Groundhogs?

[ams3651]

We have a problem with at least one large groundhog living next to and under the shed I want to convert for my chickens. My son spent all last summer shooting them and others were always waiting to move in. We tried poison and traps, still have them. They are hibernating now but will soon be out. My question is, will they bother the chickens? We have never seen these particular ones be agressive but I know they can be and wondering if they will see the chickens as intruders.

 

[mudhen]

They are a pest. un
We shoot them when we see them, but while they are hibernating, take some roach bombs, activate them and throw them into any tunnel openings. Seal the openings, and the bomb should put the hibernating rodent to sleep permanently.
Check out this thread when I first asked about these varmints: http://backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=380

 

[willheveland]

If you can't trap him,try to get a rodent bomb at your ag store and drop down the hole.This will suffacate him(i think it burns up all the O2 in the hole) anyways then you can fill his hole in nice and tight.Take a board or something to pack it in as you fill it.Either jack up the shed so it's off the a couple feet off the ground or try to keep them from gonig under it.
are you in catawissa? my kids love knoebels we go every year.
love that blue birch beer made in catawissa too. will

 

[ams3651]

Quote:
I live outside actually...small world. Grew up about 10 minutes from Knoebels. http://www.knoebels.com/
And the Catawissa Bottling soda, we like the red cream, try it next time

We will look for the bombs and try them, the shed is basically the size of a small one car garage and I know they have other holes under there, so does my dog! It sits probably 6 inches off the ground but its been there so long i cant move it and its too big to pick up.

 

[SamG347]

Best thing for a groundhog is a .22 to the head. Also you can pick-up box trap kit at your local Tractor Supply Store. They have a 2 trap kit for $30.00 bucks. It comes with one small trap and one large trap. I have used the large trap for groundhogs with great success. Bait with apples and scratch grain.
Good Luck and the groundhog shouldnt bother your birds...he might get in the yard and eat the scratch you throw or possibly the chickens feed.

 

[ams3651]

My son usually sits in the garage with the window open and waits for them to come out. The problem is we live surrounded by fields that havent been farmed for more than 20 years....till this past summer. My son killed at least 8 of them and there were always more moving in. Im gonna try the bombs and hope they didnt winter under my neighbors porch.

 

[panner123]

Grew up in N. J. over fifty years ago,
shooting groundhogs for the bounty. If your son is a good shot and the fields are full of them, he can make plenty of spending money. That is if they have a bounty on them in Pa. I actually colected double, the farmer would pay me for them, then I would take them to the city clerk and he would pay me for them. At that time the worst year I had was 1954 and I made about $1500.00.

 

[ams3651]

Quote:
I know he has looked into that but I dont know what he found out. My dad has a farm and he shoots them for him and other farmers around. Right now hes taking squirles for tales. He has a friend who traps, skins and eats everything! Im glad Im not his mother.

 

[foxtrapper]

They are not a threat to your chickens as they are herbivorous. They can be a threat to your garden. Their burrows into pens make it easier for low slung predators to enter.

 

[chickbea]

Woodies are no threat to your chickens at all, other than, as foxtrapper says, if they burrow under your pen and other animals follow.
I don't do anything about them at all. I think they are adorable, as long as their burrows aren't on my horse trails! As for getting in the garden, they seem to be most active at dusk and dawn, which is when my dog is usually on patrol anyway.