Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

I got 2 siberian pea trees two years ago. This last winter, deer gnawed on them pretty badly, but I think they'll be fine. I'm ok with doing some labor to keep them contained, but if I got a fencerow, that would be nice.

I got them for the peas to give to the chickens. We'll see what we get in a few years.

Considering the number of deer around here, I'm surprised they chewed on it. Here, they usually just bed down in the lee of it.

Give to the chickens: either let the chickens find them under the bush or spread a sheet to catch the tiny little things when the pods crack. The prickles like to grab.

They do prune well, though.

 

[Ponypoor]

I think you are right. It is why I haven’t dared use it. Even the mouse ones hurt like hell and leave a real dent in your finger though don’t actually break bones (don’t ask me how I know!). But the rat sized one I am sure would break a finger. Fortunately I managed to find the access point for the rats and destroyed their nest so I am not bothered by them any more. I see them sometimes on my cameras but they are going about their normal ratty business and not going into the Chicken Palace.

I was throwing down hay last weekend and bold as brass this rat walks out from the hay pile and struts across the mow floor not 8' from me i was horrified.

One day I was watching the barn alleyway cam and one ran across the alley freaking me out.

Mice also running across the top of my hay when I am on the mow. And you can smell them, I am sure that is why my old mare has her coughing fits.

And of course the presence of rats freaks me out with the chickens, I don't think they can get in the hen house at night but there is a gap under my door that I worry about - tomorrow I will put a strip of wood across the bottom sill to stop any thing crawling in... Not sure if a rat will attack a chicken, but my wee silkie are tiny and I make them roost on the ground so they don't fall off the 4foot high roost. Maybe tomorrow night I will let them roost up there they keep going up there.... Oh the stress of worry!!! Between them and the horses, I am a wreck sometimes.....

 

[Kris5902]

What about strategic branch removal near the 8' mark? Just enough to slide (and curse, untangle, curse some more) the net between layers of the branches: 2 man job, 1 ladder from outside branches feeding net in, 1 up inside the tree spreading the net around the trunk....

Just remember netting to prevent hawks sometimes catches them… and then you have to untangle a pissed off taloned monster that’s trying to take your fingers off… so be potentially prepared for that as well! We have had to disentangle a red shouldered at our friends property, and my Newfie chicken hatching friend here loves to tell the story about the eagle that ended up stuck in the run at his neighbours property. And this neighbor recently “saved” a Cooper’s hawk

 

[rural mouse]

I would love to know if they (chickens) like them! Also if they help to 'control' the sprouting ones by scratching/eating! Please let me know in the future - if the deer don't permanently 'browse' them into oblivion

Chickens (and other birds) LOVE the seeds (30% protein). Bees and hummingbirds love the flowers. Not sure on the sprouting ones, but pull early. They grow a long tap root.

 

[Kris5902]

I was throwing down hay last weekend and bold as brass this rat walks out from the hay pile and struts across the mow floor not 8' from me i was horrified.

One day I was watching the barn alleyway cam and one ran across the alley freaking me out.

Mice also running across the top of my hay when I am on the mow. And you can smell them, I am sure that is why my old mare has her coughing fits.

And of course the presence of rats freaks me out with the chickens, I don't think they can get in the hen house at night but there is a gap under my door that I worry about - tomorrow I will put a strip of wood across the bottom sill to stop any thing crawling in... Not sure if a rat will attack a chicken, but my wee silkie are tiny and I make them roost on the ground so they don't fall off the 4foot high roost. Maybe tomorrow night I will let them roost up there they keep going up there.... Oh the stress of worry!!! Between them and the horses, I am a wreck sometimes.....

Block up that gap for everyone’s peace of mind

 

[BY Bob]

Just remember netting to prevent hawks sometimes catches them… and then you have to untangle a pissed off taloned monster that’s trying to take your fingers off… so be potentially prepared for that as well! We have had to disentangle a red shouldered at our friends property, and my Newfie chicken hatching friend here loves to tell the story about the eagle that ended up stuck in the run at his neighbours property. And this neighbor recently “saved” a Cooper’s hawk View attachment 3031735

I cannot like this post. I respect them but don't "like" them.

 

[Ponypoor]

Coyote, bobcat, raptor and (maybe) fox poisoning via eating poisoned rodents is a HUGE problem where I live.

That's so sad.

This is why here in Ontario you have to have a pesticide license to use real pesticides. And esp those second generation ones which I think are unnecessary. But I still don't understand why they allowed the use of them outside buildings for vermin outside where they can wander around outside and be easy prey.

I say keep the use inside where the vermin reside, once they r inside they don't leave - they have good and body holes they stay put and don't leave. You need to understand mouse rat behaviour I say, and it ticks me off when I see mouse rat bait stations out side businesses and barns. It's supposed to stop them entering. But all it does is present a situation where they can be eaten by other predators

I don't mind the smelly dead odour in the barn walls (ewwwww!) I know at least they are not outside anywhere they can be eaten, and it doesn't last long.

I want my chickens and horses safe. I don't want soiled feed or chewed on wiring, or my old mare coughing up a lung from mouse rat urine on her hay. My hay is crawling with mice eating the hay, I see them crawling on the hay! And I cams afford to waste the hay so what can I do?

 

[Ponypoor]

Block up that gap for everyone’s peace of mind

Hahaha gaps.... The whole barn has gaps! Under the roof the eves are all open, you need that for ventilation, they chewed through the wooden flooring the buggers, between my office insulated ceiling and the mow. They crawl everywhere

They get into the barn and think it's heaven!

Not sure if a mouse can hurt a chicken but can a rat? Not worried during the day, but i worry at night. When they r sleeping and vulnerable. The henhouse floor is pavers but maybe they can dig through the gravel gap between pavers and wall. Oh great now another worry. . Must check that tomorrow. My wee silkies are roosting on the ground. Guess I will let them roost on the big roost tomorrow night. I worry about them more so than the bigger hens.

 

[RoyalChick]

Hahaha gaps.... The whole barn has gaps! Under the roof the eves are all open, you need that for ventilation, they chewed through the wooden flooring the buggers, between my office insulated ceiling and the mow. They crawl everywhere

They get into the barn and think it's heaven!

Not sure if a mouse can hurt a chicken but can a rat? Not worried during the day, but i worry at night. When they r sleeping and vulnerable. The henhouse floor is pavers but maybe they can dig through the gravel gap between pavers and wall. Oh great now another worry. . Must check that tomorrow. My wee silkies are roosting on the ground. Guess I will let them roost on the big roost tomorrow night. I worry about them more so than the bigger hens.

You need an army of barn cats. Seriously, I don’t know if they have that where you are, but round me the shelters often have barn cats. They don’t live inside but you give them a place in your barn and feed them. A couple of those might seriously deal with the issue. It is after all how cats came to live with people in the first place!

 

[Kris5902]

You need an army of barn cats. Seriously, I don’t know if they have that where you are, but round me the shelters often have barn cats. They don’t live inside but you give them a place in your barn and feed them. A couple of those might seriously deal with the issue. It is after all how cats came to live with people in the first place!

@Ponypoor or rat dogs! Get terriers?