A day in the life...

[malmomike77]

^ it can be a problem if its a pregnant female

[Mendip]

A single rat cannot breed…

You don't have to be married to reproduce.

Anyway, before I left home today I noticed that there are now two rat holes in the ground in the chicken run. If I still had my polecat jill she would have the rat out in an instant but sadly she died in Somerset around 1986.

I've promised the gardener a bonus if he catches the rat while I'm away... preferably humanely but by any means necessary if needs be. We need rid of it.

I'm not sure what his bonus will be... maybe a free meal... of rat!

[Mendip]

The rat still evades capture apparently.

Since moving down from the roof it is now living in a rat 'warren' comprising just two holes... a front door...



And a back door... (or vice versa, of course).



I think the gardener is persevering with the box trap which is now located on the ground, and trying different Isaan delicacies as bait. Mind, if the gardener considers something unfit for human consumption I'm not at all sure the rat will go for it.

I suggested he sticks a hose down one hole, turns on the tap and waits at the other hole with a big stick. I've passed the non-lethal stage of rat control.

[bsnub]

Since moving down from the roof it is now living in a rat 'warren' comprising just two holes... a front door...

It is going to breed then. Soon you will be invested.

[Ravers98]

It is going to breed then. Soon you will be invested.

Hi bsnub, did you mean infested?

[DrWilly]

The rat still evades capture apparently.

Since moving down from the roof it is now living in a rat 'warren' comprising just two holes... a front door...



And a back door... (or vice versa, of course).



I think the gardener is persevering with the box trap which is now located on the ground, and trying different Isaan delicacies as bait. Mind, if the gardener considers something unfit for human consumption I'm not at all sure the rat will go for it.

I suggested he sticks a hose down one hole, turns on the tap and waits at the other hole with a big stick. I've passed the non-lethal stage of rat control.

finally!

























murderer

[Reg Dingle]

The rat still evades capture apparently.

That Factotum is breeding them. It's like a lot of steak and kidney pies to them

[happynz]

Too much home made wine...erp...'scuse me...

[Loy Toy]

Yesterday spent a day stick welding and it was the first time I have attempted this for over 35 years.

Not beautiful by engineer's standards but not bad.

[Mendip]

That Factotum is breeding them. It's like a lot of steak and kidney pies to them

Imagine getting infested by steak and kidney pies... the stuff dreams are made of!


Anyway, I exchanged a few messages with the wife today and the rat is still at large but the gardener has a cunning plan... where's Baldrick when you need him?

I have to leave this in their capable hands for a few weeks but the words 'piss up' and 'brewery' keep coming into my head. I reckon I'll have to sort it when I get home.

[Shutree]

where's Baldrick when you need him?

Do you have a way to isolate the rat area from the dogs? Maybe that would give the snakes a chance to get to the rat(s). When all the rats are gone, the dogs can go after the snakes. Win-win.

[Mendip]

The rat lives in the chicken run so she is completely isolated from the dogs... unless she ventures out for an excursion around the garden. I guess that's what happened to the rat the dogs killed last week.

This rat seems to be clever and avoids the trap, and we provide everything she needs in the chicken run with abundant food, water and shelter.

We used to get occasional snakes in the chicken run but the dogs seem to prevent them from coming these days. This is a shame as I enjoy having snakes around the place. I am sure that one visiting rat snake would solve this problem immediately.

To be honest I'm not over concerned if/when she does breed because the chickens will kill any baby rats who venture out of the hole, and the dogs will kill any inexperienced juvenile rats as soon as they venture into the garden. It's this wily old mama rat who I want rid of.

[malmomike77]

The rat lives in the chicken run so she is completely isolated from the dogs... unless she ventures out for an excursion around the garden

you've sexed it?

[OhOh]

I exchanged a few messages with the wife today

Do you have to check the dead letter box, daily?

[Mendip]

^^ It seems to be quite scheming and clever Mike... I just made an assumption. She also seems to be a homemaker.


^ OhOh, this boat has good wifi throughout so the Line messages I receive are unavoidable...

It's nice to keep in touch!