Buying first tractor - storing outdoors -Critter Concerns

bsamartini · Jan 23, 2016

I have a small hobby farm and I desperately need something to pull around trailers, put in a rolling dock etc. Nothing huge but something that fits the utilitarian category.

I have a beater vehicle down there, but in the last few months it has been infested with field mice. They have nested in the glove box, chewed a big hole in one seat and removed a baseball sized hunk of foam from another seat etc. (they even crapped and urinated all-over the dryer sheets I put in there to try to keep them out.) My wife thinks it smells nasty, and I'm afraid they are going to destroy the wiring, thus it is time to get rid of it.

To maintain the property, I have already purchased a commercial mower 62" ZT and own a decent garden tractor (simplicity) as a backup for my mower. The problem is I can ether store them outside, or in an old beat up garage which provides only some cover/shelter. Every year my equipment has been overrun by mice, they build nests, chew wires and cause damage to anything made of foam etc. Year after year.

Thus I do not want to buy anything "nice". I want something that was designed to be left outdoors, something that would provide the little critters limited places to nest etc. And to be honest is easy to fix if they did chew wires etc. My zero-turn mower has a very complicated wiring harness with various relays for lights, electric pto, starters etc. Very expensive mouse food.

I am looking for a tractor, that can fit the needs above, and maybe even used to push some snow.

What do I look for?? Farm-all, Ford 8N, Small Alice Chalmers etc. ?

kevin37b · Jan 23, 2016

You need some hungry cats !

GManBart · Jan 23, 2016

Welcome to TBN!

Even the old tractors have wires that will get chewed up. Critters are hard to deter, but many folks have put shipping containers on similar properties to protect the equipment from the elements, critters, and theft. For something like $2500 you can get a nice 20' container that you can always sell later if you develop the property.

Greenland South · Jan 23, 2016

kevin37b said:
You need some hungry cats !

I second that motion.

gwdixon · Jan 23, 2016

Rodent poison works wonders. Buy the kind that has a hole in the center and wire it on with bailing wire. That way it doesn't drop off where you don't want it. They will eat the poison long before the wires.

Put a couple bars in the engine compartment and another under the dash board where it can easily be accessed.

The mice / rats usually go to their burrows or nests to die so farm animals are not so exposed to the poison. Plus, the varmints ingest so little that a larger animal, like a dog, is unaffected.

Tractor Supply has a couple of brands.

4570Man · Jan 23, 2016

I highly recommend storing the equipment in the garage. The sun is the biggest enemy of your equipment ( besides maybe mice ). The sun damages the tires ( which are very expensive on a tractor ), it ruins the hydraulic hoses, it fades the paint, the seat will be ruined in no time, it damages the electronics, and any plastic parts will be ruined in no time.

motownbrowne · Jan 23, 2016

bsamartini said:
I have a small hobby farm and I desperately need something to pull around trailers, put in a rolling dock etc. Nothing huge but something that fits the utilitarian category.

I have a beater vehicle down there, but in the last few months it has been infested with field mice. They have nested in the glove box, chewed a big hole in one seat and removed a baseball sized hunk of foam from another seat etc. (they even crapped and urinated all-over the dryer sheets I put in there to try to keep them out.) My wife thinks it smells nasty, and I'm afraid they are going to destroy the wiring, thus it is time to get rid of it.

To maintain the property, I have already purchased a commercial mower 62" ZT and own a decent garden tractor (simplicity) as a backup for my mower. The problem is I can ether store them outside, or in an old beat up garage which provides only some cover/shelter. Every year my equipment has been overrun by mice, they build nests, chew wires and cause damage to anything made of foam etc. Year after year.

Thus I do not want to buy anything "nice". I want something that was designed to be left outdoors, something that would provide the little critters limited places to nest etc. And to be honest is easy to fix if they did chew wires etc. My zero-turn mower has a very complicated wiring harness with various relays for lights, electric pto, starters etc. Very expensive mouse food.

I am looking for a tractor, that can fit the needs above, and maybe even used to push some snow.

What do I look for?? Farm-all, Ford 8N, Small Alice Chalmers etc. ?

8Ns and Farmalls (pre 3 point hitch) aren't good for much, but for what you describe, they'd actually be fine. At least you can see all of the wires and there's a lot tha fewer of them than on a modern machine. And you can buy one cheap.

In fact... If you're looking for a cheap utilitarian tractor, I have 2 8Ns for sale. PM me if you're interested. I'm just across from Minneapolis, so we might be in range to work something out.

Good luck with your search and with your rodents. Have you tried poison?

jenkinsph · Jan 23, 2016

gwdixon said:
Rodent poison works wonders. Buy the kind that has a hole in the center and wire it on with bailing wire. That way it doesn't drop off where you don't want it. They will eat the poison long before the wires.

Put a couple bars in the engine compartment and another under the dash board where it can easily be accessed.

The mice / rats usually go to their burrows or nests to die so farm animals are not so exposed to the poison. Plus, the varmints ingest so little that a larger animal, like a dog, is unaffected.

Tractor Supply has a couple of brands.

I agree with Dixon^^^^

I would get rid of the mice first. If this isn't dealt with it could become a heavy infestation.

bsamartini · Jan 24, 2016

Thanks everyone, the mice thing is a big concern. but I also agree about its better to shade from sun. I have spent plenty on tires for my existing stuff, I get the point. Tractor tires are spendy. SO everything will go undercover from now on.

I have used some poison, but there are neighbor animals etc. I am concerned with. Thus I opted for the big plastic lockable bait boxes. The kind you put 6 of the bar type baits in in and lock it shut. Strange enough something in the yard will empty the bait containers clean.. and move them around. (I'll find them 20 plus feet away). raccoons, squirrels maybe? The only way I have been successful to get mice to eat them is to leave them in-between stud bays in the garage instead of outside along the foundation.

Mice aside. Lets talk tractor. I need something that can drive fairly precisely. (backing trailers near the house, maneuvering between trees etc.) Would an 8n or a FarmallM be capable? Or what about an Alice? What model etc?

The only old tractor I have used is an old 52 JD "B". And it took a while to master any sort of precision. (pretty jerky at times- but fun as ****

..

Also another question is after you buy a one to two thousand dollar tractor, how much does it cost to ship it 100-130 miles? This is important as I do not have a very good tow rig. I can tow boats and small trailers but a tractor would be a bit much.

Thanks