Toka 10 Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Another post Christmas outing was planned. After a week of gluttony I felt as if I needed some fresh air and a stretch of my muscles. I had spent a few hours at the turkey farm over the festive period, in order to help out and keep my permission safe, it also gave me some inside information as to what was happening to the sheds. Although some of the turkey sheds are completely emptied, some are left with a handful of birds in, pending any orders for the New Year. I thought one or two of these sheds may have contained a few rats, seeking warmth and easy food now that the cold snap had descended upon us. We met Degsy and Belle at the farm and decided to have a look in the top sheds before setting out to our main area of interest. These sheds had been completely emptied of birds and I wasn't expecting any rats to be about. The first shed, and scene of Bill's first large scale rat hunt, we entered was deserted of rats. Bilbo did mark for a few seconds at a point near to one of the walls but after a few seconds digging he lost interest. A sure sign that the rat had fled out of one of many bolt holes and headed usually towards the concrete manhole cover and safety. We moved on to the adjoining shed and had the same reaction, some interest at one hole of many that lined the insides of the shed, and after a minute or so of digging the interest was lost. Our last shed was the duck shed, a wet and smelly shed that had only ever produced one rat, even though there were just as many holes as the other sheds. The dogs reaction saw the same, although they split up after a few minutes and as Bilbo started to dig inside, Belle headed outside and started to dig opposite him the other side of the shed wall. Whilst this was going on we stood back to watch and see what happened. Within a few minutes I was about to suggest the rat had fled, as interest was diminishing rapidly, when Degsy shouted from behind me. Bilbo turned as well and from one of the holes along from the site of the digging emerged an adolescent rat. Bilbo flew at it as it tried to get to a nearby hole a few yards away. Driven by his frustration and pent up adrenaline Bill nailed it within a couple of yards. He dispatched this one with one savage bite and no shaking. He released it after a little bit of persuasion and we moved on. We headed over to the collapsed shed, which is our usual start point. Although both dogs headed off, full of determination and eager anticipation, after a few minutes of scenting around they were looking at us as if to say 'where are they now?'. It wasn't until we entered the first big shed that both dogs started to mark under a stack of zinc sheeting. We both lifted this mass of metal as best we could to allow the dogs entry underneath, not quick enough though for both dogs headed towards the end still on the ground with a fury and emerged frantically trying to find whatever had escaped. As Bilbo explored the general area a rat ran out from under some discarded sheeting and along the wall of the building, vanishing from behind an old cupboard unit. Biblo raced after it at a shout from me but was too far away to stand a chance. Belle had headed outside again, checking the ground along this same side. We walked outside and along towards the main mound that was riddled with holes. As we arrived, whilst the dogs were having a look and a scent around we decided to try the smoker. Rather than give the rats a 'heads up' with a lot of noise and digging, we decided a quiet approach may mean the rats were more willing to make a run for it. We started the smoker and stepped back, after a couple of minutes there was smoke coming out of most of the holes but no sign of ratty. The dogs both started to mark holes that had no smoke near to them but it was Degsy, stood at the top of the mound keeping dixie who spotted the first rat. Just a head emerging from a hole before withdrawing back into the mound. I decided to move the smoker around a bit, as there is a lot of masonry and old ironwork buried under the soil here digging is not an easy option. Sure enough after moving the smoker to a second hole, Degsy gave a second call as a large, possibly pregnant rat emerged from a hole near to the bottom of the mound. It headed straight to the nearby shed and inside through one of the many holes in its side. After having a look inside, and seeing that it was a shed that had been partitioned off inside along the middle that housed a large feeder in the bay nearest us, we decided to see if we could encourage any out from inside. We headed in, and as Degsy descended from out on top with Belle, I heard a shout and a warning that another large rat was heading inside. I could see where Degsy was aiming for but didn't see any other sign of movement. We both got to the spot at the same time, me on the inside and Degsy on the outside. I could see that there was a double skin and as Bilbo arrived I pulled the skins apart slightly, there inside still facing Degsy was a large rat. Without further encouragement Bilbo shot in as I opened up the gap a bit more and nailed it from behind. It still got a bite in as he pulled it out of the space to give himself room to shake it, but within seconds it was dead. Degsy and Belle had come inside by then and both dogs had moved on to mark under the large feed container within. After a few seconds of whining and scrabbling at the side three large rats exited from underneath, they all shot in different directions, the dogs realising there was movement set off after them and managed to get one between them. The other two managed to find the sanctuary of two small holes in opposite corners of the space. We spent the next few minutes, while the dogs marked again, blocking or covering most of the exits we could. Again after a few minutes another couple of rats ran and both of these were caught and dispatched. We started to gather more of the wood and piling sawdust up into holes to try to allow the dogs a better chance. This went on for about fifteen minutes, each time a few rats fled the dogs would get one or two, or more dependant on the help we gave, but they were still finding holes and escaping. Some were heading through into the next bay, so we decided to call it a day when the dogs started to show little interest in the feeder. After our little rout 17 rats had been accounted for and adrenaline was running high, not only in the dogs! Both dogs scented the next bay and at one hole next to the outer skin Bilbo started to mark excitedly. We started to dig and after a few yards his interest was still growing. The tunnel seemed to follow the base of the wall up to the rear corner, Belle was busy checking the other holes as we moved along, she was showing a definite interest. After about 4 yards of digging both dogs joined to scent some of the new diggings and as they did all hell broke lose from the rear corner. Rats were flying out of a small hole in the corner of the shed. The dogs were onto them and both accounted for one each, I managed to catch one, but once again there were too many escape routes. I could see a rats head at the opening of the hole, and headed over using my stick to persuade it to return to its tunnels. Once we had regrouped we carried on digging. Many of the escapees had returned to the first stall, so once we had finished we were already planning a return to the feeder. Another two were encouraged out the the waiting dogs before we headed back to the feeder. This produced two more rats, using our sticks to shake underneath. One managed to get away through the outer skin of the shed and the other, smaller one was caught by both dogs. Twenty two accounted for in what felt like as many minutes. We moved back outside to see if any others were about. The dogs scented and marked well at a couple of locations and eventually chased a large rat under a pallet of stacked slate. With the help of Degsy's stick it was rooted out from underneath and straight into the waiting jaws of both the dogs. We thought we had done our best and were stood chatting next to a storage shed when Bilbo came and started to scent at an alkathene pipe on the ground. Degsy lifted his end and Bilbo waited patiently at the other, with a smart tap on it the rat fled, straight into Bilbo mouth. Having dispatched this rat Bilbo continued to look around and found two ne'er do well rats approaching, one wielding a club, the other with a rather large and rusty nail, needless to say he took them both in his stride, although cautiously, however he did appear to pick up a nasty skin laceration from one or other. I got Bilbo home and, after a call to the vets, we patched him up as best we could until I could get him to the vets the following morning. By then the decision was to leave it as it was as it had started to heal and was nice and clean. A great post-Christmas outing and a very happy farmer! Quote Link to post
joey87 0 Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Excellent stuff mate love abit of ratting when i was a kid where about did you go joey Quote Link to post
Big bald beautiful 1,231 Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Nice right up , just hope the vet didnt rip you off. Quote Link to post
Toka 10 Posted December 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 hi..local to me Ormskirk!! no he didn't just the cost of the consultation and antibiotcs, so not too bad - might get myself a small stapler and some antibiotics for any future occasions... will put a post up in a bit about the vet and a discussion re docking....very interesting!! ATB for 2010 Quote Link to post
Big bald beautiful 1,231 Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 I always have antibiotics in the house, without sounding funny (not like me i know)but i wouldnt have seen a vet with a cut like that, but you did the right thing and for the sake of 30 quids the dogs ok. Quote Link to post
joey87 0 Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 hi..local to me Ormskirk!! no he didn't just the cost of the consultation and antibiotcs, so not too bad - might get myself a small stapler and some antibiotics for any future occasions... will put a post up in a bit about the vet and a discussion re docking....very interesting!! ATB for 2010 ahh am on ye on am only in kirkby keep up the good work joey87 Quote Link to post
goldfinch2007 2,332 Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 another good post pal,nice one. Quote Link to post
lost scouse 46 Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 another fun filled morning that rat that ran free only to run back into the shed 5 minutes later only to get grabbed by the dogs still puzzles me .Anyway thanks for the invite when bilbo,s back fighting fit giz a shout are you still thinking about a walk with the rifles tomorrow Degsy Quote Link to post
just jack 998 Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 nice write up CMW it is with that one i'm sure spelling Quote Link to post
Toka 10 Posted December 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 (edited) yup...cheers Degsy, will txt you tomorrow am!! ta yes i think so, but it will be months before CMW publish!! Edited December 30, 2009 by Toka Quote Link to post
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