Rat(s) !

[Lizz]

I have a small flock of 4 silkies this is their 2nd year with me . We live in an urban area and up until a few weeks ago when there was a fire at neighboring scrap yard I haven't seen a rat. My cat had brought a dead one on occasion but that was it. My chickens free rang in a small area and I feed them up inside their coop every morning. I have been seeing rats during the day now climb up the ladder and go in the coop to eat the feed! any ideas on how to stop this? My cat only hunts in the early morning hours:( and the rats are snooping during the day.

[Carrie Seal-Stahl]

I've often heard that fox urine repels rabbits and squirrels, perhaps that may work? Other than traps (which obviously aren't safe around your flock...) that's all I've got :/