800 Acres

[shropshire mole 190]

Bryn, Can you get the farmer to chain harrow any of the fields before you start?

 

Makes it all much easier seeing where mr and mrs mole is currently working.

[Nicepix 5,650]

800 acres! I'd have a nose bleed

 

I started out on a 300 hectare farm with 6 traps. As you might imagine progress was somewhat slow But because I lived on the farm at the time I combined walking the dog with setting, checking and moving the traps so it worked out OK. Now I turn down any farm work. I've done a few small paddocks, but recently was asked to do 18 hectares as a job and it just isn't worth my while.

 

Three or four garden jobs a week does me fine. One full day and two half days is my working week. I recently got an enquiry from what my wife described as a 'Fruit loop' and so priced it to scare her off. She accepted the price without question and the next day I tried to put a guy off who lives 90 minutes away from where I live, quoting a stupidly high price and again got the gig.

 

Taking one mole out of a fruit loop's garden for €200 and sitting in the warm van listening to the CD for three hours while being paid to travel beats hauling a load of traps round the fields in my book

[mazperks 18]

Great till you get the phonecall in a day or two to say say the deceased's spouse is carrying on the good work.

Just as a matter of interest on an out of the area job like that would you blitz the place with traps then hang around for a while and pray for a quick outcome.

[Nicepix 5,650]

I put traps in on the Monday, check Wednesday and lift on Friday. If I think there are still moles to be caught I'll leave some traps in over the weekend or longer if necessary, but check less often. I have a one week guarantee so that once I've lifted the traps if they get any new activity in the next 7 days I'll go and re-do it FOC. In practice it rarely bites me on the 'arris as I over trap when I think it is necessary and also make sure there are traps in any runs that connect the garden to outside areas. Typically I'll get the residents on Wednesday and the neighbour's moles on Friday. In some gardens where they are prone to continual re-infestation I have an arrangement whereby they pay me a monthly fee and I call round twice or three times a month and sort any problems I find. I fit these calls around when I'm working in their area so I only offer it to those who live in or near one of the three main areas I do most of my jobs in.

Edited March 4, 2015 by Nicepix

[shropshire mole 190]

I dont shy away from farm work, but what I do is to charge per visit to set 25 traps, typically £60-£100 or double up as required. Price has to reflect distance and time.

So for me I am guaranteed a sensible income and the farmers now how much the job will cost. I try and get 2 or 3 farms close to each other and do at the same time

 

I started this way for farms after a couple of farmers said "how do I know that you dont just come alng with a bag of moles, and charge me"? Fair point! they do not know me yet

[bryn27 89]

Been a lovely day out and about today but that wind was sharp when a cloud blocked the sun out.

[Nicepix 5,650]

I dont shy away from farm work, but what I do is to charge per visit to set 25 traps, typically £60-£100 or double up as required. Price has to reflect distance and time.

So for me I am guaranteed a sensible income and the farmers now how much the job will cost. I try and get 2 or 3 farms close to each other and do at the same time

 

I started this way for farms after a couple of farmers said "how do I know that you dont just come alng with a bag of moles, and charge me"? Fair point! they do not know me yet

That's the trouble with a lot of farmers I used to know. They think everyone is out to screw them while they are busily screwing everyone they can. I know some that would follow you round just to make sure you didn't charge them for one more than you had caught.

[bryn27 89]

They are hungrier than their cows.

[iwm 71]

 

It's a difficult one muddy! It's like a snowball, more wom more work, more wom and before you know it your thinking this is killing me. It's a great situation to be in but.......!

 

Some on here know that I had some health issues which to be honest have left me with far less stamina, plus I ain't no spring chicken anymore. I now try to work smart concentrating on domestic stuff, there is ocean's of it out there, but as I'm sure Matt would tell you , you musnt be a one trick pony. Domestic one offs, like fleas, wasps, clusters etc seriously boost your annual income.

 

Matt would have told you that right up to the point where he became totally disillusioned with the pest control industry and decided to concentrate on moles

 

I do mainly farm work with a few garden jobs thrown in. A few years ago, it was the other way around; but I've got a system for the farms now and enjoy it too much to go back to general pest control...

 

Sure, I get cold, wet, muddy and knackered........ but.......... I love it.

 

Money? Well, I do OK, but probably work harder for less money than I did. One thing I've learned in the last few years is that there are more important things in life than money

 

Everyone has their own preferences, and I'd not condemn anyone for the choices they make

 

I've made my choices in life; some good, some bad. The decision to come back down here and do what I'm now doing was the right one for me, and my family; but it wouldn't be for everyone

 

 

 

I am just about to to leave the world of box checking and report writing and try to work more rabbits/moles/ insects .At 57 years old its time to do a little bit for me. I am about to buy a narrow boat and cruise the canals of Yorkshire (her indoors has just retired) with farms along the towpath i am sure i can pick up some work. I have purchased a quad, new purse and long nets over the last few months and with 2 new Harris hawks (ive had birds of prey for 25 years) i will try a little more bird work but if that does not work i just fly them for pleasure. As Matt says pest control has changed !!

iwm24.com

[perthshire keeper 1,239]

I dont shy away from farm work, but what I do is to charge per visit to set 25 traps, typically £60-£100 or double up as required. Price has to reflect distance and time.

So for me I am guaranteed a sensible income and the farmers now how much the job will cost. I try and get 2 or 3 farms close to each other and do at the same time

 

I started this way for farms after a couple of farmers said "how do I know that you dont just come alng with a bag of moles, and charge me"? Fair point! they do not know me yet

i had that once...now on every single farm and house i do i leave the moles with them if they dont want me to ile tell them why and ile offer to bury them or put them on the much heap...same with houses ile bag them ans bin them

 

most my work is word of mouth so if one farmer says i took 50 moles from his place and thex door gets charged for a lot..with the thinking of a farmer ect ect.i dont need it and this business is built on trust

my policy will always be the moles stay with the farmer

[bryn27 89]

I'm hanging all mine and he can keep a check on what's going up.

Off out now and with a bit luck I'll be on to the next wire, some wild weather on the way for up here later tomorrow and through Saturday.

Edited March 5, 2015 by bryn27

[earth-thrower 493]

Good thread this, enjoyed it,...lol