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First dug to rat...


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Well proud as punch today with Biblo...we went down the turkey farm for a look, not expecting much as the rain was lashing down. it eased off slightly as we arrived but was still miserable. anyway saw some new pigs on the farm and did introduced Bilbo to them, as well as the chickens and ducks again as he hasnt seen many recently [even had an introduction to a harris hawk that was tethered out later on-he obeyed my 'NO' and cowered some 3 feet infront of it, trying to work out what it was. his/our first meeting with one, and an unexpected meeting at that. once i had removed my heart from my mouth we carried on] anyway got a large rabbit with the shotgun out on the fields, but it got really interesting when we got back.

 

Bilbo had chased a rat through some old buildings as we headed out, i decided to put the shottie away and get my spade and gloves. we had awalk along the back of the chicken shed, plenty of old holes there. Bilbo marked one in particular and we were away. he was racing from one hole to another, sniffing , whining and digging. after about 5 minutes of this i began to wonder if we were on, as he started to run along the length of the shed. i though maybe a false mark? but then he started in ernest again. me digging and him scrabbling away. suddenly unexpected as i took a spadefull away the rat, a young one, shot out and ran over the top. Bilbo nailed it stright away, but in shaking it he let go and it sailed into the shed wall, stunned and aready in a bad way. Bilbo had to find it again and as he did i got my camera out. i managed to get the last bit of the action.

 

anyway i was proud as punch, he then went on to find a small rat home in a mound of earth and started to dig there but there were plenty of runs and i though i could hear rats running through the grass to get away. tiem to get a small smoker or a few other dogs to help out. it looks as if some of the rats are moving back to the buildings after being in the fields all summer.

 

here are some pics...

 

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and a bit of video....

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Some more pics from toady's outingpost-26598-1252259429.jpgpost-26598-1252259443.jpg, same palce but concentrated on the mound and there were loads under the concrete surround of the drain. Need to get a smoker soon, not sure if there is a water hose that would reach post-26598-1252259522.jpg

a good couple of hours, missed loads though mainly due to too many bolt holes that we couldn't cover between the 2 of us, and also a few that got to the fence wire before Bilbo could get to them, made up aswell that i could trust him with the free range hens about as well!!post-26598-1252259609.jpg

 

poor video!!!

Edited by Toka
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As the cover dies back your'll see the runs and holes better and it'll give the young un a better chance to catch,you could try some netting or small chicken wire to act like stop nets so giving the dog a better chance.He does look keen on them holes and he'll just get keener the more you do with him.

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cheers Fireman...yup i hope that i can get a petrol engine off eeebbaaaayyyy in the next few days, then i will stop a few of the holes with soil and use it to flush out to him, if no smoker i wil try to get farmer to link up a hose and use water. i think there will be loads under the concrete!!

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I wouldn't use dirt to block some holes up i use some long grass to plug them loosly so the rats can still push it out and bolt and the movement of the grass catches the dogs eye so giving them that extra second to get there,i use a cut down strimmer as a smoker and you can buy them very cheep even brand new ones aren't that dear compared to things like the rat attack smoker and mines so light the kids have been able to use it before now.

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Yeah...that him...some more articles about to go in!!

 

Thanks for the comments....hadn't thought of the grass, will try that for sure!

 

ATB

[/quote

was going to ask the same question.

looks like the pup s doing you proud keep us updated and all the best for the season

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