Page 6 - National Poultry Newspaper

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RODENTS are one of the biggest problems we face in poultry farming.
They cause damage to buildings and insulation, eat valuable feed and car- ry a multitude of poten- tially serious diseases.
Species we encounter in Australia include the house mouse (mus do- mesticus), Norway rat or brown rat (rattus norvegi- cus) and black rat (rattus rattus).
Rats can have three to six litters per year and produce seven to 10 young per litter, while mice can have seven to eight litters per year, with up to 16 young per litter.
So a pair of brown rats can become 200 in the space of a year, while a pair of mice can become 60 within three months.
With a single rat eating upto25goffeedaday, they can quickly cost you
Vet’s View
by ROD JENNER
considerably in lost feed and poorer feed conver- sion results.
Mice and rats carry lice, mites and fleas, which are linked to poultry diseases and food safety contami- nants such as salmonella, E. coli, coryza, fowl chol- era, mycoplasma and in- ternal parasites.
Rats are also known to bite birds when they are roosting, causing infection and fear in the birds, and
even causing a flock to become flighty with sub- sequent production losses. Control strategies – management
• Clear up any food spills.
• Keep the area around buildings clear of vegeta- tion and clutter and keep grass short. This will deter rodents due to the risk of predation and allow you to spot signs of activity more easily.
• Minimise access to buildings and close off potential entry points. It is virtually impossible to make a poultry shed to- tally rodent-proof, but you can make life more dif- ficult for them by ensur- ing that dwarf walls fit flush to the main walls and prevent access to the insulation layer. If rodents do get through, it should be very easy to see piec- es of insulation scattered around. Ensure that doors provide an effective bar- rier by being structurally sound, with no gaps be- tween frames and walls. Keep them shut whenever possible to prevent rodents entering from outside.
• Milling and mixing rooms provide an ideal environment for rats and mice, as well as a poten- tial conduit into poultry sheds. Keep these areas clean and tidy at all times.
• Store materials that could provide potential nesting sites in secure ar- eas or move them regular- ly to disturb rodents and move them on.
• Develop a rodent con- trol program to ensure it becomes part of your daily routine.
Rodenticides
A number of rodenti- cides are registered for use in and around poultry sheds, but care must be taken to ensure their cor- rect use in order to achieve maximum effectiveness.
Three types of chemical with very different modes of action are available:
a. Anticoagulant roden- ticides;
b. Cholecalciferol- based rodenticides; and
c. Corn gluten meal- based rodenticides. Rotation strategy
Each of these types of rodenticides has a unique action, which makes ro- tation of types a useful management tool.
Rodents can become re-
sistant to anticoagulant chemicals if used con- tinuously for a long pe- riod, and they have also been shown to become smart and avoid them over time.
Rotation of the different classes of chemical elimi- nates these problems. Non-target species
Non-target species of animals and birds are a major concern with the use of anticoagulant ro- denticides, either by direct ingestion of the chemical, or by ingesting rodents that have been killed by the rodenticide.
Tamper-proof and ro- dent-specific bait stations have been developed to limit exposure of non-tar- get species to rodent baits. Bait stations
Placement of the bait sta- tions is quite important to the success of a baiting program.
Rodents are habitual creatures, so we can moni- tor their behaviour and place bait stations where they are most likely to be encountered.
Finding their tracks al- lows you to place stations strategically.
It is wise to monitor bait activity regularly so sta- tions not being used can be moved to more appro- priate locations.
Monitor continually for signs of droppings, urine, rub and tail marks, tracks and damage to the build- ings.
If more than a few ro- dents are present, you should be able to smell them.
In summary, rodent con- trol is not a set-and-forget exercise.
Activity needs to be monitored, baits replen- ished and rotated as re- quired, shedding needs to be maintained, feed spills and rubbish cleaned up daily and harbourage lo- cations removed.
Page 6 – National Poultry Newspaper, February 2019
www.poultrynews.com.au
Rodent control around poultry operations
House mouse (mus domesticus).
Norway rat or brown rat (rattus norvegicus).
Black rat (rattus rattus).