The city of Chicago used feral cats to control mice in their warehouses. It worked well. Years ago I drove a VW bug. I had no garage so I used an oil pan heater. The mice like the warmth as well. The car was slow to start at 11 below but finally turned over. After a couple of miles I thought I smelled burning rubber the sure sign of a broken belt. Turned out it was a burning mouse house and some fried mice. Luckily I had some gloves. Here I use glue traps.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
A good Black Snake will devour the whole mouse, its wife, the kids and hang around waiting for more. Provide a good place for the snake to winter over.

A few years ago I had a black snake hanging around my garage before I closed up the openings and while it was around there were no mice. Which is probably why it eventually left.

I've never noticed a snake around the mower shed, the gaps they enter through are probably too small for most black snakes. Maybe I should enlarge a couple?

Jupiter WOW, that new MX with loader and 6' cutter is a nice package!

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
Jupiter WOW, that new MX with loader and 6' cutter is a nice package!

Thank you, Sir. I spent this afternoon checking fluid levels and going through the manual. A Titan stump bucket should be here later this week. I can't wait to try it out.

Do you still have any attachments from the Deere 4600? Is the MX hydro or gear?

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
Do you still have any attachments from the Deere 4600? Is the MX hydro or gear?

I still have a 72" Bush Hog ATH720 finishing mower and 72" HD box blade. I ended up getting the hydro.
I went back and forth on a few different models like the L4802 and Grand L 6050. I felt like I was getting more bang for the buck with the MX.

Good that you kept them, I figured you must have a rear blade at least.

quote:

Originally posted by Jupiter:
I ended up getting the hydro.
I went back and forth on a few different models like the L4802 and Grand L 6050. I felt like I was getting more bang for the buck with the MX.

I agree. The Grand L is a very nice tractor but an MX offers a bit more capability for less money.

I’ve finally settled on plug in LED strobe lights to keep packrats out of my truck’s engine compartment and air intake. The 3 unsynched lights almost make me want to have a seizure, so I’m guessing they do the same for the packrats. Anyway, keeps them away.

I have always been hesitant to use poison for mice/rats.
My fear is a mouse will go outside and die on the lawn after consuming poison.
My primary concern is one of my dogs might nibble on a mouse carcass that was poisoned.

I don't really know if that scenario is possible, but it concerns me enough that I use the death buckets instead for mice eradication purposes.

Jupiter, that new Kubota is spectacular! I would love one that size myself, and it would cost me at least $110K in addition to the cost of the new tractor.
I would require a new HD truck for a tow vehicle, and a much larger HD trailer, and as always, adequately sized implements for the new/bigger tractor.

I have two locations that I service with tractors, separated by about 30 minutes driving time. I use/need tractors at both locations.
I guess I will get by with what I already have.

quote:

Originally posted by cee_Kamp:


Jupiter, that new Kubota is spectacular! I would love one that size myself, and it would cost me at least $110K in addition to the cost of the new tractor.
I would require a new HD truck for a tow vehicle, and a much larger HD trailer, and as always, adequately sized implements for the new/bigger tractor.

Appreciate that, cee_Kamp. I'm going to do everything I can to keep the mice out of this one.

I have a 10 ft. and 16 ft. utility trailer. Neither is capable of hauling this tractor/loader/bush hog. My 2020 4Runner is only rated for 5k towing so I'm in the same boat as you if I need to haul it anywhere.

Jupiter,
Unlike you, I have resisted that seductive voice telling me to go buy a new big tractor.
The "buy in" for the required HD tow vehicle, big HD trailer, and a new set of bigger and
heavier implements exceeds my post retirement discretionary spending limit.
It is a self imposed limit. When I am doing projects at my recreational property/cabin,
I am not really working or farming, I am playing. The "juice" simply isn't worth
the "squeeze"...

So I fiddle around and figure out how to make my existing machines do the job.
Presently, a 2011 Kubota BX 25 TLB, and a 2013 Kubota BX 2370 as a dedicated mower.
The BX 25 TLB can do loader, backhoe, snow removal and bush hog work.
The BX 2370 is a newer acquisition and is now ready to mow lawns.
Plus I'm not continually swapping implements around. It was the plan!

There are a few times I wished I had something bigger, but in most cases, my pair of BX
machines can do anything I ask of them. See my long running thread in the "What's your Deal Section" with details and photos.

Due to the size/weight of the BX machines, I can easily haul them where/when I require
tractor work to be done, and with existing already paid for tow vehicles, trailers,
and implements.

But those shiny new machines sure do look fine!

Irish Spring soap has worked very well for us in repelling mice. Voles, however, snack on it. Reportedly rats eat it, too.

quote:

Originally posted by cee_Kamp:
Jupiter,
Unlike you, I have resisted that seductive voice telling me to go buy a new big tractor.
The "buy in" for the required HD tow vehicle, big HD trailer, and a new set of bigger and
heavier implements exceeds my post retirement discretionary spending limit....

Where do you need to tow your tractor?

I do not live at my recreational property.
My home is ~ 30 minutes driving time away from the recreational property.
So to answer your question: Every single time I need mowing, bush hogging, loader,
or backhoe work performed at the recreational property, I haul the machine on a trailer.

That's the reason for the pair of BX Kubota tractors.
Relatively easy to haul with existing trailers and tow vehicles.

OK I was just wondering because I've never towed a tractor anywhere. Ever think about building a garage to keep it in there?

A garage is not secure enough for my liking.
That's the reason for the 40' hi-cube shipping container.
I do store the rotary cutter at the recreational property.
No use for it at the house.
But the mowing Kubota is needed at both properties, so wherever
it's stored, hauling is required to get it where it's needed weekly.

I have a Bolens 1700 I use for mowing the field. The first one I bought in 1981 with a 48 inch belly mower.

I bought one in NJ that had a blown Kohler 20 HP engine. It had a 42 inch mower which lets you drive onto a pickup without taking the mower deck off.

The decks are made from heavier metal than the John Deere. Nobody works on these any more so you can find them cheap. The last one I bought for $150 from a person in Leesburg. It only needed front tires and a carb rebuild.

quote:

Originally posted by 41:
I have a Bolens 1700 I use for mowing the field. The first one I bought in 1981 with a 48 inch belly mower....

The decks are made from heavier metal than the John Deere....

Do you now what thickness? Deere manufactures decks in made in many different gauges of steel depending whether for lawn, garden, subcompact, compact, or utility tractors.

These were lawn tractors made in the early 80's. I remember on the tractor message boards of people hitting stumps and the John Deere was toast. I looked at both and could see the difference. I will measure a deck tomorrow.

I mow the grass on the highest setting to prevent hitting Eastern Box Turtles and Black snakes. Taller grass also shades the ground so it doesn't dry out as much in the summer time.

The adjacent neighbors at times used a finish mower. I also don't mow some strip areas so birds and turkeys have insects. Turkeys will strip the seeds off of Orchard grass.

This is a mountain environment with Ring-Neck, Gray Earth, Brown Earth, Garter, and Black snakes. The north bank along the private road is covered with Mountain Laurel. There was a sow Black Bear with four cubs last September.

I currently cut my grass with a John Deere X500 multi-terrain lawn tractor. The X500 series is designed for heavy duty use. I don't know how the deck thickness compares to other brands but I do know I have hit multiple stumps over the last several years with zero damage. The build quality is on a different level than the John Deere models you can buy at big box stores like Home Depot.

quote:

Do you now what thickness? Deere manufactures decks in made in many different gauges of steel depending whether for lawn, garden, subcompact, compact, or utility tractors.

The deck measured .220 inches thick. The lawn tractor weighs about 1400 pounds with a 200 pound person.

The high lift blades really throw the grass out and anything else it highs like golf balls. I hit a golf ball once and it bounced off a tree trunk and hit me in the leg.