If you are unsure which rodent species you are dealing with or if you have multiple rodent species on your farm, then the following steps will help prevent further rodent colonisation:

Minimise preferred rodent food sources by securely housing grain (ideally, sealed containers), cleaning up feed spills, and removing food scraps and waste from the areas around bird housing sheds.

Remove piles of rubbish or any materials that might serve as shelter for rodents from predators.

Rodents will be less likely to move from another shed or location and will be more susceptible to predators if they are required to cross exposed ground (Meerberg et al., 2004), so keep grass and weeds cut short around the edges of sheds to minimise rodent migration.

Place secure bait stations in areas of known activity, routinely monitor bait intake and replenish as required.

Don’t place bait stations in areas with birds; tie baits down securely (using skewers or zip ties) in bait stations to minimise secondary poisoning risk.

Baits containing the second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides of brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone and flocoumafen are effective against all rodent species.

First-generation anticoagulant rodenticides coumatetralyl, diphacinone and warfarin are generally not recommended because repeated feeding of bait is required for a fatal dose.

Zinc phosphide is a highly lethal compound, but its use requires a permit and is generally recommended only during plagues.