Hey folks!
I’m struggling with a persistent rat problem in my horse barn. These pests are chewing through feed bags, contaminating grain, and even nesting in the hayloft! I’ve set up snap traps and poison bait stations, but the rats seem to multiply faster than I can catch them. With horses and livestock nearby, I’m worried about accidental poisoning and disease risks.
My situation:
- Hotspots: Hayloft, feed storage, and gaps under barn doors.
- Damage: Ruined $800 worth of alfalfa last month. Horses are stressed by the constant scurrying.
- Attempted fixes: Peppermint oil sprays, steel wool in gaps, and weekly trap checks, no luck.
Barn cats are a MUST! My two ferals cleared out rats in 3 weeks. Also, install owl boxes nearby, they hunt at night. For feed, use galvanized metal bins with tight lids. Rats can’t chew through!
@HorseWhisperer Do barn cats bother horses? I’ve got skittish foals and don’t want stress.
Pour concrete around the barn base to block burrowing. For hayloft gaps, stuff stainless steel mesh, rats hate the texture. Also, keep hay stacked neatly; messy piles = rat condos.
Bucket traps with sunflower seeds + antifreeze work great. Rats jump in for the seeds and drown. Place them along walls where they travel.
@EcoRancher Careful with antifreeze, deadly to pets/livestock if leaked! Use soapy water instead.
Winter = rat invasion season! Before cold hits, deep-clean the barn. Remove spilled grain, and set T-Rex snap traps baited with bacon. Check daily, they’re quick!
Elevate feed bags on pallet racks 12+ inches off the ground. Rats hate climbing exposed legs. For grain, mix food-grade diatomaceous earth, safe for animals, deadly to rats.
I use solar-powered ultrasonic repellents in the hayloft. Silent to humans but drives rats nuts. Pair with mint-soaked cotton balls in nesting areas.
Avoid poison near livestock, they might eat poisoned rats and get secondary toxicity. Live traps relocated 5+ miles away are safer.
Seal ALL gaps wider than 1/4 inch! Use HVAC metal tape, it’s chew-proof. Also, mow grass short around the barn, no hiding spots.
Rats hate ammonia smells. Soak rags in ammonia and place near entry points (but keep away from livestock). Refresh weekly.
Brought in 2 barn cats and switched to metal bins. Already seeing fewer droppings! Anyone use motion-activated lights to scare rats at night?
For large barns, automated bait stations kill humanely and track kills via app. Pricey but cuts labor by 70%.