How to Keep Rats and Mice Out of a Chicken Coop

Why rats come

Spilled and open feed, water and shelter are everything a rat needs. Extension advice focuses on removing those three things.

1. Lock up the feed

• Store feed in metal. Utah State Extension notes rodents chew wood more readily than plastic, and plastic more readily than metal. NC State recommends a metal can with a tight-fitting lid.
• Remove feeders at night, as Utah State recommends, or use a treadle feeder that closes when no hen is standing on it.
• Clean up spills inside and outside the coop promptly (Mississippi State).
• Cut back scratch on the ground. Scatter only what hens finish in a few minutes.

2. Remove cover

Mississippi State Extension recommends keeping at least a 3-foot space around poultry housing clear of brush and debris. Move woodpiles, stacked lumber and junk away from the coop.

3. Close entry points

Utah State recommends hardware cloth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch for rodent exclusion. Cover vents and gaps with it, and add an apron around the run so rats cannot tunnel under (see our predator-proofing guide).

If you already have rats

1. Do everything above first; otherwise new rats keep arriving.
2. Use snap traps inside a box or tunnel that chickens cannot reach.
3. Be very careful with poison baits around poultry and pets; secondary poisoning is a real risk. Follow the label exactly, keep bait in tamper-resistant stations, or call a professional.