The gardening thread

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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 7:00 pm

Please do not turn this into another kak factory, unless its to discuss kak in the garden.

So......the one little bunny I've been fighting with for years now has a mate Sad

The one alone was a nightmare as far as how much he could eat. Now I'm terrified of them having babies. Any suggestions for stopping them from eating my veggies?

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7101 Location: Yes

Aside from gunfire?

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 18312

Supposedly, dousing your garden with Cayenne pepper will keep critters from eating it. Of course, I imagine you'd have to re-apply every time it rains.

Baiting Guru Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 11856 Location: UK

KD will be along shortly with a rabbit stew recipe Razz

I would go with an air rifle or similar and take them both out.

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 7:07 pm

How about getting a cat? Or perhaps a dog?

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 7:08 pm

Apparently sprinkling human hair around will keep them away, other then that get a cat then you will only have to worry about rabbit corpses.

Baiting Guru Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 11856 Location: UK

Something you could try, Google for wolves howling, download the sound files if you find some, and play it on your sterio in the garden

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 7:14 pm

shoot(best option) or snare them but also you can purchase a rabbit trap.once caught
you either neck them or release them some where else.

i really wouldnt bother putting any chicken wire up and around your garden
as they will dig under it.

another suggestion is a dog of the lurcher/whippet breed to catch them.

if you need any info/advice on the above PM me.it will be a pleasure

Wink

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 7:18 pm

@Lotta

What's the problem? A rabbit fits in perfectly with small potatos, carrots, onions, celery, etc.

Just that I'd take them all out of the garden and put them in a nice stew.

SP was right. A recipe. Anything that lives in a garden should be cooked. Even if it's a rabbit. No. Especially if it's a rabbit. Wink

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 7:29 pm

Rabbits are very much like making love to a beautiful woman...errr, I think I've got writer's block. Shocked

As remmy says,shoot the buggers. Then make a nice stew.

Baiting Guru Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 3549

We use fox urine here. It comes in granules. If you have two rabbits, you'd better HURRY!!!

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 7:49 pm

Too many critters that will eat a pet where I live and I don't really want another family member.

I've tried Dave's hot sauce sprayed on the plants. It doesn't bother the rabbit.

Urine and hair works for deer not rabbits.

I don't have the balls to kill them.....I just want them to stay away from my vegetables. Brush rabbits are an endangered species here, so I really just want them to go somewhere else.

@pachanga

Yea...that's why I'm at panic stage Shocked

Once they start breeding, I'm screwed Sad

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 18312

http://www.emmitsburg.net/gardens/articles/frederick/2002/rabbits.htm

They talk about the hot sauce, fencing, human hair. . . and vinegar. A bunch of different ideas.

Good Luck!

Baiting Guru Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 2300

Decon. You won't be killing it, Decon will. Very Happy

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 8:10 pm

rabbit trap is your best option then.

trap em and let them go.good turn for the wildlife.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

I have had good luck with fox urine. A shotgun works well also.

http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com/products.php?pid=453&openparent=205

Edit: Or you can try to get a fox to take a leak in a bottle, but I have had marginal results with that. Wink

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 8:17 pm

lotta,

http://www.bugspray.net/
or
http://www.bugspray.com/

Everything you ever wanted to know about critter-control. Clicky "R" for rabbit. Very Happy

EDIT>>> I just noticed at the top of the page on bugspray.com there is a string of oooooooooooo's Shocked

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 9:19 pm

Personally, I agree with most everyone else who posted...shoot the buggers! they're a great way to test out my newest bows Very Happy

Other than that, I've had some pretty good sucess with planting rosemary at strategic places in my garden. I've also heard sage, lavender, and oregano work, but haven't tried those. don't know why, but the rabbits will steer clear of pretty much anything around my little rosemary clumps. I do have to plant quite a bit though.
Then again I also have three dogs who keep my rabbit population down anyways...(and then as soon as they're finished chasing the rabbits out, they decide my precious strawberry patch looks like the perfect place to dig a hole. *sigh* stupid dogs.)

Baiting Guru Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 2300

I've heard that surrounding your garden with mothballs will work too. I've never tried it though.

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 9:33 pm

rabbit does go well with all herbs when cooked,so thats prob why they
avoid it at all costs in any garden.

rabbit that has been feeding on wild garlic isnt very nice to eat as the meat is severely tainted by the garlic(and i really love garlic when it comes to cooking)

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 9:37 pm

How about putting a dish of something out that they would like even more than the plants in your garden? Maybe something like pizza. Hell, if I had a choice between the pizza and the vegetables, it would be pizza every time.

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 9:43 pm

@Lotta

If you don't want to eat it, just catch it, name it Toby, take a few pictures, start up a website, and threaten to slaughter it if people don't send you donations.

I'm sure there are enough ***** **** out there who will send you money.

After you have collected lots of money, you can eat him anyway. Wink

Baiting Guru Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 3549

@ Stargate, I thought mothballs were just for snakes. Surprised

Lotta, really, the fox urine works.

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 10:33 pm

We had similar problem with chipmunks last year.. humane traps and relocating them a few miles away did the trick.

Alternatively, borrow a neighbor's dog?

Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 4:06 am

We have 4 cats and they do nothing for the bunnies.

We have one bunny that decided to live with us. Not a brush bunny though, just an Easter bunny that someone dumped. I had it neutered and its a fine pet now.

As far as traps go, I would suggest number 106 from these people.
http://www.livetrap.com/

I have one and it works great. I caught a raccoon in it and the critter was a little too strong for the trap. Took me hours to fix the damage.