Rats and Chickens

Rats and Chickens protection starts with feed access, clutter, gaps, and small openings that let rodents live near the coop. The best fix is usually a tighter routine plus one or two physical weak-point repairs.

What to check first

• Store feed in sealed containers and clean up spilled grain promptly.
• Remove clutter where rodents can hide near the run.
• Close small gaps before rats establish a regular route.

Common mistakes

• Leaving feed available overnight and then treating rats as a random problem.
• Ignoring small wall, floor, or door gaps because they look too small for larger predators.
• Letting clutter build up around the coop perimeter.

Related protection guides

Compare this with the predator-proof coop guide, nighttime security checklist, and common predator mistakes.

Bottom line

For rats, remove the invitation first: spilled feed, eggs, clutter, and small entry gaps matter more than one trap.