"Vortex" wrote in message
...
Hi,

We've kept chickens for some years and this Winter some rats have "moved
in"
under the shed, and have created a network of tunnels - no doubt attracted
by free food. The food source is now removed, and despite 2 traps and a
large amount of poison (blue pellets) we still have rats. They seem
pretty
smart. They're obviously hungry because we see them by day nicking bread
left for the birds.

Alpha Rat (now called "Shredder Bin Laden") is definitely a boy and has at
least one wife. Scorched earth tactics are called for before we have a
plague. I have various questions:

TRAPS
Can anybody recommend a bait that is absolutely irrestible to rats?

Scented soap. They have even been known to swim round the U bend of a
toilet to get to it in a bathroom if they smell it after you have enptied
the bath.



POISON
Our rats seem wise to "commercial" poison so I'm inclined towards the
Ukranian approach....lacing some chicken food with some kind of lethal
toxin. What? Where can I legally buy it?

Calais. They don't seem to have this sense of 'fairness' towards vermin
that Blair and co have.


GAS
Pipe from car exhaust into tunnels with all possible exits blocked. Wife
thinks I'm mad. Surely this will work? Can you also get pyrotechnic
fumigators?

Are you sure the tunnels don't lead under your house ? If not just pour
petrol down and light.



ASASSINATION
Maybe an excuse to get an Air Rifle or pistol. I really don't have the
patience to stalk the Prey though...but the Dirty Harry fantasy "Probably
the most powerful airgun in thge world" does have some appeal.

They're faster than you are.



Any other suggestions before the hunt saboteurs get me?

Put them down the tunnels to protect the rats then burn the lot of them.