. I schmear a little out down the front too for funsies.
🐀 Placement: I set the trap down right along the shed where they tend to take up residence underneath. Rats move along walls or anywhere that gives them cover, so I try to put the trap in it’s path, which is typically the direction of the chicken feed.
🐀 Consider kids, pets, the neighbors cat, etc. I mostly put the traps directly in my chicken pen area because that’s where they are the most present. To keep the chickens out (and the neighbors cat) I take some wire mesh fencing and enclose the trap. I can still reach down or move it around easily, but it keeps the animals out so they don’t get caught in it.
🐀 Checking back often. I don’t want a dead rat sitting there too long, for several reasons, so clear it out and set a fresh trap as soon as possible. Check at least daily and keep resetting new traps until they stop biting.
And that’s that! Then I enjoy a few rat-free months in peace…. until they come back and the cycle starts again. Keeping rats under control is not a one-and-done issue. Fresh garden tomatoes and an ongoing supply of chicken feed are what attracted them in the first place. So new rats will move in, and the cycle will continue, it’s just a part of the gardening & chickening life!