Help - rat problem!

Incredipigs said:
What if I adopted a ferret? My grandma used to use them at her stables, not to kill the rats, the smell of ferrets would keep the rats away. I like ferrets but I've never really considered having one before. Do you think it would work?
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Ferrets will kill guinea pigs though and pigs might be wary of their scent. I would work on bomb proofing your pigs enclosure. I'm talking metal and concrete moat foundation surrounding it. Try get a pic of the outside so i can see
 
I think a ferret might scare the hell out of the piggies and maybe do more harm. A ferret would rather take a piggy than a wild rat... I think piggies and bunnies would absolutely freak out at the smell of a ferret... are you sure your problem is rats not a feral ferret or mink or a polecat? Years ago a random mink escaped from a fur farm tried get my rabbit... my cat Lily got it and we found it on the lawn but it had tried get in the bunny hutch...
 
PigglePuggle said:
I think a ferret might scare the hell out of the piggies and maybe do more harm. A ferret would rather take a piggy than a wild rat... I think piggies and bunnies would absolutely freak out at the smell of a ferret... are you sure your problem is rats not a feral ferret or mink or a polecat? Years ago a random mink escaped from a fur farm tried get my rabbit... my cat Lily got it and we found it on the lawn but it had tried get in the bunny hutch...
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Mink are scumbags. They kill for fun. They are fishing lake owners worst nighmares
 
As a naive kid I tried to "rescue" the dying mink and it put its teeth through my wrist and I needed a tetanus jab and stitches!
 
PigglePuggle said:
As a naive kid I tried to "rescue" the dying mink and it put its teeth through my wrist and I needed a tetanus jab and stitches!
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Horrid creatures. They kill for sport. I'm talking 30 pound carp on the lake bank dead with little part chewed
 
Skypipdot said:
Ferrets will kill guinea pigs though and pigs might be wary of their scent. I would work on bomb proofing your pigs enclosure. I'm talking metal and concrete moat foundation surrounding it. Try get a pic of the outside so i can see
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The house is on the patio_20180808_193324.webp
I've checked behind and under the Pig house and there are no signs of rats or nests
 
PigglePuggle said:
I think a ferret might scare the hell out of the piggies and maybe do more harm. A ferret would rather take a piggy than a wild rat... I think piggies and bunnies would absolutely freak out at the smell of a ferret... are you sure your problem is rats not a feral ferret or mink or a polecat? Years ago a random mink escaped from a fur farm tried get my rabbit... my cat Lily got it and we found it on the lawn but it had tried get in the bunny hutch...
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I have thought about it being mink or polecat, and it is a possibility, especially as there are huge fields behind my house
However Toff and my bunny Tina both have chewed/bitten ears and I don't think a mink or polecat would just bite their ears then run off.
 
Is the bottom of the house open and sitting on top of the patio cement?

I don't have an outdoor hutch but I saw other members' hutches on this forum. Other members' outdoor hutch all appeared to have raised bottom and away from the ground. I wondered if that adds more protection when hutches are raised and off the ground like that.
 
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Seven7 said:
Is the bottom of the house open and sitting on top of the patio cement?

I don't have an outdoor hutch but I saw other members' hutches on this forum. Other members' outdoor hutch all appeared to have raised bottom and away from the ground. I am not sure if that adds more protection when hutches are raised and off the ground like that.
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The bottom of the house is solid wood, the house has a very small gap underneath it to stop the wooden base from rotting
 
Skypipdot said:
Ferrets will kill guinea pigs though and pigs might be wary of their scent. I would work on bomb proofing your pigs enclosure. I'm talking metal and concrete moat foundation surrounding it. Try get a pic of the outside so i can see
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Do you think if the house was raised and sitting a bit higher with a solid bottom that the piggies might be a bit safer?
 
Incredipigs said:
The bottom of the house is solid wood, the house has a very small gap underneath it to stop the wooden base from rotting
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If there is small gap underneath the house, would it be possible other animals can get through and get to the piggies?
 
Seven7 said:
If there is small gap underneath the house, would it be possible other animals can get through and get to the piggies?
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No, the base of the house is solid. On the bottom of the house there are wooden pole things which rais the whole house off the floor slightly to stop water getting under the house and rotting the floor. Other Animals could get under the house but it would not effect the pigs unless they chewed through the solid base.
I pulled the house forward to check there was nothing nesting underneath it and there isn't anything.
 
Incredipigs said:
I could put a pallet underneath it but tbh it probably wouldn't make any difference.
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@Skypipdot. He wanted to see the house too, so he should probably be included in the discussion.

Now I am thinking the piggies might have chewed inside the wood house letting in the intruders.
 
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Maybe put some anti climb paint on the roof? Aslong as it doesnt get into the pigs. Its just ideas, you would have to look into the safety of it.
 
Rats, stoats and polecats etc are amazing climbers. I’ve seen a ray on a roof once so I don’t think altering the height will make any difference.

Is there anyone who could take them or a week or so to break the cycle? That might help!
 
I’m afraid once rats know that there is food inside they will come back unless exterminated. They are intelligent creatures. They can get in through a hole the diameter of your finger so very small indeed.
 
VickiA said:
I’m afraid once rats know that there is food inside they will come back unless exterminated. They are intelligent creatures. They can get in through a hole the diameter of your finger so very small indeed.
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I agree, which puts other piggies in danger as well.
 
Agree with the above poster. Weldmesh (with small holes (not chicken wire!) is the only thing that will keep rats out. As someone who has had lots of pet rats I can tell you that they are both clever and very determined. Thick plywood nailed over possible holes might also be a solution.

Encasing the piggy house within a weldmesh aviary would be my preference though.

And..... I do have to warn you that I have seen multiple posts from people who have not been careful enough and have had pet rats kill hamsters, chinchillas and guinea pigs. Don’t underestimate them.
 
Unfortunately putting an aviary around the Pig house is not possible, firstly I could not afford it, I would have to get a very big aviary which would be very expensive. And even if I got one I could not build it.
 
Hanlou said:
Agree with the above poster. Weldmesh (with small holes (not chicken wire!) is the only thing that will keep rats out. As someone who has had lots of pet rats I can tell you that they are both clever and very determined. Thick plywood nailed over possible holes might also be a solution.

Encasing the piggy house within a weldmesh aviary would be my preference though.

And..... I do have to warn you that I have seen multiple posts from people who have not been careful enough and have had pet rats kill hamsters, chinchillas and guinea pigs. Don’t underestimate them.
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I have covered up all holes with thick wood
 
Could you get a cheap Wi-fi camera in there to keep an eye on things? Might give you some peace of mind?
 
Hi, I'm so sorry for your loss, what a horrible way to say goodbye.
What about getting a roll of wire mesh and putting it all around the outside of the enclosure? Might look ugly but could keep rats out. Also you could get another hutch to put inside the playhouse and shut them in at night? I know it might be a lot of work & money but I wouldn't risk it.
 
Stilts on the playhouse as well perhaps? I'm also converting a playhouse and I'm putting it on stilts, having a run around the bottom that goes around the back and sides of the stilts plus a little bit in front, ramp up to the door that you can take off to make sure predators can't use it, and a hutch inside which i might shut them in for the night.
 
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