Did you know that when you think you have one rat, actually you have several?! Or fifty-four! Yes, you’ve read that correctly, 54! Or at least that’s how many I caught total over six months, almost lost count. Those things mate like rabbits!

From Google: A female rat will produce up to 5 litters per year under the right circumstances. The litter sizes are usually between 3 and 20, with an average litter size of 7. It takes 35 days for a rat to reach sexual maturity from birth, and the gestation period is around 21 days.

Man, it was nuts! NUTS! Luckily they were only in the coop and didn’t invade the house. OMG, I would have died! And, thankfully they didn’t hurt or disturb the chickens, ducks and eggs.

I bought the best live trap from Canadian Tire (Multi-Rat Trap Canadian Tire) for $40. It was hands down the best purchase I’ve made in regards to the chickens. 

Now the coop is a happy place again, touch wood, haven’t seen any signs of rats in a month. Now all I catch are chipmunks (they are so cute I just let them out).