THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ALABAMA POULTRY & EGG ...

PRACTICALAPPLICATIONS
Rodent control takes a plan
By Joe Hess and Ken Macklin
Auburn University Poultry Science
Department
Although rodent control has always been
considered an important topic for broiler
growers and integrators, programs of this
type have taken on new focus as companies
put forth broad efforts to reduce human food
borne pathogens in the food chain. In general,
food safety efforts involve systematic programs
with good recordkeeping to be considered
comprehensive. This approach has often
been lacking in rodent control programs in
the past. Recently, rodent control has been
included as factor to be monitored in animal
welfare programs since rodent control helps
to reduce the spread of bird disease problems.
Growers have known for decades that
mice and rats can eat a considerable quantity
of feed in an operation, affecting feed conversion
adversely. More recently, it has been
shown that rodent feces may contain large
numbers of Salmonella organisms. We have
referred to these rat and mouse pellets as
"Salmonella bombs," available to spread
these human pathogens to birds throughout
the house and from flock to flock across time.
This is why rodent control is mentioned in
discussions of how to reduce the number of
human pathogen (particularly Salmonella)
positives coming into the plant.
When a rodent enters a chicken house, it
finds a climatically-controlled environment
with an unlimited supply of scientifically-balanced
food and water. Those same conditions
that we strive so hard to produce for our
chickens provide a wonderful home for these
nocturnal freeloaders. For this reason,
excluding rodents from houses needs to be a
constant effort. In taking a page from the
notes of those trying to reduce pathogens, we
need a year-round plan with recordkeeping.
This is particularly true when showing compliance
with an animal welfare plan during an
audit.
The first cornerstone to reducing rodent
pests is structural. Keeping grass short and
weeds removed around the house is an important
step. Likewise, keeping trash and unused
equipment away from poultry houses will
reduce areas that harbor rodents. If possible,
having a two-foot gravel buffer around the
base of each house will help keep mice and
rats out. Keeping feed bin pads clean will
avoid attracting rodents and wild birds as
well.
Once houses are made less attractive to
rodents, a rodenticide program can reduce
numbers and keep numbers low throughout
the farm. A two-phase program should be
followed yearly, involving rotation of rodenticides
every six months. Special efforts
should be made to reduce rodents between
flocks. In the first phase of a long-term program,
bait stations that are tamper proof (do
not allow access to pets or other animals)
should be placed every 15 feet around the
outside perimeter of the building. Long term
bait stations should be checked regularly
(with recordkeeping) to assure rodent population
control and provide verification for food
safety and/or animal welfare audits.
In the second phase of a rodent control
program, similar bait station placement
should be used inside the house between
flocks when the rodents are hungry and looking
for food (control can be difficult when
chickens are present because so much chicken
feed is available). All traces of the baiting
must be removed from the inside of the house
before chicks are placed.
Baits come in a number of forms depending
on needs. Tamper-proof bait stations can
utilize chunk baits that may be suspended
from metal pins to keep bait fresh and reduce
the chance that rodents will drag baits to
where chickens or pets might contact them.
Chunks can also be secured to rafters and
other places that rodents visit. Place pacs
may be used in underground burrows or in
bait stations as well. Three species of rodents
$4.70 per set
predominate in chicken houses; the house
mouse, norway rat and roof rat. Norway rats
burrow underground, requiring waterproof
baits to place in burrows (out of the reach of
pets, kids and others). Roof rats and mice can
be effectively targeted through ground-level
bait stations or baits securely nailed to rafters.
Bait or bait station placement is crucial, particularly
for mice, since they will not travel
far to find a bait.
Bait rotation is also an important concept
to keep in mind. Bait rotation programs need
to be implemented for a number of reasons.
Rats and mice are discriminating eaters and
may back off consumption of a product if a
quick kill is not accomplished. Rats are particularly
adept at avoiding baits if they are not
killed with the first feeding. For this reason,
switching bait formulas (chemical composition)
every six months will help avoid resistance
in rodent populations and help keep
rodents in check.
In summary, each farm should develop a
written rodent control plan and keep records.
Control involves preparing the houses and
surrounding areas, placing bait stations or
other baits, monitoring baits and switching
chemicals regularly to avoid resistance.
These efforts will reduce rodent-associated
losses due to feed loss and equipment damage,
enhance company efforts to control
human and bird pathogens and provide positive
proof the growers are implementing animal
welfare programs.
MADE IN THE USA
IN STOCK - ready to ship
Alabama Poultry November/December 2006
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