328 'Farm Poultry 



nation is often a most perplexing one. Precau- 

 tionary measures are usually the most satisfactory. 

 If the buildings are so constructed that rats can- 

 not burrow under them, the battle is largely won. 

 If, however, the rats find suitable homes about 

 poultry houses, and cannot be driven out by 

 ordinary methods, much annoyance and often 

 severe loss may result. When traps and cats 

 will not suffice, more extreme measures must be 

 adopted. Sometimes it is advisable to remove 

 the fowls temporarily and hunt the rats by 

 means of ferrets. In some cases it may be 

 necessary to resort to poisoning. In a gen- 

 eral way it may be stated that animals should 

 not be poisoned except in extreme cases. The 

 author has on several occasions found it neces- 

 sary to use poison to rid the premises of these 

 pests. A little strychnine was placed in each of 

 many small pieces of cheese. These little pieces 

 were dropped into the rat holes and other 

 places frequented by the vermin, care being 

 taken in every case to cover the holes with 

 boards so that the fowls would be prevented 

 from gaining access to the poison. While the 

 fowls were not killed or in any way injured by 

 this method of killing rats, the practice is always 

 accompanied with more or less danger, particu- 

 larly as it is necessary to place the poison near 

 places frequented by the fowls. 



