Granny's gone and done it again

[Wishing4Wings]

oh I forgot to tell yall the best part of today. Car was dragging when I first started it and lights were dimming on the way home. Yup, need a new battery.

SIL was right! The cold temps run them down faster too. My #1 had a dead battery this morning.
Cold and frosty here. At least they are saying a chance of rain after Christmas. That would be a good gift!

 

[troyer]

not me ! I would starve or freeze Im sure.

I'm pretty sure we have enough food to survive for well over a year if necessary. If we would ever get in a pinch, I'm sure our neighbors would be quick to pitch in and be of service, it's just how we treat/relate to each other. If they were ever in a pinch for food we would open our food stores to them willingly, because how could we be fulfilled/satisfied if our neighbors were starving.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

SIL was right! The cold temps run them down faster too. My #1 had a dead battery this morning.
Cold and frosty here. At least they are saying a chance of rain after Christmas. That would be a good gift!

yes and boy is it cold. The thing is I have a battery in the pole barn thats sitting there for about 5 years and I dont know how to tell if its good or not. No one I have asked has told me either. Its not the time to experiment with it and me no phone.
Rain is good!

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I'm pretty sure we have enough food to survive for well over a year if necessary. If we would ever get in a pinch, I'm sure our neighbors would be quick to pitch in and be of service, it's just how we treat/relate to each other. If they were ever in a pinch for food we would open our food stores to them willingly, because how could we be fulfilled/satisfied if our neighbors were starving.

It wouldnt be easy would it? I couldnt eat with someone else going hungry either.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I think of you a lot too Granny.

Thank you Cap. Big , huge, hugs...

 

[microchick]

You aren’t using poison baits are you?

Yeah. Unfortunately the mouse problem is so bad here if we don't we would be overran in record time.

I've had the Tin Cats out for 4 days and have caught over 50 mice. Without the added bait I would have to dispatch them. Over the summer I was just submerging the trap in a bucket of water. Wasn't fool proof method though nor efficient then I read on line somewhere maybe even here on BYC, can't remember where somebody was adding a bit of Ramik or one bite to the trap and let it do the dirty work.

As many mice as we have around here, along with the occasional rat the last thing I want to do is release mice back in the wild to breed like mice. At least I know they got a good last meal and aren't going to survive to further breed more vermin.

I also use Tom Cat bait holders around the coop where the chickens and dogs can't get to them. I was going through so much bait though that I added the Tin Cat traps and feel like I'm finally making progress with the rodent problem. My coop is an old shed with hollow walls.

I feel like I'm running a tenement for mice in the walls.

 

[microchick]

Oh Joy! I have something to look forward too!

My minister's wife used to say that we get to an age where what doesn't hurt, doesn't work.

Man I know what she was talking about now!

 

[featherhead007]

Yeah. Unfortunately the mouse problem is so bad here if we don't we would be overran in record time.

I've had the Tin Cats out for 4 days and have caught over 50 mice. Without the added bait I would have to dispatch them. Over the summer I was just submerging the trap in a bucket of water. Wasn't fool proof method though nor efficient then I read on line somewhere maybe even here on BYC, can't remember where somebody was adding a bit of Ramik or one bite to the trap and let it do the dirty work.

As many mice as we have around here, along with the occasional rat the last thing I want to do is release mice back in the wild to breed like mice. At least I know they got a good last meal and aren't going to survive to further breed more vermin.

I also use Tom Cat bait holders around the coop where the chickens and dogs can't get to them. I was going through so much bait though that I added the Tin Cat traps and feel like I'm finally making progress with the rodent problem. My coop is an old shed with hollow walls.

I feel like I'm running a tenement for mice in the walls.

Chickens sometimes eat mice. I had one die from poison from a mouse that she ate

 

[microchick]

We are in the southern part of the storm coming in. I don't think they are sure yet what is going to happen here. One service says 3-5 inches but NOAA isn't committing yet which makes me nervous.

They are calling for high winds and dangerous low temps and wind chills on it's heels. I hope we don't have a blizzard. I think I read where the last blizzard that hit Missouri was in 1928. So I guess we are over due.

It would be nice to have a white Christmas though. Tomorrow I'm going to batten down the coop and we are going to bring in firewood and stack it in the shop where we can get to it easily. DH put chains on the front wheels of the tractor and the pantry is stocked full as is the freezer.

Bringer on Mother nature. We are ready.

 

[microchick]

Chickens sometimes eat mice. I had one die from poison from a mouse that she ate

So far, knock hard on wood, mine leave them alone. I've watched them stand over a dying mouse with their heads cocked making little alarm sounds, me ready to tackle anyone that grabs the mouse. But they walk away from them. I don't know if they somehow sense that something ain't 'right' about them or what.

I also police the area regularly. The Tin Cat bait holders secure latch and work on a 'teeter totter' method where the mouse enters through a little opening, runs up the ramp, the ramp goes down and they can only go one way, into the trap. Can't exit once they are in. The bait is in the holding area so once they eat it they can't get back into the coop.

The trap is then carried out to the road where I open it near our garbage dumpster or in the road. Mice leave but don't survive.

I have mine bungee corded just to make sure no accidents happen.

So sorry you lost a bird to poison. I live in fear of that but there aren't any options left for us. The shed needs replaced. But even in the second room we put in without inner walls the Danged mice found a crack in the floor and tunneled in. I am still filling cracks with concrete patch. It's a never ending battle.

One of our older dogs got ahold of one of our tom cat bait holders and tried to chew her way into it. She didn't. It lived up to it's guarantee but we still had to treat her with vitamin K after doing the wonderful peroxide induced Mount Vesuvius imitation. Not pleasant for anyone involved and especially not for her.

I learned to get crafty with them after that.