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Barefoot Andrew
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Piggyphile
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dpack
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
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 Posted: Fri Nov 22, 13 4:58 pm Post subject: |
 
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ps 3 chooks using a weaner gos as a digger put paid to a few nests
i will try to find the photos ,it was funny to watch as the chooks located a brood chamber,then steered piggy to the nest to do the hard work in exchange for some of the snacks.pinks are delicious apparently.a few hens will catch a half size rat but most run away (both rats and chooks)
i believe barrel drop traps are effective as the squeaking attracts more but then one must dispatch a barrel of rats in an ethical way which might be rather unpleasant to do.single beast live catch is a waste of time and far less ethical than mangled in a fenn
ps beware fenn traps ,unless one is always careful they hurt rather a lot
i dont care for poisons unless things are too extreme to have qualms about methods .
a very good tidy up and nest destruction is probably the best way to reduce numbers cos a homeless colony is usually mostly dead quite quickly
think like a predator ,study ones foe,shoot or trap in high traffic places(create these for convenience) and follow em home for "visits"
if they are established tracking them along scent marked trails is fairly easy even for a human
ps a pitchfork is a silly weapon but a spade works edge or flat if you can wield it moderately well
baler twine or similar on the trouser cuffs helps peace of mind on ratweek duty
GOOD HYGINE IS ESSENTIAL cos they do have quite a biological challenge such as leptospirosis ,all the enterobacteria,fleas,wiels etc etc as well as the risks from the biological challenge of rats nests,digging in muck etc |
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Jam Lady
Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2571
Location: New Jersey, USA
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Fri Nov 22, 13 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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jrt ,yorkies and similar will catch rats ,some are good at it ,most mutts dont like em but that can be useful for finding em,i teach mine to point rats but none have wanted to get stuck in with the messy business of dispatch
i really like rats and have had a rn that lived about my person as a chum(shaking stuff from ones shirt discretely gets easier) and a rr that i raised from a pink on my person until i returned it to the wild (attics are us)at about 6 months
vermin control and sport should not mix imho even though the successful hunt is satisfying and many hands n teeth make light work and doing a job well can be quite jolly,the necessity of the job should be the motive rather than the thrill of the chase .i present no danger to any rat that isnt causing a problem such as eating my shed or shedding fleas in the yard or annoying the livestock or being an economic threat or being a health hazard.
respect for ones prey is good and even vermin deserve a kind death
a good trap,or clean shot are kind
a similar terminal ballistic energy is needed for a rat as for a bunny even though they are different sizes, rats are a lot tougher .
the target area is a similar size ,head for bunny ,forequarters for rat ,a just non fac air weapon is ideal for sniping them,use soft flatish or domed heavy pellets for maximum energy exchange and minimum bounces if you miss,think backstop ,they do have a way of moving at the slightest reason such as the slight noise of a trigger sear or of clothing moving as you adjust aim .even if they cant see you they have ace smell and hearing,to snipe at long range reduces this problem so a target airgun is fairly suited to the job.a good short pcp and night sight can also do the job,silencers are good as a second rat is a possible and a plurp wont provoke a run like a bang .spotting ratty and aiming is not as good as aiming and awaiting ratty so bait a good killing zone .
therefore can you hit and mangle a wine bottle cork in the position and lighting you expect your rats to be in?shooting them is tricky but will get a few ,traps never sleep they just doze off a bit when full of dinner |
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leggy
Joined: 16 Jan 2009
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Tavascarow
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
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DorsetScott
Joined: 23 Oct 2011
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Location: Bournemouth
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