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Damn rabbits!!
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Author:  mitch [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Damn rabbits!!
A few weeks ago all of my fruit trees that I only just planted, about ten or so, were completely stripped of their bark by rabbits. We have masses of them here in Jandakot, WA, and I can't seem to get rid of them. :bad:

Does anyone know of any ways of killing them off, or deterring them?

I've got a young dog only about two years old, which has helped a little, but not enough. I've also put up fences around each plant, which has also helped, but they just climb over or dig under them. And when you have 20 or 30 trees its very costly and time consuming to be replacing and fixing individual fences and things all the time. :(

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Author:  earthbound [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
Ouch...! Wascally Wabbits... They are good to eat, but you're not allowed traps no a days. I read somewhere that pepper or chilli stopped them because they hate the smell, might be worth a try.
Author:  chillidude [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
Mitch, I've got some really hot chilli sauce that would work if you diluted in some vege oil !

Really, really hot :hot:

It won't harm the plants.
Author:  mitch [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 11:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
Hmm that could work. I imagine it would also deter the rabbits. Damn I should have tried some of that on my grapes!! I've got some 'Devils Tears' at home which is absurdly hot, a drop in anything and it renders the meal barely edible.
Author:  Granny Smith [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
Mitch, can you see where the burrows are? If you put some dog poo at the entrance it is supposed to stop them using that particular entrance. Problem is that you have to make sure you find all entrances for a particular colony or they'll just use the one/s you've missed.

Maybe you could put dog poo around each tree? :thumb:
Author:  dufflight [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
Trap and roast.
Author:  earthbound [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
Hmmm, don't know if there are any rules and regulations against making and setting your own traps. So long as you don't have a cat or your chooks don't get in there. Rabbit does taste good...
Author:  Faye [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
Bandicoots are more likely to get caught in a trap around here, and they are too precious to kill.
Author:  earthbound [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
Yeah, need to perhaps make a trap that will just catch it in a box or cage, if it;s a bandicoot let it go, if it's a rabbit or cat, get rid of it... Ooops, did I say that aloud.
Author:  dufflight [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
Faye wrote:
Bandicoots are more likely to get caught in a trap around here, and they are too precious to kill.


Are Bandicoots good eating. :hello:

But just a trap that lets them in but not out. I put a sparrow cage in the back yard today but will let them go if they get the wrong bird. Had a baby bird running around the AP system. Not sure what kind, but the adults that kept flying around me were about 4 times larger than a sparrow. The baby went running into the shed.
Author:  earthbound [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
dufflight wrote:
Faye wrote:
Bandicoots are more likely to get caught in a trap around here, and they are too precious to kill.


Are Bandicoots good eating. :hello:




Aint that the perfect smiley for that.... :lol:
Author:  Simo [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
Here is a cat trap I built out of junk I had around the shed. Caught a cat first two times I used, I use sardines as bait.

Trigger plate is an old shovel blade on a hinge, when depressed it slides back a "T" piece that is holding the door up and it locks using an old gate latch. No harm is done to any trapped aminal providing you religously check the trap every morning, other wise dehydration can be a killer.
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Author:  Simo [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
More detail, basic design, not pretty but effective, old shopping trolley cages can be made it cat traps easily too.
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I've been trying to catch rabbits in it since we ran out of cats but as yet I haven't found anything attractive enough to lure them into the trap. Any ideas?
Author:  BatonRouge Bill [ Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
Those rabbits are having an identity crisis :confused: Must think they are beavers :D I never seen a rabbit eat tree bark.
Their noses are sensitive. Ground hot chili powder or cayenne pepper will burn their noses, eyes etc. but also dogs, cats deer...Main ingredient in deer repellant. Sprinkle around fence row as a barrier border. Only last until first rain. May be able to mix ground hot pepper with cooking oil to put on tree trunks may last longer.
Author:  mitch [ Sat Jan 30, 2010 9:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Damn rabbits!!
Hmm. Very good ideas everyone. Haha now I'm getting excited.

Simo - Dad made a snake trap a while back and I've been meaning to alter it so that I can use it on the rabbits and cats. I was actually looking at putting a press plate on it. :) So your pictures have been incredibly helpful. Thank you!!

I tried some young aquaponic silverbeet a while back in the trap but the rabbits weren't interested. :( Does anyone know of a rabbit attractant. I imagine it would have to have an odour, to attract them in. Not sure.

I have been dropping my rose prunings around the bases of my roses which has stopped the rabbits from pestering them a little. :)

And no I definitely wouldn't want to kill any bandicoots. We have two or three families that live on our property. I often find them in the dogs dinner bowl eating left-overs. They even share the chicken scraps and are actually really good friends with the chickens and ducks. One family that we often fed dog biscuits to actually ate straight from your hand. :) But unfortunately wild cats got them. :(
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