Yep, exacto Renee. For better or worse rodents are part of the foodweb,
especially in cities. They're here partly to help clean up our waste.
Where there is food, there are rats. I've never had chooks and compost
without invariably attracting rodents.
Unfortunately relocating the chooks to the front area would take a lot of
extra work to fox-proof the area and rats would eventually then just go
there. There will never be an end to rats - when we clear one family out,
another will come along shortly after.
The trap will help in the short-term but it will require ongoing
maintenance. Cleaning up the rat poo regularly, keeping the coop as clean
as possible including wiping down benches with vinegar and locking the food
away as we have been doing will help reduce the risk of rat contamination
but it won't get rid of them.
The long-term approach is tricky but I agree with Renee, it's more about
mitigating germs and educating about species' roles and reducing our own
musophobia (unreasonable fear of them) than thinking we could ever
eradicate them.
On Mon, Jul 9, 2018 at 11:22 AM, Renee Wierzbicki and Matthew Pope <
treehorn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I agree, but the vermin are not limited to the chook area, and TPS has had
vermin problems even when we didn’t have chooks, everywhere does. ‘Possum
damage’ in gardens is often rats. I often see rats scurrying along the bike
path on St.Georges Rd pre dawn.
Since we’ve been at TPS I know that all the buildings at least have mice,
even the Babajen. Kids food scraps, poorly stored pantry items etc are a
great food source.
However, yes chooks do heighten the problem. The traps Megan recommends
are a good option. There are pro’s and cons with exterminators and baits,
and potential for poisoned vermin to be eaten by predatory local owls and
raptors.
I think there needs to be a school wide approach. We need to chat to Leon
and new AP about it.
I think rats and mice are a bit like spiders and bugs, a fact of life, and
not a bad thing for the kids to be taught about and aware of. Yes, lets
keep the numbers down, but total elimination is impossible.
Any other thoughts?
Renee
On 9 Jul 2018, at 10:54 am, Joanne <j_missen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I agree completely Carol.
On 8 Jul 2018, at 7:29 AM, Carol McConville <info@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
This seems like a serious issue with health issues etc.
Would it be out of the question to relocate chooks to water tank fenced
area in farm area temporarily and to call in professionals to eliminate the
rats?
I fear this situation will just get worse and more difficult to solve
(with possibly someone getting bit by a startled rat or possibly
detrimental to chooks health etc.)
Possibly just my primal fears of the critters but considering this is a
your kids environment it may be best to really knock this problem on the
head.
Thoughts?
Regards,
Carol
*From:* tpsenviro-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:
tpsenviro-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <tpsenviro-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>] *On
Behalf Of *Renee Wierzbicki and Matthew Pope
*Sent:* Sunday, 1 July 2018 3:30 PM
*To:* tpsenviro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [tpsenviro] Re: Chook - rat issue.
I agree.
On 1 Jul 2018, at 1:22 pm, Alicia Flynn <ms.aliciaflynn@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hey Megan,
Yep, I think go for it. If you have one to lend the school that would be
good, otherwise I could buy one tomorrow...
On Sun, Jul 1, 2018 at 11:25 AM, Megan Phillips <
meganjphillips@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi all,
Hope you’re all enjoying the weekend!
I wondered if we put an electric (battery operated) rat trap in the coop
over the holiday period? I have one that could be used. Or, one could be
purchased from Kogan or online for ongoing use as long as it was
strategically and safely placed as to not be a risk to any children. This
may be a no no as it hasn’t gone through Carol (OHS) so disregard if so,
but we will need to come up with some preventative measures and actions
anyhow once school starts back.
<image1.jpeg>
The amount of rat droppings is huge!!!
Not to mention the unseen rat urine all over the place that’s a health
risk. With us being unable to use the existing bait stations, it would be
better to have something than nothing.
A live rat was there to greet me when I went in on Wednesday!
Thoughts? Would just require someone to don gloves, switch off, slide rat
out and dispose of, add more rat attractant/peanut butter/other if
required.
Also, when the feeder is checked and topped up, please ensure there’s no
straw under the feeder plate that may cause it to stay open. Thank you.
Regards,
Megan
Sent from my iPhone
On 30 Jun 2018, at 9:08 pm, Ian Adams <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
If I do 4th-6th, and Renee can do 7th-8th?, we should be covered. I am
also going to try and do some fence-building while the kids take over the
school on Wednesday 4th if anyone wants to join me.
Thanks all!
Alicia Sat 30-Tue 3
Ian Wed 4-Fri 6
Renee Sat 7-Sun 8
Megan Mon 9-Tue 10
Jo Missen Wed 11-Fri 13
Mel Sat 14-Sun 15
--
iansnail@xxxxxxxxx
On 30 June 2018 6:54:32 pm AEST, melishious@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
Hey Renee,
I can do Sat/Sun 14th & 15th :)
Mel
Sent from my iPhone
On 29 Jun 2018, at 11:22 pm, Renee Wierzbicki and Matthew Pope <
treehorn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
OK here is the chook minding roster so far:
Alicia Sat 30-Tue 3
*Wed 4-Sun 8th STILL VACANT*
Megan Mon 9-Tue 10
Jo Missen Wed 11-Fri13
*Sat 14-Sun15 STILL VACANT*
Any more takers?
Cheers,
Renee
On 25 Jun 2018, at 11:14 am, Megan Phillips <meganjphillips@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Thank you, Renee.
We can do the 9th/10th.
Regards,
Megan
On 25 Jun 2018, at 10:40 am, Alicia Flynn <ms.aliciaflynn@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Great. Thanks Renee!
I've added Jo Kummrow here in case they can help out over the holidays...
We can do the first few days 30th-3rd :-)
On Sun, Jun 24, 2018 at 7:51 PM, Joanne <j_missen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I can do Wednesday-Friday of week 2 (11th-13th)
On 24 Jun 2018, at 4:51 PM, Renee Wierzbicki and Matthew Pope <treehorn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
over the holidays.
Hi all,
It’s time to put your hand up if you want to help out with chook minding
topping up their pellets in the feeder, scatter a handful of seed on the
It involves feeding the girls some fresh greens and veggie scraps,
ground, changing the water daily and taking any eggs home.
Give the plants and seedlings in the nursery and garden areas a drink ifthey need it.
The chooks do appreciate coming out of their enclosure for a scratch ifyou have the time.
number of days is ok. The kids generally love it.
Just send the the dates you’d prefer to do and I’ll sort it out. Any
first one went on a really hot day, and there was no water in the
As for the demise of the chickens I don’t think we should panic. The
enclosure. We’ve rectified that with regular adult checkers. The other two
are more of a mystery, but we’re now taking steps for parasite control,
which helps a lot. We will do some hygiene tasks in the chook area every
working bee. Education for the kids on what not to feed chickens will also
help.
can die from a vast range of causes. The average lifespan of an Isa Brown
In my experience with chickens they do have varied length of life, and
hen is 4 years. I’ve gone back through our chook notes and one of the girls
was more than 3 years old, and the others just on 3. They did have
parasites too. Whilst some chooks do have very long lives, most don’t. I
don’t think we should give up on chooks in this enclosure just yet, we just
have to work creatively on some solutions, and be mindful that chooks just
die sometimes, despite everything we do.
for a good book on chooks for the kids?
Perhaps as part of the new library book purchases for TPS we could ask
in Wurundjeri
Cheers,
Renee
**
TPS Enviro Team would like to acknowledge that we live, learn and work
Land and we pay our respects to First Nations people and Elders past,present and
futureto tpsenviro-
**
To subscribe or unsubscribe someone from this email list, send an email
moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.list, your email will
This is a discussion list, so when you reply to emails sent to this
go to all members of the list. If you just wish to reply to the personwho sent the
email, you will need to copy their address into the To: field and removethe
tpsenviro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx address.
**
TPS Enviro Team would like to acknowledge that we live, learn and work in
Wurundjeri
Land and we pay our respects to First Nations people and Elders past,
present and
future
**
To subscribe or unsubscribe someone from this email list, send an email to
tpsenviro-
moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.
This is a discussion list, so when you reply to emails sent to this list,
your email will
go to all members of the list. If you just wish to reply to the person who
sent the
email, you will need to copy their address into the To: field and remove
the
tpsenviro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx address.
--
*Alicia Flynn*
*Activism is my rent for living on this planet*
*- *Alice Walker
*I live, work and learn in Wurundjeri Country in the Kulin Nation*
*I pay my respect and gratitude to Elders and community past and ongoing*
*I acknowledge that these lands have never been ceded*
--
*Alicia Flynn*
*Activism is my rent for living on this planet*
*- *Alice Walker
*I live, work and learn in Wurundjeri Country in the Kulin Nation*
*I pay my respect and gratitude to Elders and community past and ongoing*
*I acknowledge that these lands have never been ceded*
