If you have close neighbours, they can sometimes have concerns that you may have to address before you start to keep chickens. Note: The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 places an obligation on owners or occupiers to control rats and mice on their property and to inform the local Council of infestations. These concerns are usually about vermin, odours or noise. Neighbours. Social Sharing Opinion: Poison may be an effective means of extermination, but it's not a long-term solution. Rats don't come for chickens, they come for mess or compost. Any populated area is going to attract rats. I needed to use rat poison because the rodent infestation had grown so large by the time I recognised it that any other, longer-term way would have been potentially putting my chickens at risk of disease. Remember rats come for : 1. And rats pose a definite threat to chickens and their owners. Your neighbour should ensure that their chicken food is in a dispensing, or peck-type feeder so the rats cannot access it. … My parents get rats and none of their neighbours keeps anything resembling a chicken. The first thing is to keep the area clean. Portland, Oregon, is just one of many cities across the country that has embraced the popular trend of backyard chicken coops. Rats will eat the chickens, the chicks, the feed and the eggs 2. Some are quick to criticise chicken keepers but people feeding wild birds in their back garden are as likely to have rats and vermin as chicken keepers. Getting rid of rats with poison. Apart from deterring rats, good hygiene will keep your poultry healthy and avoid unpleasant smells annoying people. Disputes between neighbors arise with rats, chickens afoot ... and clarified a city regulation prohibiting residents from maintaining conditions on their property that can attract rats. Local Councils have powers to ensure that rodent control is carried out and may serve enforcement notices on land owners. Food and water left out is likely to attract vermin such as rats … Food. They will come for rubbish, food on bird tables, etc. And Portland has a rat problem, which makes people wonder how to keep rats away and whether chicken coops are making the problem worse. Vermin. I haven't seen a rat in ages. I think that calling out the council pest control is a good idea, they can advise you as to what you can do. If you’ve got chickens in your backyard or garden you really don’t want rats running about so you need to take some action to avoid attracting them. Rats multiply very quickly. Neighbour balks at backyard chickens A Halifax woman has been ordered to get rid of her three backyard chickens after a neighbour complained they were attracting rats. 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