Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[James Miller]

Was some scrounging at the end of the drive way last night. Big oak at the end of the driveway is starting to drop big branches. Needs to come down but it' way out of my league and has a slight lean towards the road.

 

[svk]

The thing that sucks about the modern Dcon is they have weakened the active chemicals in it to the point that the mice can haul it all around for quite some time before it kills them. Every cardboard box has some in it now. Back in the day they’d eat a bit and keel over.

 

[MustangMike]

I find the mice are on cycles up at the cabin. I think when the weasel makes the rounds, they disappear.

 

[svk]

I’ve also seen that they usually like to move indoors as the weather cools. A guy really needs to be vigilant in the fall and into winter. Then there aren’t many around unless they ride something in like firewood or camping gear.

Several years ago we got home from camping and put the bins in the basement. The next day I go downstairs and all three of my cats are surrounding a bin, staring intently at at. Sure enough there was a mouse in there too, he jumped in while the bin was opened up at the campsite.

 

[turnkey4099]

The thing that sucks about the modern Dcon is they have weakened the active chemicals in it to the point that the mice can haul it all around for quite some time before it kills them. Every cardboard box has some in it now. Back in the day they’d eat a bit and keel over.

Yep. Back when I went to he basement and saw one of my dcon bait stations with 4 dead mice ringed aorund it. Recently I had a mouse in the kitchen set up a bait station. Checked it the other day and not a shred of bait in it...also no sign (odor) of dead mice. I think dcon is selling mouse food now.

 

[LondonNeil]

It's wavarine isn't it? The blood thinner. Most rat/mouse poison is I think. I believe it works by thinning the blood such that the mouse can't control it's temperature (it can't vaso constrict, it can't stop the blood flowing to extremities and cooling it), the result is it cools and dies of hypothermia. Trouble is, or at least I've read, some mice have learnt to manage this by not eating too much and by sitting somewhere warm like a central heating pipe. Little gits.

 

[JustJeff]

Warfarin. Helps to have water nearby. If a rat/mouse eats some and doesn’t die, they build a bit of an immunity. My owl decimated the rat population here but he’s gone now. I need an outdoors cat. My chihuahua/jack russel cross used to kill mice but now she’s fat and lazy....like her owner!

 

[MustangMike]

Dropped numerous trees that were either leaners, or were too close to the house, or both, including Soft Maple, Hard Maple, Cherry + Birch. Made lots of firewood, and had a good helper!

Just used the MMWS 261 and MOFO 360. Unfortunately, the 360 rocked the chain while trying to stump one of them, but I think I was able to fix it, will see next time it cuts!

 

[Marine5068]

No cutting for a week or two yet.

Here’s some pics from the last couple of days.

I bought the new fireplace cover in December of 2015. Finally got it installed last night. It was just a matter of two brackets and two bolts but took a long time to get it right. The fiberglass insulation they provided may or may not seal as good as I would like but I can use high temp RTV around the back if needed.
View attachment 650788

Charlie (who will turn 17 in a couple of weeks) enjoys watching the chipmunks. I have two chipmunks that will eat from my hand, this one is the one that is so tame you can actually pet him.
View attachment 650789

“Love is in the air” or actually the water. The pike have been spawning in the two shallow bays in front of me. The big girl that takes up the whole length of the picture is about 12 lbs, her two suitors are much smaller.
View attachment 650787

Cool spawning Pike pics.
Our cats do the same. Sit along the window trying to get at the chippies.

 

[svk]

Re: warfarin. Yes that’s still what they use but most of the pellets at a much weaker strength now, assuming they must have faced a lawsuit or something. Dcon brand has gone totally to those bait blocks which they also provide a silly plastic holder which is too small to allow access to the larger species of mice. To me that defeats the purpose anyhow as you want the mouse to haul the pellets back to his storage spaces (which his buddies will then eat) rather than sit there and chew just enough to fill his stomach. Also those blocks seem susceptible to moisture and lose their appeal after they absorb moisture and change color from a bright green to a pale yellow/green.

I’ve been experimenting with the other brands. The one brand, I think Tomcat makes pellets that are bright green like the old Dcon. The other brand has larger pellets that are lighter in color and the mice just seem to haul that around the garage and stockpile it in dark areas like my boxes of stored stuff.

The good thing is I’ve completely sealed their azzes out for now so just need to exterminate the ones left inside. That is until they chew their way back in again

The other problem is one of my tame chipmunks has set up his home under the pole barn slab and his hole is right next to the rear man door. So I need to keep doors closed at all times so he doesn’t go inside and help himself to the mouse poison! On days when I’m in and out a lot, I’ll throw dried corn/birdseed all over the side lawn so it takes him half the day to scrounge it all up and keeps him out of my way. Lol

 

[Cody]

Re: warfarin. Yes that’s still what they use but most of the pellets at a much weaker strength now, assuming they must have faced a lawsuit or something. Dcon brand has gone totally to those bait blocks which they also provide a silly plastic holder which is too small to allow access to the larger species of mice. To me that defeats the purpose anyhow as you want the mouse to haul the pellets back to his storage spaces (which his buddies will then eat) rather than sit there and chew just enough to fill his stomach. Also those blocks seem susceptible to moisture and lose their appeal after they absorb moisture and change color from a bright green to a pale yellow/green.

I’ve been experimenting with the other brands. The one brand, I think Tomcat makes pellets that are bright green like the old Dcon. The other brand has larger pellets that are lighter in color and the mice just seem to haul that around the garage and stockpile it in dark areas like my boxes of stored stuff.

The good thing is I’ve completely sealed their azzes out for now so just need to exterminate the ones left inside. That is until they chew their way back in again

The other problem is one of my tame chipmunks has set up his home under the pole barn slab and his hole is right next to the rear man door. So I need to keep doors closed at all times so he doesn’t go inside and help himself to the mouse poison! On days when I’m in and out a lot, I’ll throw dried corn/birdseed all over the side lawn so it takes him half the day to scrounge it all up and keeps him out of my way. Lol

I haven't looked in to the cost of this, as the cats we have seem to do just fine outside. I do however need to find a solution as a few get into our basement at times.



Nevermind that, just looked into the cost...

 

[James Miller]

Ok folks it's time to buy an 80cc class saw. Was helping my cousin that iv been taking wood to for the past year split the mulberry and pin oak from my last scrounged today. We got to talking saws and I mentioned I was planing on picking up a 461 or 7900 this year and he said if I could get it for under $700 he would pay for the saw.

Let' hear your opinion on positives and negatives of both.

 

[nighthunter]

Ok folks it's time to buy an 80cc class saw. Was helping my cousin that iv been taking wood to for the past year split the mulberry and pin oak from my last scrounged today. We got to talking saws and I mentioned I was planing on picking up a 461 or 7900 this year and he said if I could get it for under $700 he would pay for the saw.

Let' hear your opinion on positives and negatives of both.

Positive is you'll get a new saw
Negative is you won't own the saw

 

[svk]

Folks seem to like the Dolmar/Makita a little better. Both great saws.

Due to some recent house cleaning my largest modern saw is now 45 Cc’s so when the time comes that I need a larger saw I’ll be buying a 79xx or big boring a 64xx.

 

[James Miller]

Positive is you'll get a new saw
Negative is you won't own the saw

I will own the saw. It' payment for dropping off wood every time I get into a big scrounge. I'd have been happy with gas money but I won' say no to a new saw either.

 

[nighthunter]

I will own the saw. It' payment for dropping off wood every time I get into a big scrounge. I'd have been happy with gas money but I won' say no to a new saw either.

if that's the case,run and take him up on his offer quickly while it's stihl fresh in his mind, it's a good deal for you if there no strings attached

 

[James Miller]

Calling @chipper1 got any 7900 or 461 sitting in inventory?

 

[JustJeff]

I’m really happy with my 460. Especially after the @MustangMike muffler mod and tuning advice. You really can’t go wrong with either one. If you are a fix it yourself internet parts kind of guy, the dolmar is a good choice. If dealer support is important, Stihl/Husqvarna dealers are everywhere.

 

[Cowboy254]

Ok folks it's time to buy an 80cc class saw. Was helping my cousin that iv been taking wood to for the past year split the mulberry and pin oak from my last scrounged today. We got to talking saws and I mentioned I was planing on picking up a 461 or 7900 this year and he said if I could get it for under $700 he would pay for the saw.

Let' hear your opinion on positives and negatives of both.

Positive - you get a good new man-sized saw.
Negative - You'll have to keep your cousin supplied. That's a shame, you'll need to use your new big saw more

 

[bigfellascott]

Nice work, Joe. That oak looks so moist you could almost wring it out.

The snow has arrived on the hills across from me, might take the skis up tomorrow arvo if there's enough. The prediction is for 10-20 inches but we'll see. Fire's going pretty well at the moment with scrounged peppermint and a little bluegum.

We had some snow at my place on Friday, wasn't a huge amount but nice to see and no doubt there will be plenty more over winter as per the norm.