Rodent control basics for
by George W. Chaloupka
Extension Poultry Specialist
University of Delaware
NEWARK, Del. The poultry
industry has made great strides in
improving weight gains, feed ef
ficiency, egg production and
disease control. Yet, with all the
modem technology, it still has a
nagging problem-rodent control.
Infestation of poultry houses with
rats and mice remains a common
and serious industry problem.
Statistics regarding the effects
of rats and mice on poultry
production are mindboggling.
Here are a few of the figures. One
pair of rats will eat more than 50
pounds of chicken feed in a year,
besides wasting and con
taminating many times that
amount. Rats average six litters on
nine each year, but some litters
contain up to 20 young. Rats can
kill hundreds of baby chicks in a
single night and have been known
to injure or kill older birds. Rats
and mice can carry up to 18 dif
ferent kinds of lice, fleas and mites
which transmit many diseases
affecting both humans and
domestic animals. Fowl cholera is
one of these diseases which con
cerns poultry producers.
Rodents also damage equip
The total, self-contained, portable
Pigibox.
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ment, insulation, foundation, walls
and electrical wiring. Heavy in
festations can be very destructive.
According to one estimate I’ve
seen, nearly |1 billion worth of
property is destroyed each year by
rodents in the U.S.
Considering the fact that ef
fective rodenticides have been
available for over two decades and
methods of rodent prevention in
poultry houses are frequently
reported, how can all this happen?
There seem to be two main
reasons: indifference on the part of
some producers, and the ability of
rodents to adapt, survive and
reproduce under adverse con
ditions. Remember, when you see
one or two rats it’s a good bet 10
times that many are actually in
residence.
Our newest poultry structures
are not immune to rodents. Broiler
breeder house construction ac
tually tends to favor infestations.
For example, a typical broiler
house with slats over two thirds of
the floor area offers good shelter
for rats. They will burrow in the
manure and the dirt, eat and drink
directly from feeders and
waterers, and take advantage of
feed and water spills through the
slats.
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Swine Systems Specialists
poultrymen
Eats and mi£e also damage
insulation by burrowing and
nesting in the walls and ceilings of
poultry houses. Once established
they remain relatively hidden and
can quickly increase in numbers.
If you know a poultry house is
infested with rats and mice, act
quickly to reduce their numbers or
eliminate them. Traps and baits,
laced with approved poisons, can
be effective if strategically placed.
The impact of anticoagulant baits
and other compounds such as zince
phosphide will depend on rodent
acceptability. When poultry are
present in the building, such baits
must compete with readily
available chicken feed and water
and so must be at least equally
palatable. Bait-shy rodents will
ignore baits not normally as
available to them as chicken feed.
Remember that rodenticides are
poisons. If mishandled, these
poisons can injure poultry,
livestock-or the applicator. So
read directions carefully and
follow them to the letter. You must
have a private applicator’s license
when using restricted rodenticides
like zinc phosphide.
Here are some rodent control
basics to keep in mind :
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 29,1984—05
Eliminate piles of trash,
machinery or wood near poultry
and livestock buildings and other
places likely to harbor rats. This
certainly includes eliminating
potential shelters near your house
as well. Constantly clean up
around the farm to deny com
fortable quarters for rats and
mice.
Keep buildings as ratproof as
possible by eliminating access.
Use metal flashings on wooden
doors. Make sure doors fit tightly
and use fine mesh wire screening
on windows and other possible
entrances.
Place baits in burrows, runs,
Eastern Nat'l prepares
for big week
TIMONIUM, MD. - The
Eastern National Livestock Show
scheduled from October 3 through
6 is shaping up to be one of the best
ever according to Wayne A.
Cawley, Jr., Maryland Secretary
of Agriculture. Over 1,145 animals
are already entered in the event
which takes place each year at the
attics and other rodent-traveled
areas.
Consider keeping a cat; cats can
provide excellent mouse and rat
control.
If your own efforts are un
successful and rodent populations
are high, call in a professional
exterminator.
With the arrival of cooler
weather, rats and mice have begun
moving indoors for shelter. They
will prefer chicken houses and
other livestock buildings where
feed and water are readily
available.
Prevent potential losses by
taking prompt action now to
control these destructive critters.
Maryland State Fairgrounds in
Timonium.
The more than 500 animals
entered in the breed classes in
clude Angus, Polled Herefords,
Herefords, Charolais, Shorthorns,
Chianina, Limousin and Sim
mental.
Market class entries include 90
market steers, 85 junior heifers, 50
market lambs, 50 4-H market hogs,
25 open market hogs, 95 junior
breeding sheep, 55 feeder steers
and 250 open breeding sheep.
“The Eastern National is the
highlight event of the year for
livestock breeders east of the
Mississippi,” says Cawley. This
year the show has a new manager,
Mr. Kenneth (Ken) Shifflet. Ken
recently retired after 28 years of
service with the Cooperative
Extension Service of the
University of Maryland.
Aditional information and a
show schedule of events can be
obtained by writing to the Eastern
National, Maryland State
Fairgrounds, Timonium,
Maryland 21093 or by calling (301)
252-3555.
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