BYC Café

[Shadrach]

I've got an interesting week coming up.
We've got a rat problem. I've got to try to borrow an air rifle. The people who are responsible for this rat problem because they won't invest in any form of control are going on holiday.
I have a chance to do something about the rats. There are five main lairs. I need to kill the mums. I know who they are and where they live but they are very smart. They have babies maybe four or five time a year. The owls and other predators pick most of the babies off.
One day I might see 20 or 30 young rats in an evenings rounds and slowly the numbers decrease until she has the next lot and it all starts over again.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

So you keep them in a field usually? I used to work with the cows and bullocks on my uncles farm a bit. He supplied a particular company with organic meat which was very unusual in those days.

That's funny, have never heard the term 'bullocks' in that context. Is that in reference to all males or just bulls or steers? Interesting about your uncles farm. Did he do pretty well at the time with it?

We haul them out to pasture around mid may and then bring them home when snow inhibits their ability to get to the grass or if they are running out of good feed. Calving starts in January (Dec. 27th last year), so we bring the heavies up top by the barn so they are easy to watch. That's when the fun begins . Otherwise they are down in the hayfield. Lots more room and easier to feed.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

What a relief Meg. Thank you for telling us that.

Ha, didn't mean to horrify you all!

We have them here!

Isn't that awful stuff, Ron? Mouse, our cow that sits like a dog, would stick her head in the window and let you scratch them all off of her. Smart girl

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I've got an interesting week coming up.
We've got a rat problem. I've got to try to borrow an air rifle. The people who are responsible for this rat problem because they won't invest in any form of control are going on holiday.
I have a chance to do something about the rats. There are five main lairs. I need to kill the mums. I know who they are and where they live but they are very smart. They have babies maybe four or five time a year. The owls and other predators pick most of the babies off.
One day I might see 20 or 30 young rats in an evenings rounds and slowly the numbers decrease until she has the next lot and it all starts over again.

Oh, lordy. Big rats?

 

[Shadrach]

That's funny, have never heard the term 'bullocks' in that context. Is that in reference to all males or just bulls or steers? Interesting about your uncles farm. Did he do pretty well at the time with it?

We haul them out to pasture around mid may and then bring them home when snow inhibits their ability to get to the grass or if they are running out of good feed. Calving starts in January (Dec. 27th last year), so we bring the heavies up top by the barn so they are easy to watch. That's when the fun begins . Otherwise they are down in the hayfield. Lots more room and easier to feed.

I think he did. I was in my early teens so not very well informed about the finances.
It was a specialist market, primarily for steak I believe
Where I come from bullock gets used for any young male. I think steer is an American term.

 

[pennyJo1960]

When I was a kid had a big old bull in 4-H he would stick is head in my window wake me up in mornings

 

[Shadrach]

Oh, lordy. Big rats?

No, not really. Country rats. Quite cute but there are way to many of them. It makes feeding the chickens and ducks a bit of a mission. The chickens just stand there and watch the rats eat their food. There was one hen here a while ago that would kill them but she's dead now.

 

[sourland]

@Shadrach , Happy Hunting !

 

[ronott1]

Ha, didn't mean to horrify you all!

Isn't that awful stuff, Ron? Mouse, our cow that sits like a dog, would stick her head in the window and let you scratch them all off of her. Smart girl

I hate getting them in my sock! I would not wear socks in the summer growing in the country

 

[pennyJo1960]

Bob one of our outside cats had a little garter snake he had brought to me