D.C. chickens are on the rise, but so are surprise nighttime guests. And you may wake up pissed that your birds have been stressed, feed is strewn about, or, worse, the eggs are gone from your meticulously kept coop.
Washingtonians are now spotting more rats and raccoons in their backyards, especially in places with plenty of coops, such as Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, and Cleveland Park. These intelligent birds view your coop as an all-day buffet with shelter and a water source.
In this blog, we are going to discuss why your Washington backyard chicken setup might be rolling out the welcome mat for these pesky little pests, how to recognize that convincing invitations have been extended, etc. You can take a step forward by reaching out to professionals. Do the same by searching for Washington DC pest control near me.
Why Are Chicken Coops Magnets For These Pests?
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Easy Access to Food Sources
Your chicken coop is basically a shopping mall for rats and raccoons living in Washington urban settings. The motley buffet of chicken feed, spilled grain, and other random kitchen cast-offs is too hard to pass up.
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Shelter and Water Availability
These animals seek warm, protected spaces during D.C.’s brutal winters. The coop provides ideal protection from the elements, and you have water dishes and automatic feeders, which means their hydration is constant.
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Urban Wildlife Population Growth
In recent years, the rat numbers in Washington have skyrocketed. In 2023 alone, the city responded to nearly 12,500 rodent service requests, many of them in residential neighborhoods popular with backyard chicken keepers. An increasing population means increased pressure on available food, which makes your coop an even more appealing target for hungry bellies looking for their next meal.
Common Signs You Are Already Hosting Pests
Here are the telltale signs that rats and Raccoons have beaten a path to your chicken coop:
- Infected feeding containers: Bitten pouches, distributed pellets, or cleared feeders
- Droppings near the coop: Small, dark rat droppings or larger scat from a raccoon
- Holes and tunnels: Rats usually create burrow systems by digging from below.
- Impaired Coop Structure: Raccoons climb and will do whatever it takes to pry, and you will see claw marks and bent wire.
- Eggs are not there: Both of these pests are effective egg thieves
- Chickens with stress problems: Birds that look like they are angry or do not want to enter the coop
- Noises at nighttime: Scraping, scampering, or shuffling noises after dark
When It Is Time to Call an Expert
Using DIY methods such as peppermint oil or simple traps may provide temporary relief, but they hardly ever address the cause of your infestation. So, keep in mind that you are dealing with an intelligent animal that is a fast learner when it comes to deterrence.
Many times, rodents hide nests in your garage, crawl spaces, or compost piles that you will never find. These secondary nesting sites allow the problem to persist elsewhere on your property while you believe your coop is secure.
And this is when Presto Pest Control will make your life easier. Their team knows the various wildlife regulations around D.C., as well as the neighborhood issues that directly impact Washingtonians. They understand what strategies are going to be most effective in a city setting, and they will solve the problem for you as well as prevent it from happening again down the road. Expert pest control protects your property and ensures your chicken coop is a safe, productive environment for your poultry.
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