RAT CONTROL IN POULTRY

RAT CONTROL IN POULTRY

Rodents, such as rats and mice, can be a major cost factor on the poultry farm because of the food that they eat and spoil with faeces and urine, the damage they do to the housing and equipment. Further, the diseases they may carry can result in flock health problems, staff health problems and/or food safety concerns regarding the products produced on the farm.

Some of the measure to control rodents includes:

1.Minimising points of access into buildings. Cracks and openings into sheds should be sealed with a material that cannot be gnawed by rodents, such as sheet metal, hardware cloth or cement.

2.Preventing access to feed, water, and shelter.

3.Elimination of nesting places. Make sure any material that would be attractive to rodents for nesting is placed in rodent proof storage areas. If the storage area cannot be rodent proofed, move the material at least every week to prevent rodents from establishing themselves in it. Place all bagged food and equipment on a platform about 60 centimetres off the ground and 60 centimetres from any wall. Always keep the building surrounds tidy and well mown. A heavy grass and weed growth around a stack of undisturbed timber or other material or equipment make an ideal nesting site.

4.Appropriate sanitation conditions, including tidying the shed inside by removing items that do not belong there and keeping strips near walls clear; regular cleaning by sweeping and removing all spilt feed, dead birds and broken eggs; checking incoming and outgoing materials for infestation; and, occasionally clearing the entire shed and cleaning it out thoroughly.

5.Baiting which involves the use of chemicals or rodenticide which are poisonous to the rodent /or trapping programmes.