rabbits

red · Post: # 39352Post **red** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 2:53 pm

there is evidence of rabbits (i.e rabbit poo) in our fields, and this is where the first of the veggie patches are intended. is there anything we can do to stop them eating our veg? (other than shotgun vigil)

bazil · Post: # 39358Post **bazil** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 3:26 pm

ive heard that cats prey on rabbits ,maybe a moggy would help

the.fee.fairy · Fri Nov 03, 2006 4:05 pm

Medium to large size terrier should do it.

Mine's a manchester terrier - he looks like a small doberman and enjoys getting rabbits. So far, because he's a puppy, he hasn't managed to catch one.

Apparently, they kill by flicking the rabbit into the air (or rat) and breaking their necks. The rabbit can then be skinned and gutted and eaten if you wish. They don't break the skin or chew on them, just flick them up, break their necks and bring them back to master/mistress.

I must learn how to preserve rabbit skin ready for when Finlay gets big enough to go hunting them...

Milims · Post: # 39397Post **Milims** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:29 pm

Not sure how eco friendly it is - but my mate the pest control officer says that if you soak rags in creosote and tie them along the bottom of your fence they wont come into your garden.

PurpleDragon · Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:35 pm

Never tried this either, but apparently it works. If you/partner are carnivourous, then pee along the edges of the fields. They can smell the meat in your pee, and they think it is a predator marking its territory.

Problem with this is, of course, you have to keep doing it, particuarly in wet weather

Shirley · Post: # 39416Post **Shirley** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:40 pm

I reckon that is one job that would definitely be easier for the men!!!!!

Wombat · Post: # 39418Post **Wombat** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:53 pm

What about an electric fence set down at rabbit height?

Nev

colhut · Post: # 39423Post **colhut** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 10:01 pm

I am NOT peeing round the edge of the field unless the electric fence is off !

Wombat · Post: # 39424Post **Wombat** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 10:03 pm

Wassamatta youawimporsomethin'?

Nev

red · Post: # 39432Post **red** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 11:53 pm

I saw my parent's dog pee on the electric fence once... that was funny. well, perhaps not for the dog....

The terrier idea is good.... the dog mentioned above was an excellent ratter - dispatched them with a quick shake... very quick indeed, but dont think I could leave a dog out in the field all the time....

have a cat, he catches all the time, but mostly mice and voles - although he did bring a magpie in once..

might try the other ideas,

HILLDREAMER90 · Sat Nov 04, 2006 1:41 am

Cats & dogs r good, pee makes no difference in winter if they are hungry enuff,a rabbit netting fence dug 12 inch deep works well, but costs & in deep snow the little b***ers climb over the top! A.

Clarabel · Post: # 39453Post **Clarabel** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 7:36 am

There is a big problem with them on our allotment; one of the old boys has a cat who lives on site (not specifically for the rabbits, she was a house cat who didn't like living indoors and he didn't like her going out on the roads so she moved to the allotment and loves it!) and a couple of them go after them I think too.

But tbh it makes not a lot of difference, they decimated our runners beans this year. A lot of the plot holders have really hardcore fencing and netting over anything they like to eat. My mum told me planting garlic around the veggies will help cos they don't like it and the smell makes them think everything is garlic. Haven't tried it and my mum has never grown veggies so it could be an erroneous old wives tail.

If anyone has any other helpful suggestions I'm all ears too!

Clare

Stonehead · Post: # 39457Post **Stonehead** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:05 am

We eat them, so much so that we've gone from scores three years ago to three or four at the moment.

I use Fenn traps (Rabbit Mk1), free-running snares, an air rifle, or catch them with my hands (yes, really).

If using traps and snares, you must use legal traps, you must know what you're doing, check them frequently and set them out in such a way as not to catch other animals.

Other than those methods, can you find a ferreter? Ferreting is very effective when done properly and can be used even in more built up areas (unlike traps and shooting).

There are also humane traps but most people who use these are a downright nuisance as they dump carloads of rabbits, moles, foxes etc out in the countryside.

Stonehead · Post: # 39458Post **Stonehead** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:06 am

Oh, and the pigs occasionally catch a rabbit when it gets cornered in their pen!

the.fee.fairy · Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:37 am

i never realised pigs would catch rabbits.

i suppose any animal would catch something that came into their territory though.