Rat Fix in Quail Pen

This video shows how I fix my rat nesting problem in my quail pen roof.
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[@mumbaibalconygardenerhobbies]

Absolutely love your message towards the end of the video, every one is just trying to survive. The one plus of having an apartment garden like mine is that I don't have to deal with pest issues. So far no rats have climbed up the water pipes . Awesome thumbnail .

[@Selfsufficientme]

+Mumbai Balcony Gardener | Avid Life Observer Thank you! Yes, your garden does have many pluses and no pests is a huge advantage! Cheers :)

[@FatChanceTheCouchDog]

@selfsufficientme: self opening door fix solutions... 1. Install a spring on the door, much like you see in public buildings with the metal bar system that keeps them shut when not in use. You can make your own spring from wire (instructions available via youtube search) or if you have a hardware store or second hand parts shop around then you can buy one for a few dollars. You want it to be strong enough to close the door without any help but not stronh enough to offer you resistance because you'll end up work hardening the metal. Also, you can spray it down with an enamel to protect it from rust. 2. Use a simple door latch. You might find a junk cabinet someone is tossing via Craigslist or around back of an apartment structure. Just bring a screwdriver set with you and scavenge what you need off the cabinet or whatever item it is being scrapped that has what you want on it. 3. Use gravity in your favor by offsetting the door to want to say shut. The easiest way to do this is to reset the positioning of the hinges so that the door naturally wants to lean shut. It won't work if the door is already open but if it is closed it will want to stay closed. 4. Use a bungie cord. Cheapest and easiest solution. Replace bungie annually because they do rot over time. Unless you have any problems with 2 legged quail predators, this is the option I'd go with because its the path of least resistance and minimal effort on your part. Your brick idea works really well but it can get annoying to keep moving if you are doing work in and around the pen that requires constant in and out activity. Good luck, thanks for doing what you do. Also, there is an electronic rat trap that you could use and then compost the carcases in a black soldier fly larvae bin and then use the insects to feed your... all your birds actually. If you are already using bsf larvae then this could help, but I kinda agree with your assessment of the natural order and that it would be better to leave the rats alone for the snakes. Just wanted to share the concept with you, as it is effective for all animal waste products you deal with, not just dead rats.

[@coppellgardener257]

So glad you found a harmless solution to rat problem!

[@Selfsufficientme]

+Coppell Gardener (Desi Grower) Thank you! :)

[@fexummuk]

Nice one. I ended up building one of you bucket chook feeders. Works a treat, going down this morning to see how it faired over night and see if the rats got into it. I'm up in the Sydney Lower Mountains. Bloody bush rats! Buggers burrowed under my compost heap :) Cheers.

[@noahrodeghiero9640]

You can put a like buzzer or something to make noise when two contacts between the roof and the door rant touching. To prevent them from getting out. You could also do a little more and run some wire to your home/wifi system to sound a alarm when the door is open.

[@dontdeletemeyoutube6689]

Damn dude you look so young in this one! I only found your channel this year!

[@sigma_polymath]

I hope that foam works, but if it doesn't work you may want to try heavy 'steel wool' to stuff in the holes; mice and rats hate Steel Wool that is what my family and I have always used to keep mice and rats out... Have a Blessed one...

[@polkcellar]

Hello SSM, I had a similiar ongoing problem of escaping birds until my husband added a double door to the flight. I must enter through the first door before opening the interior door. Problem solved. I use the area for storing cleaning necessities. Love your blogs. Thanks

[@Selfsufficientme]

Hi Bonnie, the second door is such a great idea (I wish I thought of that earlier). I see that some commercial aviaries come with this feature. Thank you! :)

[@BobMelsimpleliving.]

Thanks for the update. Best wishes Bob.

[@Selfsufficientme]

+Bob Lt Thanks Bob, best wishes to you mate :)

[@yackfzay6224]

Great info. I learn something today. Thanks.

[@Selfsufficientme]

+yack f zay Thank you Yack! Cheers :)

[@AllotmentGrowHow]

Mark... yet again another tremendous one handed quail catch... I think the national cricket team will be knocking on your door soon. I like your thoughts on letting the mice/rats live if they're not doing any direct damage to your pens and the birds inside. Nature seems to take care of itself in the long run. Cheers, Adam

[@Selfsufficientme]

+Allotment Grow How Hey Adam, yeah well the Aussie cricket team needed something during their recent Ashes failure over there but it probably wasn't me - a new caption should help LOL... I'm a big believer in trying to leave nature take it's course in the garden etc wherever practical of course and I totally agree it seems to balance itself out more often than not. Cheers :)

[@gorillazombies189]

Excellent very useful!

[@michealfox3142]

Don,t know if it would work down there but the rats here in Arizona USA hat the smell of mint it keeps them out of my garden. Have had no problem around the quail yet.

[@mrbuddhagaz]

brilliant thankyou so much

[@heidilynn6052]

About your door: it looks like you have a metal frame is it steel? You could try using a metal bracket & a strong magnetic to hold it closed.

[@BrandonLee-iv6kj]

Great work! :D

[@Selfsufficientme]

+Brandon Lee Thanks Brandon! :)

[@SelfEvolutionSouthMelbourne]

That's a great fix. Do you mind me asking what these filler things are called at Bunnings? Looks very handy. I found a beautiful little bat recently under iron roofing, but definitely want to keep rats away...so I would love to get these things.

[@RobsAquaponics]

You'd do well fielding in slips I think Mark ;-) Nice job mate.

[@Selfsufficientme]

+RobBobs Backyard Farming LOL... I wasn't too bad at cricket Rob, if I do say so myself :) Thanks mate

[@harryrarmer]

Great video mate. I'm considering rearing quail from next Spring, have concerns about rats which nest near to the garden but hope to protect my birds from them.

[@Selfsufficientme]

+Michael Ball Thanks Michael, best of luck with your quail raising but don't to be too concerned about rats because as long as your quail are inside a rodent proof mesh enclosure you won't have any dramas. Cheers :)

[@HaydenHag]

King quails are hard to catch, they are sooo bloody tiny, especially when you live in the Aussie bush

[@neilhammons348]

Superb catch, mid flight

[@grahamrdyer6322]

Good on ya mate, you seem to have "Life balance" in check.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thanks Graham, well I'm trying my best to keep it balanced but I still have those days sometimes when I wish I could spend more time in the garden instead of doing other things lol... Cheers mate :)

[@Azam_Pakistan]

Did The rats cut through the chicken mesh and threaten quails?

[@TailithSky]

I had no idea either what is it called?

[@greghomestead6720]

Hi mark. I b uilt a greenhouse out of that same clear plastic and also used the same foam. let us know if this works for keeping the mice out or if they chew through it. Have a Jesus filled day Greg in Michigan. ps.... snowed here a few days ago.

[@Selfsufficientme]

+Greg Homestead Hey Greg, this poly plastic roofing is excellent stuff and I could see how good it would be for a greenhouse. The reason I used it for my quail pen was to let more light in since the birds don't have access to freerange like my chickens do I wanted to make sure they got sufficient light and it worked a treat! I'll certainly let you know if the foam works. You're in snow and I'm starting to fry here with summer approaching... LOL Cheers mate :)

[@ozarkmountaingirl8620]

The only two for sure ways I have ever heard of is crushed glass or steal wool they chew through everything else. I hope it works for you. The only other thing in addition to what you have done is rid the top fence wire don't give them a crawl space to build the nest on, being you sealed it birds can't get in, so it seems at this point the wire isn't doing anything but taking up space and providing flooring for a nice solar heated home for mice. Also how do chickens do with quail would it hurt to leave a chicken in with them? I know they eat mice perhaps they'd protect quail from them. I don't know. Be fun to put a broody hen in and get them to hatch eggs even ... maybe.

[@Selfsufficientme]

+Ozark Mountain Girl Lots of great ideas there I think friendly hens would be ok but I have seen my hens rip apart and eat an injured sparrow once and then there's the problem of keeping the chickens away from the quail feed but I suppose that could be easily engineered - still, I probably wouldn't do it. I agree I could tighten up the top mesh to make the gap smaller up there but I can't really get rid of it altogether because if one rat gets into the pen my quails are toast and as flawed as this pen may be it has never been penetrated by any rodent or predator so I'm happy with that at least :) With regards to the eggs, I have heard of people using broody hens to incubate quail eggs I haven't tried it myself but it's worth a go! Thanks :)

[@anndennis7163]

If you try using a hen I recommend a silkie hen they brood at the drop of a hat.

[@paulacannon3452]

I keep getting rat attack’s in my quail house they are in my shed what is confusing me is there is no holes anywhere I have checked everywhere over and over the door has no holes and fits flush and yet every time I go in there there is feathers everywhere is there anything else I can do.??? I am U.K.

[@TheEmptynester]

I hope it works well for you.

[@Selfsufficientme]

+TheEmptynester Thank you - if it does work it'll be a cheap fix so I hope so! Cheers :)

[@marilyngandhi4213]

Some Australian 'rats' are really bandicoots. :)

[@lehnhardtdevonek.8479]

GOOD DAY MATE!! Great find of your channel. NEWBIE! I HATEEEEEEEE RATTTTTS! TRY steel wool too!

[@DaleCalderCampobello]

Look like that solved the problem. You're getting very good at Quail catching LOL.

[@Selfsufficientme]

+Dale Calder Thanks Dale yes your suggestion worked a treat - thank you! Unfortunately, I am getting good at catching quail just not good at keeping them... lol Cheers :)

[@lehnhardtdevonek.8479]

+Dale Calder HE caught those..coolllll!

[@lehnhardtdevonek.8479]

+Self Sufficient Me WHY??

[@lehnhardtdevonek.8479]

BOB"S your uncle! 123!

[@Junkboy888]

Nice Quail pin. One question, In your intro 11 seconds in to the video, you show a Nice pan of food. What is the thing in the bottom of the pan ( closest to the time bar ) that is moving? Oh and did it taste good? lol

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thanks! The movement in the wok is just a piece of onion sliding around LOL but I can see how it looks kind of creepy. Yes it did taste good but I do have to admit it wasn't my best cooking demo and I've copped a lot of flack over it. Be sure it will be deleted from the new intro in next years revamp! Cheers :)

[@SynthToshi]

Hello Sir , I just stated with quails and having a problem with a raccoon. Do you have you had problems with them? I'm thinking of a aviary similar to yours but worried that a raccoon can dig under the cage. also cats are a big problem here. any advice would be great. thanks mate!

[@muddylikestacos]

Hi Cryptodaddys, he is in Australia and we do not have problems with Racoons. Where he lives it would be snakes, rats and mice etc.

[@godoff.5304]

Make the coop strong enough to resist against to a cat and get a stray cat ( Not a British short hair etc. houser type topo domesticated cat) those ahs been born and grown outdoor. Feed the cars with something raw meat close to (Resembles) rat meat and let the cats do their job, balance the nature. You can also give very very low voltage electric too! Just a small amount to make them feel there is something they do not like.

[@lehnhardtdevonek.8479]

Put traps out too! I could never live in A. I had bad experience 3 times {RAT\MICE]of living in front of river, I 'll take Alaska.

[@johnerickson6425]

did you treat your lumber before putting the pen together?

[@Selfsufficientme]

+Jack Erickson The posts were treated yes. Cheers :)

[@johnerickson6425]

+Self Sufficient Me thanks!

[@jamesmckinney9648]

put a bungeecord on the inside door

[@paulmcguire3789]

if that fix is not good , get some Tabasco sauce and paint it on the foam. I don't think rats like spicy food .

[@Selfsufficientme]

+Paul Mcguire Thanks Paul, I'll keep the Tabasco in mind if I see any signs of rats chewing on the foam. Cheers!

[@debbiecurtis4021]

Mark I've had all my female quail killed by something. They take the head. I found half a rodent today by my compost bin. Could it be rats killing my quail? I think it was rooks, as I've seen some around. I want to build a big aviary like yours. Now I'll know how to make the roof secure from rodents. Thanks for the video. Any suggestions please.

[@jeromedado7416]

you need cat