CALIFORNIA The Whole State thread

[Hangtown Farms]

If you see one, there are a lot more.

Walt

chances are so. Many more

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

That's the thing I'm worried about.

Ever since they mowed this big overgrown field out there, the critters have been running this way, the only thing stopping them is a Cooper's hawk that hunts around and in our yard. As well as a hungry bobcat (that already got several housecats...)

Now since it's logging season in town, gigantic beetles, wood rats and and occasional dead rattlesnake fall off the truck.

We're going to take down the coops soon and build fresh ones. Some are over 10 years old and I have some suspicions that they could be starting to breed under them.

chances are so. Many more

Quote:
If you see one, there are a lot more.

Walt

 

[debs_flock]

We're going to take down the coops soon and build fresh ones. Some are over 10 years old and I have some suspicions that they could be starting to breed under them.

Ah, one of the reasons I built all my coops elevated. Nothing can hide out under them but chickens! Gives us extra shade, weather protection and extra run space.

Deb

 

[ronott1]

That's the thing I'm worried about.

Ever since they mowed this big overgrown field out there, the critters have been running this way, the only thing stopping them is a Cooper's hawk that hunts around and in our yard. As well as a hungry bobcat (that already got several housecats...)

Now since it's logging season in town, gigantic beetles, wood rats and and occasional dead rattlesnake fall off the truck.

We're going to take down the coops soon and build fresh ones. Some are over 10 years old and I have some suspicions that they could be starting to breed under them.


Quote:
If you see one, there are a lot more.

Walt

I saw an automatic electric Rat Trap. You set it and it collects multiple rats in a chamber. When the light changes and is full, you dump them into the trash. It uses batteries, so as long as it is not raining you can put it near the chicken coops. The Chickens can't get zapped by it either.

Gotta have something to keep up with the insane speed that rats reproduce....

Ron

 

[Peep_Show]

Pheeeew! My sister shot this male rat with her bow an arrow. Let's hope I'll never see one again!

....Knock on wood.....

What popped into my head is.... The Hunger Games!

So is there a tribute?

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

I saw an automatic electric Rat Trap. You set it and it collects multiple rats in a chamber. When the light changes and is full, you dump them into the trash. It uses batteries, so as long as it is not raining you can put it near the chicken coops. The Chickens can't get zapped by it either.

Gotta have something to keep up with the insane speed that rats reproduce....

Ron

Sounds great, no poisons either... that's what I dislike.

Sometimes I wonder if there's rats' breeding in the neighbors' house. The neighbors to the right told us that there were an good amount of flies once around his house and thought it was from our chickens.

We have a double fence so every 2 months I go out and remove all the weeds. So no fire hazards or critter shelters are available.

My other neighbor to the left did say he went under his house and saw rats running around. Then got rid of them...

They both visit those houses once a month (appox.)

Next time they come...

 

[ronott1]

Quote: I forgot the say that the trap is not disposable. After you dispose of the rats, you re arm it and catch some more.

Ron

 

[wolftracks]

I'm so mad. I went out this morning to do some work and the first thing I found was my FBCM pullets laying in the pen. It looks like they piled last night and got them both. Figures. I got 3 to hatch out of 2 dozen Bev Davis eggs and one was very weak, so lost it right away. These girls have been outside for months and just transfered them and now this. I wanna cry. I used to have FBCM chicks running out of my ears and these days I lose them.

On another note, I have a hatch going on the last 3 or 4 days. I'm hoping it's the last batch of quail eggs I set and then realized the rooster wasn't. duh My SPPR broody kept smashing chicks as they tried to hatch and a couple of eggs were added to her nest. When I had checked there was another half hatched chick dead, so I grabbed the last 2 eggs out and stuck them in the bator. One of those hatched this morning.

Back to the yard. I really need to figure out how to kill some tree stumps. What a pain.

 

[chiqita]

We have a rat zapper. I don't know how may it will catch at once, but it works. Using borax ( don't put this where your chickens can get it) in something they will eat works too, it will kill them but not things that eat them, irrc. I'll check with DH later. its supposed to be good where you have rats and owls and don't want to kill owls.

 

[mycutekitties]

If you see one, there are a lot more.

Walt

Walt is right. If you see one there are more. A few years ago we were battling rats and the only thing that works is Liqua-Tox. You can't just buy this, a pest control company has to bring it to you in bait boxes. We keep ours filled with bait and thankfully never see rats.