rats

[gargoyle]

Someone has told me that rats are attracted to and will eat chicken poo. Is this true and why?

[Dogghound]

Rats are attracted to chickens, through the eggs, chicken food and in some cases the chicks. I dont think the dirt will be eaten although the smell may attract them as it is likely to mean chickens and easy food. Often chicken pens etc provide shelter for the rats too.

[gargoyle]

Thankyou. I was specifically told that they eat it because there is a "chemical" or something in the poo that the rats like. I do not believe this. I know that rats will eat almost anything but this is going too far.

[Dogghound]

Its not uncommon for some mammals to occasionally eat faeces so it possibly may happen but i doubt its a main factor or a very common occurance.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Its not uncommon for some mammals to occasionally eat faeces so it possibly may happen but i doubt its a main factor or a very common occurance.

My dog eats poo so why should a rat be different..
They do live in suers..

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

My dog eats poo so why should a rat be different..
They do live in suers..

If thats the case i advise you take it to the vet and get it sorted, some (i.e predatory) mammals eat faeces due to the fact they lack part of their diet or in some cases it can suggest digestive problems. Copophragy is the not a natural part of a rats behavioural ecology, i didnt say its impossible just not a common trait. On the other hand it is vital to a Rabbit's survival without copophragy a Rabbit will die within three weeks as its intestines are not designed to digest enough food in one go so re-eating is needed. Also rats and dogs are evolutionary totally different, just because they are both mammals doesnt mean they are anything like eachother.

[Dogghound]

Actually rethinking some other mammals eat faeces to clean their nests etc. But you can get tablets for dogs to stop them doing it.

[forfi]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

If thats the case i advise you take it to the vet and get it sorted, some (i.e predatory) mammals eat faeces due to the fact they lack part of their diet or in some cases it can suggest digestive problems.

Tsk tsk, some dogs eat poo,some dogs like to roll in poo,but I never had one that needed a vet,kick in the b*m usually sorted that out.

Copophragy is the not a natural part of a rats behavioural ecology, i didnt say its impossible just not a common trait.

I take it then that you have not been employed by any of the sewage companies?If it were not for the nice little rats then the sewers would close up.On the other hand in Coventry we once got a newborn baby in the rakes and a motorbike,maybe a varied diet was in order?

Also rats and dogs are evolutionary totally different, just because they are both mammals doesnt mean they are anything like eachother.

Thank God for that ,I have a rather large German Shepard lady-dog and I dont want her nibbling at me nose while I sleep.

But I am intrigued at the idea of rats being attracted to chickens,I had 2000 at one time, I thought that rats were just everywhere,like not more than 20 feet from where you are now

[Dogghound]

Well i arnt in the habit of kicking dogs, and yes it is best to take your dog to the vets as it can be a sign of an underlying problem. If a dog is eating faeces its because either its not getting enough from its diet or because its got a problem, with the odd exception.

No funnily enough ive never been employed by a sewer company, you say it asif its a common occupation. And i seriously doubt that rats eating human waste is stopping our sewers blocking up.

And as for your last comment about your dog is that a sarcastic remark? infomation? a joke? im lost with that one.

Yes but you get them in greater densities in different locations.

[forfi]

I see

[forfi]

Come to think of it,when I went native at the end of the ice age,the fuel shed in me new abode was full of rats and all there
was to eat in there was turf [or peat to the posh folks]

PS I used nearly a whole box of No6's to clear them,well,no I used a shovel to clear them,what I mean was I.........go on you get the picture don't you?

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Well i arnt in the habit of kicking dogs, and yes it is best to take your dog to the vets as it can be a sign of an underlying problem. If a dog is eating faeces its because either its not getting enough from its diet or because its got a problem, with the odd exception.

No funnily enough ive never been employed by a sewer company, you say it asif its a common occupation. And i seriously doubt that rats eating human waste is stopping our sewers blocking up.

And as for your last comment about your dog is that a sarcastic remark? infomation? a joke? im lost with that one.

Yes but you get them in greater densities in different locations.

I take my dog regular to the vet to get worm tablets, I asked them if the worm tablets are safe to keep giving them to her on a regular basis. Its funny with all the training vets do they didn't think there was anything medically wrong with my dog. All they said is certain breeds tend to eat things they shouldn't...
Labrador's/Srpingers tend to eat all sorts of things from socks to poo.
I think I will go on my vets advice not someone less qualified thank you.

As for other animals eating poo I knew a horse that would eat other horses poo.

Rats eat sh*t

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I take my dog regular to the vet to get worm tablets, I asked them if the worm tablets are safe to keep giving them to her on a regular basis. Its funny with all the training vets do they didn't think there was anything medically wrong with my dog. All they said is certain breeds tend to eat things they shouldn't...
Labrador's/Srpingers tend to eat all sorts of things from socks to poo.
I think I will go on my vets advice not someone less qualified thank you.

As for other animals eating poo I knew a horse that would eat other horses poo.

Rats eat sh*t

What has giving your dog worming tablet got to do with it eating faeces? I just dont get peoples problems on this site sometimes, i try and answer a simple question and instead of people giving their opinions on rats. Two separate people try and pick my answer to pieces, not give particularly good arguments for or against which i dont mind, the first Kayleigh basically posts a blunt sarcastic reply so i try and explain my view and then someone just picks this response apart.

And let me get one more thing straight why dont people actually read my replys before they try and pick at the detail not once have i said all mammals dont eat it, all individuals dont eat it an so on. So yes you probrably do get a horse (Ive tryed explaining not every mammal is the same but you clearly have your own view) and yes you do get dogs that do it. As i have said like "with the odd exeption" "in some cases" "i didnt say its impossible just not a common trait" "its not uncommon" none of these phrases ive used in this thread suggest im giving absolute answers.

[Kayleigh]

First poo carries worms so every time my dog eats poo she gets wormed from the vets. Therefore she is seen regularly by the vet and there is nothing wrong with her digestive system.

Second I must have got the wrong end of the stick as I thought it was common place that suer rats eat poo.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

First poo carries worms so every time my dog eats poo she gets wormed from the vets. Therefore she is seen regularly by the vet and there is nothing wrong with her digestive system.

Second I must have got the wrong end of the stick as I thought it was common place that suer rats eat poo.

Is it news to me? i have checked out some info from a reliable person and apparently rats do carry out coprophagy to a small extent but on their own faeces. But do not commonly eat other animals. Anyway as i said in the post above, perhaps you should read through what i say. As once again you seem to think im saying absolutes when im saying likelihoods.