7 replies to this topic

[MommyofSeven]

OK, I have two challenges right from the start with my little homestead:

1. Skunks. I cannot tell you how many times I have almost gotten skunked walking out the door. Suggestions for keeping these critters out of the yard would be appreciated. I don't mind them being in the fields, particularly, because they will smell/hear us coming and skedaddle, but when they hang out near the front porch and freak out when we open the door, well that's unpleasant, especially in the summer with windows open.

2. Deer out of the garden. We get a lot of deer moving through in the summer, which is amazing to watch, but hard on the fruit trees and will be hard on the garden. I'm pretty sure I remember male pee to be an effective deterrent. Anything else? I have the DH and a 12 year old so we can cover a lot of peeing ground but would need other suggestions because we do have neighbors close enough to see and I'm pretty sure one or both of them will get modest at some point. They step over my standard 3ft property fence like it's not there, and I'm not going to be able to afford to put six foot chain link around the garden LOL.

Thanks!

[gofish]

http://www.ehow.com/...uble-fence.html

i think I read somewhere that you don't even need a real fence. Just something like 2 lines of posts with rope and some plastic steamers tied on the rope.

[MommyofSeven]

http://www.ehow.com/...uble-fence.html

i think I read somewhere that you don't even need a real fence. Just something like 2 lines of posts with rope and some plastic steamers tied on the rope.

Oooh...I will give some thought to try to modify that. We'll need a fence anyway-one more barrier between the garden and the other critters we eventually plan on having, and we'll have two dogs by then that we'll have to keep out of there.

Thanks!

Mo7

[Mt_Rider]

Allegedly, the dogs will help to keep other critters out of your(their) territory. But then, keeping the dogs outta the garden. Uh huh! And then there is the investment in tomato juice for dogs who happily try to get rid of your skunks..... Be careful of skunks...prone to rabies, y'know. [actually, it's just one species that actually stays alive longer with rabies, thus can be around to infect humans]

Deer can clear a really tall fence. I can't remember numbers [ever] but if you can somehow put extenders on your current property line fence and any interior fencing. As mentioned, it's not a full barrier like to keep out a bear. Just mess them up if they think they'd jump inside.

As for the other various cures for deer..... None have worked for me. Human hair *might* be kind of an deterrent but I'd only risk flowers. Not a sustanance garden. I gave up and now garden off-site with a friend who invested in a VERY good fence.

Your other problem for garden will be rabbits and the burrowing critters [voles, 'pocket gophers' etc.] A responsible kid with a BB gun is the answer for some of that population explosion. [they ingnore those stupid small windmill vibration things... ] However small gauge wire fencing [like chicken wire or smaller] along the bottom couple feet of garden perimeter will help somewhat.

Good fencing is a gardening investment, for sure.

MtRider [....best advice: Get recipes for venison, rabbit, elk..... ]

Edited by Mt_Rider, 18 October 2011 - 07:36 PM.

[CrabGrassAcres]

You need to fence. You don't necessarily need new fence. Some people will give you older fencing for removing it. 7 ft tall fence doesn't need to be a single stretch from bottom to top. You can use a couple of 4 fts or a 3 and a 4 and fasten them together in the middle. You don't want a gap between them. You can also pick up some bargains. I got several thousand worth of 7 ft fence and 8 ft tposts for 400 a while back. Most of it unused but had been laying on the ground. I'm taking it with me when I move and it is going around my garden and orchard. The openings are large enough to let in the chickens and ducks, etc, so I'm going to line it with fine mesh "deer" fence (which does NOT keep deer out all that well by itself).

[MommyofSeven]

Excellent suggestions, as always. I'm getting a BB handgun, one of those airsoft thingies, I think. I need to do more research. Oldest son is way more in to archery than guns at this point, and I don't want to waste arrows on skunks and rabbits, and the neighbors like watching the deer, so shooting them isn't an option lol.

I don't leave the dogs out alone until I get the perimeter fencing finished. But once they are out more I'm sure that will help both issues. I will be sure to invest in tomato juice lol.

The previous owner called in a guy to take out all the scrap metal that the people who had been buying it from him left, including four cars, eight newspaper racks, and fencing. We specifically asked that the fencing be left, and he took it anyway. I was pretty irate. It was probably enough to get the perimeter fencing done, at least.

We're scrounging around for more. I'm always on the lookout for stuff I can scrounge!

Thanks!

Mo7

[Mt_Rider]

If you hear of a foreclosure about to happen, check with the unfortunate folks. See if they'd like to sell fencing from their property cheap. That's how I just scored some. Had to remove it myself and ...ended up not being physically able to go back for 7 T-posts. Cannot remove anything once 'foreclosure' signs are up!


No, can't shoot the dear deer UNLESS you legally have a deer tag AND it's not prohibited in your area........until AFTER the hooey hits the fan. Then..... Have the dear deer lovers over for a BBQ.


MtRider [...feel like I'm always living in two worlds. Solutions for now and ....later... ]

[gofish]

As some one whos dog has finaly lost the skunk smell.

http://www.ehow.com/...aking-soda.html


http://wiki.answers...._of_skunk_smell