Cawley, William O.

Fowler, John C.

Parsons, Virgil V.

Thornberry, Fredrick D.

Texas A&amp;M Repository

L-1351RODENT CONTROL ON POULTRY FARMSFredrick D. Thornberry, John C. Fowler,William O. Cawley and Virgil V. Parsons*Costly losses from rats and mice often are ig-nored 01' unnoticed by poultrymen. Rodents con-sume and contaminate feed and may spread diseasessuch ;;1.S infectious bronchitis, Newcastle, cholera andcoccidiosis. They also damage insulation, curtains,equipment and electrical wiring, and may destroychicks, poults and eggs. A systematic rodent con-trol program is an effective management tool thatwill pay dividends by cutting these losses.Two species of rats, the Norway and the Alexor roof rat, as well as the common house mouseusually infest poultry houses and neighboringpremises. The Norway rat and the mouse are bur-rowers and establish dens in accumulated poultrydroppings, dirt floors of buildings, beneath founda-tions, walks, stacks of lumber or equipment, andin high grass and weeded areas. The slightlysmaller, more agile roof rat is a climber and in-habits ceilings, rafters and sidewalls of buildings.An uncontrolled roof rat population may totallydestroy insulation material in ceilings and wallswithin a few weeks. Rats continually migrate fromwooded areas, adjacent farm buildings and sur-rounding poultry farms. The two species of ratsseldom are found together except in large build-ings, since the Norway rat has an aggressive natureand usually drives the roof rat away. House micemay be found with either rat species. Field miceand wood rats seldom enter buildings.Rodents mature sexually at less than threemonths of age. The gestation periods for mice and*Respectively, Extension project leader in poultry science andpoultry specialist; area Extension poultry specialist, Texas A&MUniversity Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Over-ton; Extension poultry specialist; and district Extension super-visor (predator and rodent control), The Texas A&M UniversitySystem.27.7rats are about 19 and 21 days, respectively. Bothhave 10-day estrous cycles and can conceive 48 hoursafter parturition. Under normal conditions a pairmay produce 30 to 50 offspring per year that sur-vive to maturity.The occasional sighting of a rat or mouse in apoultry house may indicate a large rodent popula-tion. In cage layer houses, as many as 20 adult ratsper 100 layers have been exterminated at the end ofa laying cycle. More than 300 rats have been re-moved from commercial broiler houses where ro-dents were infrequently seen.The average rat needs about 1 ounce of foodand 1Y2 ounces of water every 24 hours. Rats weak-en after 1 to 2 days without water or 3 to 4 dayswithout food. A mouse is not so reliant on water,but eats about 10 percent of its body weight every24 hours. If suitable food and shelter are present,rats and mice may range no more than 25 and 100feet, respectively.Control MeasuresAn effective rodent control program involvesthe restriction of shelter, food. and water. Trappingand proper use of approved rodenticides can keeprodent popUlations under control in floor and cagehouses and on ranges. The spilling of feed shouldbe minimized, and all piles of lumber and trashnear poultry houses or ranges removed to reduceshelter areas and sources of chronic rodent infes-tation. Vegetation immediately around poultryhouses should be kept clipped or controlled withan approved herbicide. Some producers use cats incage laying houses and on ranges to discourage ratsTexas Agricultural Extension Service. The Texas A&M University System. John E. Hutchison, Director. College StationFIELD IDENTIFICATION OF DOMESTIC RODENTSROOF RAT Rattus raltus YOUNG RATLONGER THAN LARGE LARGEHEAD+ BODY LIG / \SLENDER LARGE POINTED( ( LARGE jSE FEET HEAD\ ITAIL BODY EAR EYEl ~ I ) HOUSE MOUSEHEAVY SMALL Mus musculusTHICK SMALL BLUNTStKlRTER THANHEAD + BODYNORWAY RAT Rattus norvegicusSCAl£ IN ItCHES;--and mice. However, cats alone cannot ordinarilyprovide complete rat control.Control nleasures also include ratproofing build-ings. Openings as small as Y2 inch will admityoung rats, while ~ -inch openings will admit youngmice. Present buildings can be modified and newcon truction planned to prevent entry of rodents.Information on ratproofing new and existing build-ings can be obtained from lumber yards, feed deal-ers and the county Extension office. In Texasmo t poultry buildings are lightly constructed anddifficult to ratproof. However, using ratproof ma-terials at likely points of entry will be of some help.Rodents burrowing around buildings and onranges are effectively controlled with calcium cya-nide. A foot pump duster normally is used to place-cyanide dust in burrows. Extreme care should betaken when fumigants are used. Do not fumigatenear buildings containing poultry, and follow. care-fully all precautions and directions on the label.Fumigation equipment and calcium cyanide areavailable from agricultural chemical supply stores.BU1'Towing rodents around buildings and on rangescan be effectively contTolied with fumigants. Ex-trenle care should be exercised to minimize dangerto the operator and livestock or poultry in thevicinity.Snap traps placed in concealed areas and inrodent runs along walls, rafters and on studdingsassist in keeping rodent populations at a minimallevel once populations are under control. Trapscommonly are baited with meat, fish, peanut butter,cereal, bread, cake, fruit or cheese, and should bechecked frequently. Runs are easily identified bySlnears or rub marks left by rats. Unbaited trapsplaced in runs can be made more effective by at-taching a square of cardboard or tin to the triggeron each trap (Figure 3). The trap sh'ould be placedat right angles to the run, with the enlarged triggerextending across the run, since rats are more aptto cross the narrow width than the length of thetrap.Snap tTaps placed in runs can effectively assist zncontrolling rodents.VI trasonic and electrical shock devices are ad-vertised for rodent control, but have not gained"videspread acceptance in the poultry industry.A baiting program using an approved rodenti-cide should be maintained on every poultry farm.All bait should be out of reach of farm animalsand children.Highly toxic poisons such as strychnine, zincphosphide and sodium monofluoracetate (1080)are extremely dangerous, but are sometimes used inbait to bring large rodent populations under im-mediate control. Sodium monofluoracetate (1080)can be used only by licensed exterminators. Strych-nine- and zinc phosphide-treated baits are availableto unlicensed personnel. Strychnine-treated grainis not effective on orway or roof rats, although itwill control mice. Extreme care should be takenwhen using such materials, and all precautions anddire<;:tions for use followed closely.Anticoagulant BaitsAnticoagulant baits are reconlmended over otherrodenticides for use on poultry farms. Active in-gredient.s in anticoagulants may include Warfarin,Pival, Fumarin, Diphacin, Prolin and P.M.P. Thechemicals inhibit the coagulation of blood so thatdeath is brought about by internal hemorrhage.Anticoagulants are relatively safe and offer littledanger to farm aninlals, since the bait must beconsumed for 3 to 10 days before a lethal dose isconsumed. Bait exposure should be 10 days forrats and 15 days for mice, or until all signs of ro-dent activity have stopped.Anticoagulants can be obtained as ready-mixedbait under various trade names, as a 0.05 percentconcentrate to mix with fresh cereal feed at therate of I pound of concentrate to 19 pounds of feed,or in a water-soluble form for use in water. Ro-dents do not relate their deteriorating conditionto the bait and do not become "bait shy." Waterand dry cereal bait anticoagulants should be usedtogether to minimize the time required for maxi-mum kill.For effective rodent control, all poultry housesshould be treated with anticoagulant baits eachtime birds are removed and houses are empty. Itis important to identify the species (Norway rat,Alex rat or house mouse) involved, because eachrequires some variation in treatment. The follow-ing recommendations will provide maximum ro-dent kill:1. Remove feed, including spilled feed, and waterfrom the premises. The rodents are accustomedto the feed and may prefer it to the bait. Also,feed contains Vitamin K which acts as an anti-dote for the anticoagulant.2. For Norway rat control the dry cereal anti-coagulant bait should be exposed to the ratsin Y2-pound sacks or packages. Placement in-side buildings should be along walls, in cornersand by burrows, but not more than 25 feetapart. Distribute at least 20 to 30 sacks perhouse initially. Never place bait in large sacksor open containers. This minimizes urinatingand defecating on the bait. Bait placed out-side buildings, by burrows under foundations,should be covered by heavy boxes with one ormore small openings large enough only for ratentry. V\ ater- oluble anticoagulant bait placedin chick fountains, along with the cereal bait,will greatly help the control program. Four toix chick jug per house are needed for dis-pensing the bait.3. For roof rat control the same methods of baitexpo ure can be used, except that it may benece ary to place the water and cereal baits onthe wall joi ts, shelves or inside ceilings. Smallplatforms can be constructed on rafters andwalls to hold the bait (Figure 5).4. ice are effectively controlled with anticoagu-lant bait if bait stations are no luore than 10to 15 feet apart. Smaller amounts are needed.Cigar boxes with small entrances for mice havebeen used successfully. The boxes should becleaned and replenished with fresh bait every2 or 3 days, e pecially if mice are feeding heav-ily. ater-soluble bait is not as important inmouse control as in rat control, since mice re-quire very Ii ttle water other than that derivedfrom food.5. Don't run out of bait. During the IS-day treat-ment period, sacks should be checked daily andemptie replaced. After the second or thirdnight, uncut acks should be removed to majorfeeding areas.6. Disturb rodents as little as possible during treat-ment. Keep houses closed and dogs, cats andpeople out.These anticoagulant cereal and water baits areproperly placed for Norway rats and mice.These anticoagulant cereal and water baits arepyoperly placed for roof rats.Continuous use of anticoagulant cereal and wa-ter baits in protected feeding stations will help con-trol rodent populations in laying house and otherfarm buildings. Continually baited areas in poul-try houses and on ranges should be checked fre-quently and a supply of fresh anticoagulant cerealand water bait maintained. Rodents like securityand will feed at protected stations in preference toless protected feed troughs and waterers. Baitedfeeding stations on poultry ranges should be placednear shel ters and feeders.The effectiveness of anticoagulants cannot al-ways be measured by counting dead rodents. henbaits are no longer being eaten, when there are nofresh droppings and when live rats or mice are nolonger seen, results are as good as can be expectedfrom any rodenticide.Important factors in preventing rats and micefrom reinfesting buildings are:• Dispose of refuse and dead birds properly.• Store feed properly.• Minimize feed spillage.• Maintain bait stations with effective rodenti-cides all year.• Ratproof buildings if po sible.• Destroy rat shelter areas.Sources of traps and baits can be obtained fromthe local county Extension agent.Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people of all ages regardles of socio-economiclevels, race, color, sex, religion or national origin.Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, The Texas A&M University System and the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, andJune 30, 1914.10 -1-75 PS

Rodent Control on Poultry Farms.

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Rodent Control on Poultry Farms.

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Rodent Control on Poultry Farms.

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