Category: Managing the Flock

Effective Rat Management for Backyard Chickens

Smart Management Strategies for Backyard Flocks

Where there’s food, there’s going to be a rodent problem, that’s a fact. We already know to store feed in metal cans with secure lids and to close up feeders at night. But even when we do our best, some feed always ends up where rats will undoubtedly find it.
Personally, I’ve tried everything: strong smells, catch-and-release humane traps, cayenne pepper, you name it, I’ve done it. The results have been limited at best. Overall, I would consider those humane efforts a failure. I won’t use rat bait or poison of any kind because I want to protect wildlife, our hens, and companion animals.
Managing a rat problem is about protecting health. Rats can spread disease through their droppings, urine, saliva, and even the fleas they carry. They contaminate feed and water, putting poultry at risk of illness and reducing egg production. They can also transmit diseases to people, especially when dust from droppings becomes airborne. Beyond disease, rats chew constantly. That means damaged structures, compromised insulation, and even electrical wires, which increases fire risk. Left unchecked, a small problem can quickly turn into a serious health and safety issue.

So You’ve Never Seen a Rat Near Your Coop?

That doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have them. Rats are primarily nocturnal. While you’re asleep, they’re busy exploring, feeding, and hauling off whatever they can find. During the day, they stay hidden, tucked under structures, inside walls, or deep in burrows where you’d never notice them.
If you really want to know what’s happening around your coop, set up a camera, I think you might be surprised, maybe even shocked.
The footage below was captured at 2 a.m. in my coop. What looks quiet and secure during the day can tell a very different story in the middle of the night.

My coops are spotlessly clean, and yet….. a rat.

The Basics of Managing a Rat Problem

Nobody wants to use snap traps, yes, they work for an immediate problem, but I’d rather pass on the knowledge to win the battle long term, the goal isn’t simply killing rats, it’s making your property, uncomfortable, and unrewarding for them. Rats stay where three things exist: food, shelter, and safety. Remove those, and most problems will shrink quickly.
Start by eliminating every food opportunity and be ruthless. Even a tablespoon of spilled feed is enough to reward a rat and keep it coming back. Store feed in metal cans with tight-fitting lids, never plastic, which they can chew through. Remove or close feeders at dusk. Avoid tossing scratch grains on the ground late in the day, collect eggs every day, and secure compost bins and all trash.

Tip: Put your ground feeders in something that will catch any feed your chickens scratch out onto the ground. Empty it every evening. There’s no point in closing up or removing feeders if there’s a meal for rats scattered everywhere around the feeder. Hang drinkers to the height of your smallest chicken’s back. Ground drinkers provide easy access to water for rats.

This is what I use to catch dropped feed. (Home Depot, Lumber Dept.)

If rats don’t get reliable calories, they move on. Keep grass and weeds trimmed short around the coop, and clear away woodpiles, junk piles, stacked lumber, and pallets. Elevate anything stored outdoors at least 12 inches off the ground. Seal gaps larger than half an inch with hardware cloth, not chicken wire, and block openings under sheds, decks, and the coop base. The goal is open, exposed space. Rats avoid areas where they feel visible and vulnerable.
It’s also important to make burrowing difficult. Collapse and flood burrows as soon as you find them, and keep the ground disturbed, since rats prefer stable, predictable soil. Disrupting their environment makes it far less appealing to settle in. At the same time, reduce access to water, which keeps them anchored. Fix leaking hoses or waterers, avoid standing water, and eliminate areas where puddles tend to form.
Above all, be consistent. Management is ongoing, not for just a week or two. Rats reproduce quickly, a single female can produce dozens in a year. When the environment remains hostile and unrewarding populations decline.

At the End of the Day, Remember This…

Keeping chickens means accepting responsibility for the entire environment you create. Rats are opportunists, they go where conditions allow them to thrive. You may never reach absolute zero when it comes to rats. But you can control the population so sightings are rare and damage stays minimal.

TBN Ranch Chicken Coop
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No Heat Required: Keeping Chickens Safe and Comfortable in Winter

Chickens Are Built for the Cold, But Proper Shelter is Key

As temperatures drop, it’s common for chicken keepers to wonder whether they should add heat to the coop. In most situations, the answer is no. Healthy adult chickens are surprisingly cold-hardy and don’t need supplemental heat to get through winter. Their feathers provide excellent insulation, and they stay warm by fluffing up and roosting together. When we add heat, we prevent chickens from fully acclimating to cold weather, which can make them more vulnerable if the power goes out or the heat source suddenly fails.
The Danger of Heating a Coop
Safety is another big reason to skip added heat. Traditional heat lamps and space heaters are one of the leading causes of coop fires. With bedding, dust, feathers, and curious birds, the risk of accidents is real, and most coop fires happen at night. Even without a fire, heated coops can cause problems. Sudden temperature swings, like stepping from a warm coop into freezing air, increase the risk of frostbite and respiratory illness.
Radiant Heat Panels: Safer, But Still Usually Unnecessary
Radiant heat panels are often marketed as a safer option, and compared to hanging heat lamps, they can be lower risk. They don’t have exposed bulbs and provide gentle warmth instead of heating the entire coop. In special situations, such as caring for chicks, injured birds, or ill chickens, radiant heat can be helpful as a temporary, medical support tool. For most healthy adult flocks, however, they aren’t needed. They still rely on electricity, can fail unexpectedly, and may prevent chickens from fully adapting to winter temperatures.
What Really Matters is Ventilation
What matters far more than adding heat is a coop that’s dry, draft-free, and well ventilated. Cold air by itself isn’t the enemy, moisture is. Without proper ventilation, moisture from breathing and droppings builds up overnight, leading to frostbite, ammonia odor, and respiratory problems. The goal is to block direct drafts at roost level while allowing airflow above the birds’ heads, keeping bedding clean and dry all winter long.
Focus on good coop design, proper airflow, and overall flock health, and your chickens will come through winter just fine without added heat.

Cold Doesn’t Kill Chickens, But This Definitely Will

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What Beginners Should Know Before Buying A Chicken Coop

Learn From My Mistakes, Don’t Cut Corners

Let’s get into the honest, practical nitty-gritty of the biggest mistake I made when I started a backyard flock, and that’s the actual coop setup. Most of us (including me) start with something affordable and minimal, trusting the manufacturer’s idea of what “proper housing” is for six chickens. But here’s the honest truth: those coops are always way too small, cheaply built, and a nightmare to keep clean. I learned this the hard way, through multiple costly upgrades and the hassle of modifying existing set-ups.
So what is the right coop? This is an example of a good start for 6 chickens, and if your flock grows it can easily be modified by attaching a covered run.

Let’s get real, six chickens almost never stay six. That’s just a fact. So either buy bigger than you think you need, or choose something you can modify as your flock grows. A covered, enclosed, predator-proof outdoor space isn’t just a luxury, it’s essential for the safety of your flock and to keep harmony among the flock.
Crowded housing is a recipe for trouble. I didn’t understand the pecking order at first, and I quickly learned how harsh it can be for timid hens at the bottom.
Tip: What really helped reduce social bullying was providing multiple drinkers, feeders, and nest boxes so everyone had equal access.
Another option for choosing the right coop is researching companies that build coops to your exact specifications. That’s what I eventually did, and although a bit spendy, it was absolutely worth it. Of course, if you’re handy, building your own coop can be a fun and rewarding project.
There’s no hurry, take your time, be creative, and most importantly, enjoy the process. Half the fun of keeping chickens is enjoying the entire experience, start to finish. Don’t be delusional, there is no finish, chicken keeping is an endless work in progress! But it’s the fun kind.

Collection of Coop Designs

To help you choose a chicken coop, I’ve put together a Pinterest collection of Coop Designs and Set-up Ideas so you can research what works best for you.


About Custom Coop Builders

This is my custom chicken coop. It was originally covered pens for 3 horses, but I had it fully enclosed with 2×4 framework, hardware cloth, and shade cloth added to the east and west sides. The project was done by San Tan Valley Coops, and although they’re based in Arizona, they also work outside the state. You can contact them for more information about shipping. They can build any coop, in any size, exactly the way you want it.

TBN Ranch

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