Barn Doors

[RanchMan]

<font color=blue>Probably kidding myself to think this may help deter critters</font color=blue>

That actually brings up another question - what do you guys use to deter "critter trespassing" in your barns? I've heard about the benefits of mothballs on a couple of other threads ("Snakes", "Bad Stuff"). Is this what you use? Do you have other recommendations?

 

[cowboydoc]

Oh they will either eat the rubber away, literally, and crawl right in or they will dig under it. I constantly battle them. I haven't even had my new barn built a year yet and it's already got rats and praire dogs trying to make a home. It's a constant battle for sure. I use alot of poison and traps.

 

[rdln]

/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

But seriously, I am sure your house is pretty tight but mice still get in.

there are certain techniques used by self storage building builders that keep mice out...no dont know what they are, but I dont remember hearing anyone's stored stuff being damaged by critters.

Hey nice pictures at Pbase site. Are you creating a game ranch?

 

[Wingnut]

Barn Cats!

 

[RanchMan]

Wingnut -
I actually like the cat idea. Actually, I like cats (I'm not afraid to say that - I'm secure in my "manhood" /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif) Unfortunately, with the number of Kioti's out there (er, I mean coyotes /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif), I don't think they'd last long. I have a feeling instead of keeping the wildlife away, I might just supplement their food supply!

rdln-
I like the shotgun approach (REALLY, I do!! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif) As far as the property, no not a game ranch, just a place for me to "get away from it all." I do intend on hunting it, just haven't really had the chance yet (too much "work" to do on it first). I have about 2.25 miles of barbed wire fence to put up, a barn to build, a road to make, several miles of road to fix, a field to plow, some brush to clear, a tank to build, etc.... Heck, it may be years before I get to harvest a critter for the dinner table!!!

 

[Wingnut]

RanchMan .... I have a live-and-let-live agreement with the barn cats. I feed them to keep them around ... but that's as far as it goes .... no trying to tame them or make friends or whatnot.
Since they're technically feraL ... they get along just fine ... might make lunch for a coyote ... but unlikely ... they're wild and therefore pretty careful out there.
I put feed out (small amount) morning and night when I feed the horses ... and they're there ... or not ... but usually there.
I lost 7 last year (kittens) when somebody poisoned them (all died within a few hours ... but the original and 2 of her offspring are still here after 3 years.
I can attest to no mice, rats or other unwanted vermin.

Now ... if someone would give me a (surefire) solution for blasted moles, I would be willing the relax my "live-ad-let-live" stance .... I've sustained an unbelieveable amount of lawn damage in the past year.