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How do you keep the rats out of your corn?
Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2012(UTC) Posts: 83
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"Got a 50lb. bag of cracked feed corn in the garage. Rats have gnawed a couple of holes in it and I just saw one scurry across the floor. Thought about gewttin' a couple of those Rubbermade boxes but what's to keep them from gnawing into them?
On a related note, what's the best thing to bait a rat trap with?"
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator Joined: 4/14/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,666
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
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I keep mine in the freezer thats in my garage. I used to use 5 gallon buckets with a snapon lid and that seemed to work fine but I found that it molded in the buckets after an extended stay. Now in the freezer it'll last forever. Maybe being in Fl. where the humidity is 95% all the damn time -- maybe thats why the buckets were not quite ideal.
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Rank: Guest
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Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC) Posts: 5,254
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Save your money them little darlings go through plastic like a hot knife through butter. Metal might work if it was fairly stout. Raw Bacon is the best mouse and rat trapper bait. You can wedge and curl it to the trigger where they have to pull it hard to get it. Much better than other choices such as cheese or peanut butter. They love that too but its easy for them to snag it and keep on chugging. Best rat medicine I have found is Victor brand pizzen pouches from the feed store. About a buck a piece. Throw where other animals hopefully cant get it. Few bags will wipe them out shortly. Originally Posted by: Fritz The Cat Got a 50lb. bag of cracked feed corn in the garage. Rats have gnawed a couple of holes in it and I just saw one scurry across the floor. Thought about gewttin' a couple of those Rubbermade boxes but what's to keep them from gnawing into them?
On a related note, what's the best thing to bait a rat trap with?
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2012(UTC) Posts: 83
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Thanks all for the fine advice. Just went to Lowes and bought some traps. They had some "Humane" traps that just caught them but didn't kill them. I started to buy them and then thought - "What the heck will I do with them once I caught?" The garbage disposal briefly crossed my mind but I said naw, don't want the blood of the little critters on my hands. I got a couple of the regular traps and one black plastic monster. Looks like a big mouth with teeth.
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Rank: Guest
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Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC) Posts: 5,254
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Well best of fortunes on that. Hope you get them under control.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/22/2012(UTC) Posts: 201
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If the feed is readily available to them they will probably bypass the traps and still get in. Traps will thin them down I'm sure but probably won't rid of them completely. If money isn't an issue I'd invest in a food grade plastic barrel with a lock down lid.
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Rank: Guest
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Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC) Posts: 5,254
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Hey I got one of them food grade barrels. You sure they cant chew through it? If it ever gets empty for frementing might dump the SF down in there. I know a 5 gallon plastic chlorine bucket do not slow them down in the least...and theys purty thick. lol.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/6/2012(UTC) Posts: 133
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Galvanized Garbage Cans with a lid works good but the grain will mildew after a few months. Can't beat the freezer.
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Rank: Guest
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Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC) Posts: 5,254
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Yeah galvanized would work good. The old welder pal was naggin about how much them things cost nowadays. I think he said 35 or 40 bucks. Maybe air it out occasionally and try to use it before the weevils hatch. Freezing is hard to beat. That is where we try to keep all the household flour cornmeal etc. Hey I bet with all them Crockodiles and Pythons a rat wouldnt stand a chance at your house.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/1/2012(UTC) Posts: 162
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Plastic isn't an option. They'll eat it for breakfast. And rats WILL gnaw through pop cans for the sugary goodies inside. Freezer or heavier metal containers would be my choice. If you're not gonna freeze it, gotta have a handle on the humidity factor though.
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Rank: Guest
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Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC) Posts: 5,254
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Thanks folks for the reminders on the humidity mildew issues. Got a big wad of SF divided up into 4 gallon WW birdseed buckets with tight fitting lids. Putting airing out on the to-do list. No room in the freezer since the Warden keeps that packed full of food and other non essentials. Swear I am going to back hand the fire out of her one of these days. Aint had any problems with el Ratons in the mancave thus far.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2012(UTC) Posts: 83
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Caught one of the little boogers. Cute ain't he.
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Rank: Guest
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Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC) Posts: 5,254
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/1/2012(UTC) Posts: 162
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Yup always thought they was cuter with a busted neck.
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Rank: Guest
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Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC) Posts: 5,254
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A neighbor and I used to shoot em off the high line wires with bb and pellet guns at night down at Corpus. Was great fun..kick back in the lawn chair and keep the beer cooler handy..you get one skylighted and splat. The rats finally smartened up and did not come down our section of wires. Them critters aint dumb. Much more fun..cheaper..and more beneficial than going out to slay vicious Bambis.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 463 Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 3 post(s)
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While at the feed store today, buying some sweet feed (for my neighbors goats) I remembered using a few moth balls to keep skunks, squirrels etc. away and it worked great. I have not heard if it works on rats and that ilk.
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/27/2012(UTC) Posts: 526
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I use a galvanized garbage can for grains and throw one of the larger gun safe dehumidifiers in it, no mold or rat problems.
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/30/2012(UTC) Posts: 4
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traps a joke use peanut butter flave poison sitcks get them at ace if u need name brand will get it but dont protect it kill them b4 winter
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/30/2012(UTC) Posts: 4
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have much exp thanks NEIGHBORs damn horse feed
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/14/2012(UTC) Posts: 14
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decon 4 the rats metal trash can 4 corn
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How do you keep the rats out of your corn?
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