There is nothing worse than opening the doors to your stable and realising that rats have made a visit while you’ve been away. Rats are common carriers of disease, which you will of course want to protect your horses and other livestock from. They can also cause dangerous situations, where they may have chewed through wires and cables that will quickly become a fire hazard. On top of this, they can ruin bags of feed that you may have stored, chewing through the exterior and contaminating the contents.

It can be a worry when you know that rats are making a regular visit, as thoughts of how long it will take to get rid of them, not to mention the expense, are sure to be on your mind. We have put together a few easy to follow steps that can help to prevent the start of a rat infestation in your stable, as it will be better to deal with the potential problem before it starts, rather than when they have already made their way into your property.

How do I know if I have a rat infestation?

Most people can tell straight away if they have a rat problem. By looking around the room you will most likely notice that things have been disturbed or tipped over and footprints on the ground are a real giveaway. Some other common signs are;

  • Droppings that look like large grains of rice - these could be out in the open or inside cupboards
  • Scratching sounds under the floorboards
  • Rat nests - these can be made of forage such as twigs and leaves, as well as materials such as cotton
  • Holes in packaging

How do I keep rats out of my stable?

If you can stick to a routine where you look after your stable, you can often prevent rats from making their way inside. This is because you are taking away their reason for being there, making it a much less attractive place to be.

  • Store your animal bedding properly so that rats do not see it as an accessible place to sleep and breed
  • Keep the stable as clean as you can, removing any sign of rotting food that can be a bit attractant
  • Make sure that animal food is stored properly - if it is left in the open it will encourage rats to help themselves. Use airtight containers wherever you can
  • Set traps if you suspect signs of an infestation. Once you have eliminated a couple of pests, it can act as a deterrent for others to invade your premises

What if rats have already infested my stable?

Sometimes a rat invasion is unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean you need to let it continue. Calling a pest company can be quite expensive, so try to tackle the problem yourself in the first instance with some easy to use products from our vermin control range.

  • Humane rat traps are great if you want to release them back into the wild
  • Traditional snap traps are affordable to buy and easy to use
  • Bait stations will lure the rat inside and give them a quiet place to let the bait work
  • Using the right bait will be very effective in drawing rodents to your traps


Post By Kimberley Roderick