toka_shigazu Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 What an afternoon...what I thought would be a long walk to exercise Bilbo to ease my guilt at putting him in kennels for 4 days as of tomorrow ended up in a mad couple of hours at the farm. We had a long walk down the fields but nothing presented itself. By the time we had got back to the yard the farm hands were well on their way, clearing an area behind the duck pen. They shouted over about rats they had seen so I put the gun away and walked around with Bilbo, stick, shovel and gloves. As we neared the area Bilbo flew over to the side of a nearby chicken shed. He was marking an area under the side, so I started to dig. He was moving along the side and as I was part way through a spade full I saw a large rat run out from under the shed a few yards away and re enter at the corner. I got Bilbo over there and he started to mark again straight away. I found a small hole in the end that allowed access to my stick. I pushed it in and gave it a wiggle, it produced no action so I left it there. I started to dig where Bilbo was showing interest and after a couple of digs I realised the stick was shaking, apparently of its own accord. As I looked down at ground level I could see a rat wedged between the base, wood frame and my stick. I knew it was a large one as its tail was a good thickness. I managed to hook its tail out with a stick and took hold of it, removing my stick gave me the space needed to tease this rat out between the wood and soil. It came away angry and snapping. I threw it towards Bilbo who was waiting at the side. He struck as it landed, it managed to get a nip in at the corner of his mouth but no sooner had it done this than Bilbo shook it forcibly. Although perhaps not badly damaged by this it was quite obviously stunned. Bilbo grabbed it further up its torso and crushed it a couple of times. That was lights out and the first rat. The duck pen was our next port of call, nothing in there interested Bilbo but there were plenty of holes and rat runs throughout. Perhaps once the weather really closes in thye may return in numbers. It was then over to my firm favourite, the manhole and chicken shed. Bilbo gave it a once over but nothing seemed to grab his attention. That was until we got to the far side, Bilbo started to try to get under the shed. I was aware that some rats made a home under and in the floor of the chicken shed, but in all my time with Bilbo he had never really taken an interest inside so I had never pushed it. On top of the fact that the free range hens are particularly flighty and a month ago I would not have risked such a confrontation. Today though I felt the time was right to see how he would go. I let us in through the gate and. keeping Bilbo on the lead, I let him scent around the inside of the shed near to where he had marked on the outside. Within seconds he started to dig, he had paid the hens no notice so I let him off the lead. I started to help with the digging. There was a veritable maze beneath our feet, Bilbo seemed to go one way, then the other, picking up scent from most of the tunnels we uncovered. Some tunels were only a couple of inches deep, in the sawdust but others were under the thick layer of sawdust and droppings, about another 6-8 inches under the soil. Within 15 minutes we had a snaking path through the shed but no rats. I was starting to wonder if there were any about when one popped out of a hole a few yards away and ran out through a small opening in the shed wall. I carried on digging and within a few minutes we found ourselves only some 18 inches from the end of the shed. Suddenly a rat rushed out towards Bilbo, who grabbed it and shook it, he threw it about and chased after it. As this happened another rat flew out of a hole and disappeared through another hole in the wall. Taking a hint I used chunks of the floor we had dug up to block further escapee's. I am glad I did as no sooner had I taken another spade full away than two small rats flew out, Bilbo grabbed the first, shook it and with it still in his mouth caught the second. On shaking them both they flew from his grip, the first one dead but the second still alive. It lasted no more than a few seconds. My spade, left where it was was blocking a chamber, I could see tails and bodies behind it and as I lifted it slowly another shot out towards Bilbo. I managed to get my camera out for this but the action meant I wasn't able to concentrate on filming. As Bilbo finished that rat I tried to get him to the hole, he took his cue and within a second had pulled another out of the hole. From that stage it was bedlam, my camera was away now, just in time as Bilbo went after two others that popped out of a nearby hole two more were trying to make their escape while he was occupied. Not wanting to let Bilbo down, and having my gloves on I decided to help out. I grabbed the first rat and threw myself at the second, blocking its way and changing its course. This allowed me a second grab and both were caught. Bilbo had sorted the other two and I let one of mine go, followed by the other. Both were dispatched quickly and efficiently. Bilbo had started the session concentrating on 'his' rat alone. Reluctant to hand it over or consider looking for anything else. It was great to see now that, aware of all the rats coming out, he was not spending too long on any one. He was happy to bite and shake and move on to the next one. It was only if the action calmed down that he would return to one of the many strewn bodies to pick it up and get possessive. A few more digs and a larger rat, together with two smaller ones exploded from the ground. Bilbo caught the first, while I went after the second and biggest. It managed to scale the wooden upright and squeeze through the corrugated tin wall, minus a small piece of tail left in my glove. The third sought sanctuary under a hen that was sat down watching the melee. Bilbo approached the hen and as he did it stood, the rat losing its protective barrier fled and Bilbo took it, leaving the hen to catch up to its friends. This was the last rat we found, Bilbo, although still scenting was not marking any other possible rats. The far end of the shed had all the chickens in, I decided to leave it for the day in the hopes that the other end would produce some more of the same another day. We did leave and try to look for the three that got away. Bilbo was not marking outside at any point I thought likely. He was interested in the area of the shed that the rat had climbed out of. As he was on his toes scenting I looked up and saw the tail and side of an old scaly tail wedged under the tin roof. Again using my stick and gloves I managed to prize it out and give it to Bilbo for him to despatch. I managed to get the bodies together at the end and was greeted by a happy farmer to say the least. I was on top of the world. Bilbo took to multiple rats better than I could have hoped, I think he was bitten a couple of times but was not swollen and was still rearing to go. I can't wait till the holiday is over and we can get back to work!! Here are some of the pics and video.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hezbear Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 I never tire of reading your posts, i said before Bilbo is doing you proud mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonySmith Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 Great read...thanks....Bilbo, what a star. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 Great read and nice videos to boot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 Tip Top mate....Nice write up and a good result for the mutt.... :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toka_shigazu Posted October 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 cheers for the replies...at only 10 months i think he's doing well..we'll see what the next 10 months brings??!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robalex Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 Good write up and photos; Great wee dog. Well done Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 Nice ratting story, thats a good little worker you have there. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celtic invader Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 Fantastic job. Never tire of watching a good ratter. Word of warning (which I am sure you are fully aware of but others may not be) never put a dog to rats unless it has been fully inoculated against Weil's disease. This is a killer of dogs and will only take a few days to take effect. I know this by bitter experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toka_shigazu Posted October 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Yup...fully inocc'd up...and always wear golves yourself as it can be even more harmful to humans!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSA-airgunner Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 well done BILBO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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