Be very careful with rat bait Cassie, we lost a Great Dane to the neighbours rat bait, the rats pulled some of it through the fence, we were so cross as we didn't know they were doing it. So watch your dogs and dont let them get hold of the rat after it has died either if you have baited it.
The best thing for rats is an experienced JR terrier - ours is brilliant and the rat is killed instantly. Baited rats take days to die, and it is a nasty death too - they cry and it is a heartbreaking sound. I know they are rats, but there is no need for them to suffer that long, still if they made the bait stuff stronger, then I suppose other animals would also die quickly if they got hold of the rat.
Suzie herself is in no danger from her visitor, farm rats are clean animals, not like sewer rats; she just doesn't need it to get into her feed bowl and pee on her food, but now that is hooked on the door there is little chance of that. Hopefully your Dad can find and quickly dispose of the little intruder for you.
Just been doing catch up - been watching the girls, but not posting. Goodness, had a load of pages to read through. What an exciting night LOL!! Loved the way that Suz let herself out - I imagine there would have been a great deal of annoyance amongst the watchers if she had foaled outside, can just see that appealing to Suzie's sense of humour!! (think I must have been catching my hour's siesta while all the excitement was going on?)
Loved everyone's pictures and videos - Linda your girl looks very close - good luck! By the way what is her breeding, (and that of your boy), are they from imported stock or British/Welsh bred? She's very nice and your boy is certainly a very unusual colour - wonder what the foal will look like, colour wise?
Suzie does look a bit uncomfortable tonight, but that is only to be expected, poor girl. She needs to hurry up and have this baby.
Oh and yes Cassie, I did notice Suzie's tail was beautifully free, but forgot to mention it. She has a lovely full tail and it is such a shame to hide it away! Anyway, as I said ages ago, it is much easier to sweep a loose tail out of the way when a mare foals, than it is to try to pull a plaited rope out from under her body! Well done Cassie.
