How Do Rats Affect Chickens?
WouterRats and mice are two of the most common pests in the US, but they also affect chickens. Both mice and rats can transmit a wide range of diseases to chickens, and they can damage your chicken house if they get inside. Although not every chicken will be affected by a rat infestation, you should keep an eye out for signs of a rat problem.
The first step you should take if you discover that you have rats is to remove any potential sources of food and water for them. Also, cover your chicken coop and run with heavy gauge hardware cloth. These precautions are critical for keeping rats away from your flock. However, you may not be aware of your rat problem until they are in your coop or run.
In addition to causing disease in chickens, rats can also carry pathogens that are harmful to humans. According to a recent study by UBC researchers, rats can absorb disease agents from the environment that they live in, including chickens and their owners. The researchers studied the feces of rat populations caught on a chicken farm and found that all rats carried avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), a bacterium that can cause illness in both humans and chickens. In addition, rat feces were also contaminated with multi-drug-resistant strains of E. coli bacteria, which can cause a rash in humans.
Rats will do anything to get food, and this includes eating chickens. A rat will steal a six-week-old chick from its mother at night without her noticing. As a result, baby chicks should be confined to the house at night.
