Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[kcan2]

I am reluctant to put down poison. None that I know of are instantaneous and foxes, stoats, weasels rely on the rats for food.

I also hesitate with poison, especially outdoors. I don't know if you have ever tried baiting with peanut butter, but mice and shrews at least seem to really fall for it! Hope you find a way to get that creepy rat, despite it's eluding the logic of said plot owner.

 

[Perris]

I am reluctant to put down poison. None that I know of are instantaneous and foxes, stoats, weasels rely on the rats for food.

me too, for the same reason. And I've never succeeded catching one with a live trap.

At the moment we are experimenting with a live and let live approach, since they don't go in the coops and they don't mess with the broodies (who really go for them if they dare turn up near chicks), they do predate eggs laid in secret nests - but that has discouraged nesting in the borders, which I think is a good thing, and they provide food for predators such as foxes, who might otherwise have chicken on the menu. So far this year I think it's gone well.

This lot do not like the wind.

Nor this lot. We had a real gale 2 days/nights ago, so strong it brought down a branch about a foot diameter at the bottom of the lane and needed neighbours with chainsaws to allow cars through. The chickens spent the day huddled in the places with the most shelter, and went to bed early. Loads of debris to pick through on the ground the next morning though, so they had a great time yesterday

 

[L-plate chicken mum]

Mine don’t like the wind either & seek out the most sheltered areas. The current filthy wet weather has them staying in their covered run.

Tax: boredom buster = sweetcorn on a stick, doesn’t get muddy & provides entertainment for me & them. It swings about like a punchbag & slows them up a wee bit…

 

[Perris]

The June clutch are 14 weeks today and navigating their teens well. The two boys should settle any tax due (Erddig and Nefyn)

and then the girls are a bonus (Sully and Aberglasny)

And Cadoc is still hanging in there, gammy leg notwithstanding

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good morning one and all!

Tea is ready.

Temperature is in the 70s cloudy fog.

Have a great day!

 

[Canadian Wind]

me too, for the same reason. And I've never succeeded catching one with a live trap.

Set the trap up without arming it, and place the bait within. Let them get used to it sitting there and to learn that it isn't going to hurt them. Might take a while, rats are really smart and really weary of anything new in the environment.

One they are regularly taking the bait, arm the trap.

 

[SimpleJenn]

I've heard baking soda mixed with cornmeal or cake mix 50/50 will kill rats from gas buildup without being harmful to predators. I have not tried it so I don't know how well it works.

 

[no fly zone]

Stock up on essentials ppl- could be awhile til they sort this out

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us...strike-after-deal-deadline-passes-2024-10-01/

 

[Shadrach]

Set the trap up without arming it, and place the bait within. Let them get used to it sitting there and to learn that it isn't going to hurt them. Might take a while, rats are really smart and really weary of anything new in the environment.

One they are regularly taking the bait, arm the trap.

I did this with the bucket trap. I caught a couple of youngsters but not the mum.

 

[Shadrach]

I've heard baking soda mixed with cornmeal or cake mix 50/50 will kill rats from gas buildup without being harmful to predators. I have not tried it so I don't know how well it works.

I dont now how the local predators are going feel about their dinner going POP! when they sink their teeth into it.