I‘ve been meaning to start writing new blog posts about my recent visit to Norfolk. Most of the images have been processed and I would like to get my thoughts in order before I forget the details. Having been side-tracked by the rare great grey shrike the other week, I found myself distracted by a family of wood mice only a few days later.
We used to have a problem with rats. Now I have the greatest respect for them and it would be lovely to have a pair living on our land, but that’s the problem with rats. They start as a pair and then rapidly breed until the numbers become frightening. When our rescued chickens used to live in the huge runs next to the field shelter, they had constant access to food and corn was scattered on the ground to keep them occupied. That meant rats moved in and were almost impossible to remove, in spite of our best efforts. We both hated doing what was necessary. I would have been much happier if we could have fed them something that simply stopped them from breeding, but large companies don’t seem to feel the same way and there are few options.
By the time we were down to just the two remaining chickens, we took the decision to move them into an Eglu (safe outdoor house and run) in the garden. Sadly Daisy only lasted a couple of weeks, but Violet remains happy out there as our garden pet. With the food and treats now safely behind mesh, the rats left of their own accord. It seems that all the “work” they did burrowing around our shed didn’t go unnoticed and a family of wood mice have moved into the tunnels under the old ferret run.
I took these photographs last weekend.
sidilbradipo1
21 Oct 2018Rats are a big problem but wood mice are super-adorable 😍
Photo is gorgeous!
Have a wonderful evening 😀
Sid
Zooey
22 Oct 2018The mice are adorable, but now they want peanuts every evening for their dinner. They are going to get fat! 😀
sidilbradipo1
22 Oct 2018Nice and fat 😍
Good peanuts, yummy and easy to find: a paradise 😂
Ciao
Sid
Zooey
23 Oct 2018😀 But they are wild animals. They are supposed to hunt for their food. At least the peanuts will help them through the winter…
sidilbradipo1
23 Oct 2018Sir Baldrick and his family of two hedgehogs
sidilbradipo1
23 Oct 2018… are in my little garden during spring and summer, eating cats treats for the winter season 😁
They are wild but I feed them like the other stray cats every night!
Ciao
Sid
Zooey
24 Oct 2018Oh, that’s wonderful Sid. We are too remote to have any stray cats, but I do love feeding the wildlife. The only thing is you get attached to them. I haven’t seen our tame robin for several months and I really miss how he followed me round the garden. Look after them while they are around 🙂
sidilbradipo1
24 Oct 2018My hedgehogs are precious because I live in a big city, not in the countryside! And this big city is really very dangerous for them!
And I am too anxious if I do not see them during the night ad they come out to feed themselves.
Have a wonderful Thursday 💕
Sid
Zooey
25 Oct 2018You are doing a wonderful job. We have almost every type of wildlife in our garden, but not hedgehogs. (That’s because of the badgers). I haven’t seen a hedgehog for a very long time 🙁
sidilbradipo1
25 Oct 2018What a pity! Hedgehogs are so cute 😀
Ciao
Sid