Maine

[lazy gardener]

Evil creatures they are.

 

[Mc620]

trying my luck with more icelandic hatching eggs from David Grote hopefully good hatch rate love these birds

 

[buckabucka]

Good luck on your hatch, mc!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Tons of rat tunnels here, too.

So far nothing is working.

And I'm going insane.

 

[MainerChick]

I picked up a pouch of scented material at TSC called cabin fresh that's supposed to repel rodents. It's worked well so far in the mud room. Has anyone else tried this in a coop?

 

[buckabucka]

I don't know about cabin fresh, but someone told us peppermint oil is a repellent. We bought peppermint essential oil from the health food store, dipped Q-tips in it, and put the swabs down their holes and anywhere we found a tunnel. It seems to be working for us in the hoop coop, along with strategically placed rocks, hunks of hardware cloth, etc. We haven't seen any obvious rat evidence. It made the coop smell minty-fresh! Almost too minty at first. That stuff is pretty strong!

This morning there were no new tunnels in the run. Either they had been coming in by the door hinge that I blocked off, or they were taking a night off, perhaps browsing in the compost. The de-con I put in the coop entryway, where smaller rodents come in, was decimated overnight.

 

[buckabucka]

.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I also put out a covered bait station last night.

And today I released half the guineas!



They do not like the mud.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Got my latest sewing project done (blue jay wall hanging):





Bucka, next year I could make you a rat wall hanging for Xmas... just sayin'

 

[dowgirl71]

I don't think I mentioned in this thread that I have a persistently broody Silkie & decided to put some fertile eggs under her: 3 Silkie & 2 Polish. Hatch date is set for New Years. I'll keep you posted & of course pictures!