Ratting!!

[Nell 1]

I have began a little project of mine, where I am going to write a short story of any decent day's out I have from now on, be it ferreting, ratting, digging, or just a good day's mooching about! I am doing this mainly for the fact that I think it will be a laugh in years to come to read through them and remember them all! If I can get any pictures also that would be a bonus as we don't often take a camera with us, so the main thing will be the story. Plus I also hope to let my son read through them when he is a little older.

 

Here is the first one of an ratting trip we took on Tuesday, see what you all think

 

 

Ratting at the Pig Farm

 

It was the week before Christmas, when Colin and I decided to take the long trip to the pig farm where we have ratting permission, we decided to invite Brendan, a keen young lad I have been letting accompany me on my various outdoor pursuits. I had chosen to take “Meg†my red fell type bitch, “Penny†her Black and Tan daughter, and “Judy†my lakey type bitch, this would only be “Penny’s†3rd time ratting. Colin brought his russell bitch “Tiny†and his black and tan bitch “Rubyâ€, Finally with Brendan’s patterdale pup “Nip†on her first ever ratting outing, our pack was complete!

We arrived at the farm some 30 minutes later than planned due to the horrendous driving conditions en route, we called at the farmer’s house with his annual Christmas bottle of whisky before we began and he was really happy to see us! He explained how he had caught 30 rats only a week ago by just moving some hay stacks in the fields, this left me thinking that maybe we weren’t going to have the good day that we first anticipated!

We headed off, knowing from our previous visits to this farm that there would still be plenty to go at, this type of ratting is different to most we do due to the fact that there is a lot of walking involved, the rats take refuge under sheets of old pig pens lying around, with only a few holes to be found, but these are very few and far between. A ratter’s dream, as when the rats are disturbed they have a lot of ground to cover before finding somewhere else to hide, meaning that very few are missed! We simply walk from one pig pen to another lifting all the hay bales, boards and sheets that lie around them, the only downside is that with there being hundreds of pig pens, we clock up a lot of mileage!

It wasn’t long before the dogs started marking under an old board, we lifted it to find 2 big rats sat in a nest, in a split second they both bolted in opposite directions, “Penny†grabbed the first and “Tiny†the second. Now these rats take some killing, I can tell you! They are not your average back yard rat! With as much pig feed as they want at their disposal, they grow to some size and they don’t ever want to go without a fight! A few more boards soon had our total into double figures.

2 hours later and our total now at 28, we stopped to have a chat with farmer who was out in the field feeding the pigs and marvel at just how big some of these rats can grow, it really has to be seen to be believed! After the short break we continued and our total tally grew to 39, all of which were accounted for without the need for a smoker!! Brendan’s pup “Nipâ€, at 7 months old was also starting to get in on the action and she had grabbed 3 but not quite mastered the art of killing them yet and had to be assisted by one of the others, although in her credit she didn’t ever let go of these bigger than usual vermin, even though there were 2 of them weren’t far from being the same size as her!

We moved on to the farrowing pens which are divided by electric fencing to keep the sows in but allows the piglets to roam free, for this part of the farm a stock steady terrier is a must! This is where the smoker comes into play as the rats get under the metal water troughs which are full of water and these weigh a tonne! The action here slowed down a little, we were accounting for a few here and there but not as many as the mad frenzy we had previously witnessed. My bitch “Meg†got a little too close the electric fence and as a result was not up for much more, but after accounting for nearly half of the rats in the bag and also getting her fair share back from the huge rats, I didn’t hesitate to take here back to the car for an early shower!

When I met back up with Colin and Brendan, they had had a little bit of luck and even the pup managed to kill her first rat by herself, a half grown one, but her first kill all the same. The tally was now at 44, due to the action slowing down the dogs were beginning to feel the bites which they had taken, so we agreed to call it a day after we tried what seemed to be a small 5 holes in the middle of the field with runs like motorways running all around it, we weren’t at all prepared for what was going to happen! The smoker was started and it took an age for the fumes to start bellowing out of the other holes, this was definitely a deep one. Eventually a rat appeared and was accounted for by “Pennyâ€, then the party started! Rats began bolting in all directions, the dogs were run ragged, we also had our hands full stopping them with spades, feet and whatever else we could use! The perfect location of the holes ensured all that bolted were caught and if the dogs couldn’t feel the bites on their muzzles before, they surely could now!

After gathering up the rats from wherever they had managed to get to before being snapped up, we counted 18, this took our grand total to 62, which we were over the moon about, especially after our earlier concerns. We could have carried on and got a hell of a lot more as we had only done half of the farm, but due to the time of day and the fact that the dogs were now quite sore, we arranged a return trip after Christmas, that should sort the rest of them out, but we shall have to wait and see!

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Now That's Interesting! Only, Nell: Pul Eeeease Carry A Camera! (And a Stanley tape too!) Stuff like this Needs pictures. Nothing to do with any idiot demanding proof that 'You Were There', or to satiate a lust for seeing dead things. No. This is for Science!

 

There's a Thread going on, on a Pest Control forum, right now. The guys are waving their bigguns at each other ~ ye know; It's a 'Man Thing' ~ and, frankly, I'm yet to be impressed.

 

Now, I've read of 'Huge' rats being caught at a - would ye believe it? - Growth Hormone Feed Factory! (I shit ye not! That stuff they pump into cattle has to be made somewhere. This was The where!) But, again No pictures.

 

Now you're working a Pig Farm where they get, ' All they can eat.' of, presumably, 'enhanced' (?) feed? Great! I'm personally involved on a Farm From Hell job right now. This is a Beef Cattle place. It's my guess that he's chucking a bit of Beef Up the Beef down those too? And. to date, the bloody rats are helping themselves to far more than they need! Look!

 

 

Who Needs To Eat Poison?!

 

 

But that's been part of an initial 'Forlorn Hope' campaign. I've done it to demonstrate to the guy the futillity of my laying Bait when his exposed sacks of Beefer Beefer are packing the rats anyway. I'm winning the struggle - he's getting some Bins Then I can get at his rats and - as a former City Boy, I'm just gagging to see what these " Farm Feed fed " buggers are Really all about!

 

And, see? You've spoiled a great oppertunity here You obviously know ye rats. Your Pig Farm ones, ye reckon, are Brutes? Believe me; Most urban rats - despite what city people say - are actually less than the text book average. My own, Bog Rats? Just about the same. I want to see a FED rat!

 

 

Go on, Nell! Get back out there, with tape and digi', and add the " Oomph! " and " OMFG!!! " to a great story!

[Nell 1]

:11:

 

Well DC on our next visit to the "Pig Farm" the camera I will definately be taking, some of the scenes out there I now wish I had a photo of, especially when the 7 month old pup on her first outing got stuck in on a good size rat with one of the other dogs and then tried to carry it away with her, the rat was the size of a 3/4 grown rabbit and to see the little bitch struggling trying to carry something that was as big as her was a funny old sight!!

 

We also do a bit of ratting for a keeper where the rats are also of a good size, but the rats at the "Pig Farm" take some beating

 

I will keep you posted!!

Edited December 21, 2006 by Nell

[Wilky 0]

Well done Nell, that's a well written account of a cracking days work, keep it up mate.

[mussells 0]

EXELLENT READ WELL DONE MATE.

[dobby 1]

nice read yeah an take a camera oh and if its for your young un explain what a smoker is

 

all the best

 

dobby

[snoopdog 1,256]

that was a good read mate but pics tell astory as well ..try and get some on your next venture...