OK Folks, this is WAR!

[Tiki]

My home has been invaded by rats-no doubt attracted to the seed and veggies the birds toss out while eating. At first they was just one big huge one, now I am hearing smaller ones that have been able to get inside my indoor aviary. I am really worried about my tiel. The smaller rats scramble up the aviary wire and get in through a hole near the top-too small for a tiel but the baby rats get through. Obviously I can't put normal rat traps or poison inside the birds room, though I have them in the surrounding rooms. But that means I can't take the tiels out to play I am afraid they might fly into a trap. I was hoping the neighbor's cat mught get them but no luck so far. I can't find those wire cage trap things-and anyway I wouldn't want a curious tiel to get stuck in it. Does anyone know a quick easy way to get rid of them? All I care about are the birds, I don't give a rat's A%^ about the rats.

[Crebain]

Seriously, get a ferret or a small terrier. Problem solved.

[Tiki]

I'm not a dog person, Crebain, not really into ferrets either. Too many noisy dogs around here anyway. I'm starting to consider shotguns though!

[TooLover]

Glad to hear I am not the only one with the rat problem. We have woods behind our house and the rats have realized that there is seed and food on my porch. They have chewed a hole in our screen and climb in at night! Hubby is getting a bb gun this weekend and we are going a huntin'.......................hate to kill them but they won't stay out of my porch, and I don't want my babies getting a disease from them!

[Crebain]

A pellet rifle would do the job nicely, and is exempt from most municipal laws as they are not firearms. Get the kind that have a rifled barrel, and only shoot diablo or cannister pellets. .22 cal is best, but .177 is okay.

Another option are the boards coated with glue placed in likely spots, though you may trap other animals with those. Keep us posted.

[Tiki]

What I am worried about is that the rats might bite the tiels-do they do this? And of course the rat poo would be potentially diseased. Should I put the tiels into small, impenatrable cages until that rats are caught? Just woke up-all is well with the birds, :) but traps remain baited and empty. :( This mainly a winter problem, in spring and summer, they don't seem to come in the house so much-must be easier to find food elasewhere.

[The Outlaw]

Tiki:

Rats will KILL your tiels. They also attract snakes. I think the glue trap idea is a good one, although I'd probably also keep a terrier around. I hate rats. I had horses a long time ago and constantly battled them in the stables.

THE OUTLAW

[Tiki]

Oh S%^&!, now I am really scared! That's it, the tiels are going into the small cages whether they like it or not until all rats are caught/dead. We do have some horrible snakes in Australia as well. I'll visit a few more hardware stores after work and try to find glue traps and put poison pellets downstairs.

[Tiki]

OK battle lines are drawn. I have 6 snap traps and 2 sticky glue traps (took me 4 shops to find 'em though) and poison baits. I also have 10 very cranky cockatiels in small cages where they are safe but feel like they are in jail. :( This is what ticks me off-my BABIES are in jail and the rats are running around wherever they want.

I don't want to commit to ownership of another animal like a terrier or ferret-I wouldn't mind renting one for a couple of days though!

[Joel]

Tiki............Since ya won't find & buy the Have-A-Heart rat traps to catch them alive & release, I AM ROOTING FOR THE RATS!!!!!!!!!

Please do keep the birds and your family safe though, otherwise GO RATS GO, ESCAPE, RUN AWAY, WHATEVER........... BUT GET YO BUTTS outta there!!!!! :)