15/08/2026
RATS IN POULTRY!!!!????
Dead rat in poultry pen is serious 😬 Rats spread disease and stress your birds.
Here’s what to do *right now + long term
# # # *1. REMOVE IT SAFELY - Do this first*
Rats carry salmonella, leptospirosis, pasteurella, and parasites.
*Steps:*
1. *Wear gloves + mask + boots* - Don’t touch with bare hands
2. *Use a shovel or tongs* - Put the rat in a double plastic bag
3. *Disinfect area* - Spray where it died with bleach + water 1:10 or Virukill/Dettol. Leave 10 mins then rinse
4. *Wash hands* well with soap after
5. *Dispose* - Bury deep away from pen, burn it, or put in sealed bin. Don’t throw in bush where dogs/poultry can eat it
# # # *2. CHECK YOUR BIRDS*
Look for signs in the next 3-7 days:
- *Sickness*: diarrhea, weakness, sudden deaths, respiratory issues
- *Bites*: wounds on chicks, missing toes, dead chicks
- *Egg eating* - rats steal eggs
If any bird looks sick, isolate it and call a vet. You may need to deworm + give antibiotics.
# # # *3. STOP MORE RATS - Pest control*
**Problem** **Solution**
**Food source** Store feed in metal/plastic drums with tight lids. Don’t leave feed overnight
**Entry points** Block holes >1cm with cement + wire mesh. Rats can squeeze through tiny gaps
**Water** Fix leakages. No stagnant water
**Traps** Use snap traps or glue boards along walls. Bait with peanut butter/dried fish
**Poison** Use rodenticide bait stations OUTSIDE the pen only. Never inside where birds can reach it
**Cats** A farm cat helps, but don’t let it into the pen with chicks
# # # *4. CLEAN THE PEN*
1. Remove old litter from that spot
2. Spray disinfectant on floor, walls, feeders, drinkers
3. Let it dry in sun before putting fresh bedding
4. Do this weekly to break the rat cycle
# # # *Why rats are dangerous to poultry*
1. *Steal feed* = losses
2. *Spread disease* to birds + humans
3. *Stress birds* = poor growth + low egg production
4. *Kill chicks* and eat eggs
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*Quick question for you:*
Did the rat look like it was poisoned, or was it killed by something? And are your birds acting normal?
If you want, I can give you a *weekly poultry pen rat-proofing checklist* so this doesn’t happen again. Want it?
