Rats are attracted to grains, crumbs and accessible bags. In addition to feed losses, they can contaminate the ration with their droppings or urine. To protect your poultry, prevention must start in the storage room, without exposing feed to pest control products.
Organising storage
Choose a dry, well-ventilated room that is easy to clean. Repair holes in the walls, doors and openings around pipes. Seal access points with sturdy materials and make sure the door is not left ajar. A strong grille can protect openings needed for ventilation.
Place the bags on clean pallets, away from the floor and walls. This arrangement limits contact with moisture and makes inspection easier. Avoid stacking bags up to the ceiling: leave a passage to check the corners, spot signs of rodents and clean regularly.
Keep bags intact and carefully reseal any opened bag in a clean, dry, well-sealed container. Use the oldest feed first, while checking its condition before distribution. Do not leave feed remnants lying around in the storage room or around the building.
Limiting sources of attraction
Sweep up crumbs frequently and remove waste in closed containers. Maintain the area around the storage room: tall grass, accumulated objects and old packaging can provide hiding places. Also keep feed intended for poultry separate from waste and other stored products.
Inspect bags on receipt and then before use. A hole, gnaw marks, droppings or an unusual smell should alert you. Isolate any suspect bag and do not distribute its contents to the poultry. Clean the area with equipment reserved for this purpose, then wash your hands. If in doubt about the condition of the feed or what to do, seek advice from a competent professional.
Using control measures with care
First prioritise sealing access points, keeping things tidy and removing crumbs. If you set traps, place them out of reach of poultry and well away from open bags. Never apply a product intended to control rodents to bags, in the feed or close to an exposed ration. Follow the product's safety instructions and consult a professional if the infestation persists.
Starting today, inspect your storage room, block visible access points and put the bags on pallets: a few regular actions protect the feed and help maintain clean poultry farming in Côte d'Ivoire.
--- *Source: NEXTEKCI — In-house expertise — summary and analysis by NEXTEKCI.*