Chickens are messy eaters. This creates a tempting smorgasbord for rodents, explains Maureen Mackey. She shares ways to reduce rat problems around chickens, tips from experts, coop construction advice and reminds us that they can carry serious diseases, including salmonella and leptospirosis.
Source: Backyard Poultry, September 2021. Link. Rats rarely go beyond 300 feet of their burrows or nests, making it convenient for them to take shelter in one place. Norway rats can cover a circular area of about 100 to 150 feet in diameter when they are on the prowl for food and water.
Backyard chickens don’t create a rat problem; they just provide rats that are already in the area with another opportunity for food.”