INCUBATING w/FRIENDS! w/Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs No problem!

[kwhites634]

"Grr No Peep" passed away about an hour ago. That didn't surprise me. Her brother dying about half an hour later did. He was peeping, and took vitamins without a problem. He was able to get up some, and move around. Oh well. I still have ten new chicks and four eggs to hatch. There are two SPR pullets in with the rest of the flock. I only need (1,000 should do it! LOL) six girls and two boys. The boys are more difficult to pick. Of the three dead, only one was looking good for a breeder.
One boy will get to play husband, and the other will stay with the main flock until he is needed. Or, a bachelor pad if I thin down the main flock too much. Regardless, I want an extra. Now more than ever.
I am not feeling bad about this morning or the chicks in the incubator. The shock wore off, and I am fine. I got some stuff done I have been needing to do. It is still early enough. I may go back out (or check DH's tool box) to find the right bit today. Otherwise, I am proud of the "I don't wanna!" chores I got done.

 

[BullChick]

IMHO, it is all about the bait. The lures don't hurt. I have one of the sweet lures an may not have given it enough of a chance. Some trappers swear by the effectiveness of mini marshmallows. I use canned mackerel. It is cheap, stinky and tasty.

I think the lures would be more effective for weasels and mink. That said, I'm not a lifelong professional trapper, I've just trapped a lot.

Well, I have watched the video now. I think it is a great trap, and seems safe enough. I do wish they had shown him actually baiting the trap. I am assuming I will understand that by reading the instructions or if I look for other videos. JIC, is it simple enough to get the cotton ball in there?

 

[BullChick]

@feathersanall

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Well, I have watched the video now. I think it is a great trap, and seems safe enough. I do wish they had shown him actually baiting the trap. I am assuming I will understand that by reading the instructions or if I look for other videos. JIC, is it simple enough to get the cotton ball in there?

I added some information to my last post you may want to reread.

I like small pieces of fish because I can drop them under the trigger. The animal has to reach all the way down to pull out food and in the process, pulls up on the trigger. If you use a cotton ball, you can do so before you set it. It is very hard to set by hand unless you have strong hands so I recommend the setting tool.
It is pretty hard to hurt yourself unless you have an appendage in the tube when the trigger is moved.

 

[BullChick]

A friend of mine that had trapped a lot and read all the literature on trapping told me to disguise my scent and raccoon urine was one of the things he recommended. I say that is nonsense. It is good advice in remote rural areas where humans are rarely encountered. It makes no difference in an urban, suburban or farm setting where your scent is already all over everything and the raccoons ignore that to break in to eat your animals.
If human scent mattered, why would raccoons enter doggy doors at night to eat a dog's food?

Good point.

I added some information to my last post you may want to reread.

I like small pieces of fish because I can drop them under the trigger. The animal has to reach all the way down to pull out food and in the process, pulls up on the trigger. If you use a cotton ball, you can do so before you set it. It is very hard to set by hand unless you have strong hands so I recommend the setting tool.
It is pretty hard to hurt yourself unless you have an appendage in the tube when the trigger is moved.

Yes, I would get the tool. A few actually. I would hate to lose one or need an extra if I share the traps. Six sounds good for my purpose, but a case sounds better. LOL! I am a female. We love bargains!

 

[kwhites634]

Quote: I've never used a leg hold trap, so don't know, but, unless you dispatch whatever's caught on the spot, how do you move a hurt, live, wild animal safely without getting bit?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Good point.

Yes, I would get the tool. A few actually. I would hate to lose one or need an extra if I share the traps. Six sounds good for my purpose, but a case sounds better. LOL! I am a female. We love bargains!

I'm with you on that. I think I have 3 and am thinking about buying a dozen more.

On the point of human scent. I floated the length of the Buffalo river in Arkansas. In the more remote areas of the upper and middle river, one's slightest movement at night would scatter the raccoons. On the lower river where more people frequent, nothing you did phased the raccoons. We were in the tent and heard them. They got into some caramel popcorn in the canoe. I went out to chase them off and they just snarled at me and said, "screw you. We're not leaving till this is gone."

 

[BullChick]

I've never used a leg hold trap, so don't know, but, unless you dispatch whatever's caught on the spot, how do you move a hurt, live, wild animal safely without getting bit?

I was thinking of attaching a rope (or twine) to the stake to pull it up, and drag t away. That is what the voices said made sense right now.

I'm with you on that. I think I have 3 and am thinking about buying a dozen more.

On the point of human scent. I floated the length of the Buffalo river in Arkansas. In the more remote areas of the upper and middle river, one's slightest movement at night would scatter the raccoons. On the lower river where more people frequent, nothing you did phased the raccoons. We were in the tent and heard them. They got into some caramel popcorn in the canoe. I went out to chase them off and they just snarled at me and said, screw you.

Just how drunk were you?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've never used a leg hold trap, so don't know, but, unless you dispatch whatever's caught on the spot, how do you move a hurt, live, wild animal safely without getting bit?

Good point that I failed to elaborate on.
The best and fastest thing is to shoot it in the head as soon as you encounter it.
I don't like to shoot here because all of my black neighbors moved out here to get away from the city's gun violence. They freak out with gunshots.
I use the Dept. of Conservation's recommended method. I have a catch pole. I wheel a big trash can next to the animal, fill it with water, noose the vermin and hold it under water.
Then I build a fire on the open pit, grill the culprit and feed it back to the chickens.

You know what they say about paybacks.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I was thinking of attaching a rope (or twine) to the stake to pull it up, and drag t away. That is what the voices said made sense right now.

Just how drunk were you?

Another good point that needs elaboration. Don't use rope or twine. They'll chew through it. Don't think you'll be dragging a raccoon anywhere. They'll attack you.
Always use wire or chain to secure a trap to some immovable object.

Not drunk at all, it was after several hours of sleep. I had been out of beer for two days already.