GBov
Well-known member
Just bought a 6ft by 8ft metal shed and am setting it up in the courtyard this week. The ground consists of hardpan with a deep gravel covering which should be hard for the VERY evident rat population to dig through and into the shed.
Once it is all set up I will have a 6 ft by 4 ft by 2ft wire cage across the back of the shed for 6 pair of pigeons - 30 inches off the ground for ease of care - and a corner cage also up about 30 inches, for three hens - with a large wire dog crate attached to the outside of the shed for some sunbathing for them.
And the three new Rex will have the entire floor which will start as gravel but at need can be retro-fitted with plywood if something more solid is needed.
The outside space is about 15 feet by 8 feet and depending on the day/weather all, or some, will have free time lose in that space. It is bounded on three sides by tall houses so is a bit like a brick canyon, only one way in or out and the shed blocks most of that and the simple addition to the gate of some cage wire, wood, and shade cloth makes it impossible to escape past and or to see in.
But RATS!!! I HATE rats and they are already coming into that space so I have been fretting about how to keep the hoped-for kits safe and had a brilliant idea last night....
Not only will I cover every ventilation point and animal pop door with secureable cage wire doors but I will build nest CAGES for the colony floor. Long and narrow like nest tunnels but at the access end I will cover it with cage wire and put a door in. Open until it is used and then closed up tight and safe when there are kits in it.
Morning and evening I will open them for the does to care for the kits while I keep watch and with all those precautions, I should manage to keep them alive and not snacks for the naked tail horrors.
I have lived with, and fought, rats as long as I have had rabbits but I have never met anything quite like UK rats, ultra-aggressive and so many of them :shock: where do they come from in the squeaky clean, brick and mortar world of an old mining town is a constant mystery to me, there is not even a scrap of cover and yet, hoards manage it.
Once it is all set up I will have a 6 ft by 4 ft by 2ft wire cage across the back of the shed for 6 pair of pigeons - 30 inches off the ground for ease of care - and a corner cage also up about 30 inches, for three hens - with a large wire dog crate attached to the outside of the shed for some sunbathing for them.
And the three new Rex will have the entire floor which will start as gravel but at need can be retro-fitted with plywood if something more solid is needed.
The outside space is about 15 feet by 8 feet and depending on the day/weather all, or some, will have free time lose in that space. It is bounded on three sides by tall houses so is a bit like a brick canyon, only one way in or out and the shed blocks most of that and the simple addition to the gate of some cage wire, wood, and shade cloth makes it impossible to escape past and or to see in.
But RATS!!! I HATE rats and they are already coming into that space so I have been fretting about how to keep the hoped-for kits safe and had a brilliant idea last night....
Not only will I cover every ventilation point and animal pop door with secureable cage wire doors but I will build nest CAGES for the colony floor. Long and narrow like nest tunnels but at the access end I will cover it with cage wire and put a door in. Open until it is used and then closed up tight and safe when there are kits in it.
Morning and evening I will open them for the does to care for the kits while I keep watch and with all those precautions, I should manage to keep them alive and not snacks for the naked tail horrors.
I have lived with, and fought, rats as long as I have had rabbits but I have never met anything quite like UK rats, ultra-aggressive and so many of them :shock: where do they come from in the squeaky clean, brick and mortar world of an old mining town is a constant mystery to me, there is not even a scrap of cover and yet, hoards manage it.
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