The Old Folks Home

[bruceha2000]

Lol age doesn’t matter I’ve seen them crap out weeks out of the box, others keep going for ten years.
Have you tried looking into the lens while it takes a pic? Sometimes the aperture fails on the camera..does it take daytime pics?

I turn it off during the day, all I was getting was the darn sparrows. I've been pulling the card in the morning, checking it (for no reason the last 3 times) and putting it back at night. I'm wondering if there is something funky with the battery box. I put the card in tonight and turned it on, nothing. I popped out the battery box, rolled the batteries around some and put it back in. The display lit up and the countdown started. Of course that is the same thing it did last night. I'll see if anything happens in the morning.

I hadn't set the trap last night nor tossed any BOSS in the box with the trap, figured to give them a day between having danger in the box. The first rat I got I only had a tail sticking out of the box. The second one the rat and trap were not even in the box anymore. Must have been quite a kick since the trap was on the rat's neck so it must have been instant death. But even with the trap and rat flying out of the box there was no video.

I recognized that gulp immediately. It's the result of wanting/needing something that's worth the money, but dang, it's pricey.

Yeah but you WILL wear them because they are comfortable. You said yourself that you have a harder time finding sandals than shoes. You deserve to have happy feet!

She works at the H.S.N. (Home Shopping Network) outlet.

Isn't that an oxymoron? Isn't HSN the thing where you park your butt in your Barcalounger and buy stuff off the TV that you really don't need "but WAIT there's more, if you buy NOW you also get"?? You have to get off your butt, into your car and drive to an outlet, TOTALLY inconvenient and in opposition to the HSN way of life!

Anybody got any ideas?

I like the idea of screwing in a square of sheet metal of some nature. Aluminum flashing would be suitable.

Grab a can of that foam insulation, and fill the hole. When dry, it's hard, and does tend to stop them.

I don't know about the mice but my silly hens eat foam if they can get to it.

Dh got himself a tool cabinet. I'm not happy with him exactly, because of the cost, but he really did need one, so I can't be too upset with him.

Bet it cost more than your sandals and he can't even wear it to walk around!

 

[perchie.girl]

Just found out from a friend that I wont be able to move in my house as soon as I wanted. The house has been Vandelized. Three years worth of weather has come in doors and windows. And she says the furniture has been taken.

I wont know for sure till I can get up there and assess the damage. But she said there is extensive damage to the floors... I didnt have much furniture in the first place Only things are a couple of oak book cases and a leather uppolstered recliner that is made of oak. And a dining table that I finished myself.

I hope they left the Kitchen Stove and the Water heater and the Potbelly stove, and the washer and dryer. Dont care about the rest of the furniture.

Along with assessing the damage I hope to cover the broken windows with plywood. But also measure the windows for replacements.

Grading the driveway just jumped to the bottom of the list. As well as the chicken coop.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

I will take pix and share they will help me in the assessment. This house technically doesnt exist therefore I cant insure it.

deb

 

[microchick]

I was using steel wool pushed into the holes, @ronott1. They just pushed it back out...determined little critters.

Even more disturbing is that they have stopped eating the One Bite bait I have in the bait holder.I moved the bait holder outside and set it where I've seen mice before. If I don't see it being worked in the morning, I'll try relocating it in the coop but that is such a pain as I have to put it somewhere in a chicken proof box. I have made them from chicken wire in the past without problems and may have to go that route again.

But I'm definitely going to have to change bait though.

 

[microchick]

@perchie.girl there is no way I can bring myself to hit the 'like' button on that news. I'm so sorry. I don't understand how such evil can exist in the world.

Don't let this get you down. It's just a set back and set backs are always temporary.

Will your insurance cover the damage and loss?

 

[bruceha2000]

Rats and mice tend to run the walls rather than through the center of a space so try putting the bait/traps right up against the wall. And with traps it is best to have them in a "tunnel" of some sort (box or something tall on the side) so they can't snag the bait from the side.

I will take pix and share they will help me in the assessment. This house technically doesnt exist therefore I cant insure it.

How can it not exist? If it doesn't I guess you have no property taxes??

 

[blackandtan]

I was using steel wool pushed into the holes, @ronott1. They just pushed it back out...determined little critters.

Even more disturbing is that they have stopped eating the One Bite bait I have in the bait holder.I moved the bait holder outside and set it where I've seen mice before. If I don't see it being worked in the morning, I'll try relocating it in the coop but that is such a pain as I have to put it somewhere in a chicken proof box. I have made them from chicken wire in the past without problems and may have to go that route again.

But I'm definitely going to have to change bait though.

I had good luck with a foil pie plate of chicken feed soaked in full strength antifreeze, just make sure ONLY rats can get at it

 

[perchie.girl]

@perchie.girl there is no way I can bring myself to hit the 'like' button on that news. I'm so sorry. I don't understand how such evil can exist in the world.

Don't let this get you down. It's just a set back and set backs are always temporary.

Will your insurance cover the damage and loss?

Insurance is not possible for this house. It started out life as a mobile home and they built a larger house around it. No permits or documentation.

Best I can do is get renters insurance Which only covers your personal belongings. I will get this once I get moved in.

I am sad and angry but not down. I am turning all the negatives into positives. Trying not to visualize worse case scenario.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Rats and mice tend to run the walls rather than through the center of a space so try putting the bait/traps right up against the wall. And with traps it is best to have them in a "tunnel" of some sort (box or something tall on the side) so they can't snag the bait from the side.


How can it not exist? If it doesn't I guess you have no property taxes??

I have property taxes but they only cover bare land. They took a permit to drill the well and establish electricity. but from then on they just built. The utilities run underground to the house and you cannot see the house from the road or the Well house.

Lots of buildings in the desert started out this way. But only ones that actually look like a mobile home with a stick built add on get nailed by the code inforcer. Also people in dispute over something get a bit nasty and turn the other in to the code inforcer.

The house is built to code in all appearances.

18.5 acres of land with only a well and electrical drop runs me 1500 dollars a year +-

Any improvements I do will be to code just not done with permits. Even long established companies like San Diego Electric will do work this way. After the emergency measures the first on my list is To have the electric run through on the house and brought up to code.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Rats and mice tend to run the walls rather than through the center of a space so try putting the bait/traps right up against the wall. And with traps it is best to have them in a "tunnel" of some sort (box or something tall on the side) so they can't snag the bait from the side.

Rats are more intelligent than mice. Believe me I know. The last house I had had rats in the walls and the ceiling. I Built bait boxes out of 5 Gallon buckets with lids. Drilled holes only a rat could get into baited them and hung them at a height the dogs couldnt get into.

I could see the trails of their travel on the walls of the patio I placed bait containers in that Travel path. I lived with Decomp in the ceiling and walls for about six months. Not a good experience but I cleared the house of rats and mice this way.

Placing steel wool in a hole that you thing rodents are getting will only deter mice. If you find the steel wool pulled out you have a rat. The only way to prevent entrance in this case is using Wire mesh or sheet steel stapled in place.

I know I am going to have that battle again with the house. After the cats were moved on the Rats moved in.

deb