Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: eileen on March 02, 2005, 10:56:07
We have little field mice in our garden too Plocket. As long as they stay outdoors they're more than welcome to their share of the bird food. :)
Great photograph btw mine never seem to sit still long enough for me to get a decent shot of them.
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Val on March 02, 2005, 17:27:09
;D.. Oh my Plocket that isn't the same one the cat bought in is it?..Its probably its grandaughter by now.....yuk.
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: tim on March 02, 2005, 18:38:14
What a brill photo.
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Lord Steve on March 02, 2005, 23:11:00
Super photo!! Really cute little thing. Can you give him some contraception to stop him breeding?
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Plocket on March 03, 2005, 08:40:58
I was indoors hiding behind the potted azalea and it took quite a few photos to get that one! There are actually two mice (I got a picture of them but it's a bit blurred) so contraception would be wonderful - now how would I stop the pigeon eating the treated food? Why worry - it could work on the pigeon too!!!
They are cute when they are outside, but woe betide if they try and get into my house! There will be big trouble, from me - the cat's hopeless!
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: MagpieDi on March 03, 2005, 18:32:00
Great photo !
I often see them in the garden, and when the weather turns chilly, I hear the patter of tiny feet in the loft !! ;D
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Plocket on March 03, 2005, 18:38:13
Oh NOOOOOO! I couldn't handle that! I need peace when I sleep and a little rodent scampering about wouldn't give me peace! There's a mouse in the garage as well - at least I assume it's a different one - I don't know what sort of area they cover!
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Marianne on March 03, 2005, 21:54:58
We used to have one of those in our garden about Xmas time. It had a bad leg and came to feed and drink every day. We wanted to capture it and take it to the vet but one day it stopped coming... We never knew what happened to it! Poor little thing. :'(
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: MagpieDi on March 04, 2005, 23:23:54
Sorry Plocket, hope I haven't caused you nightmares !!
Bit of good news, your cutie looks like a woodmouse, which only has 2 litters a year, so only approx another 16 to worry about, as opposed to the fieldmouse, which has at least 4 litters ! :o ;D
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Plocket on March 05, 2005, 09:49:08
Don't worry MagpieDi I didn't have nightmares! And that picture you have posted is so cute! I'm not sure how you are able to tell the difference between mice, especially with my rather vague photo, but either way your 2 or 4 litters is less than I imagined!
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Val on March 05, 2005, 16:50:25
How many different sorts are there then? I thought it was only 2, field or house mouse. Oh my don't tell me we've now more, I thought they all bred like anything and its only a few weeks before they come into season. How do you all think they're cute and lovely...they're...well....they SCUTTLE.....yuk. ;D
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Plocket on March 05, 2005, 17:15:35
According to my Animals of Britain book there are quite a few different sorts of mice:
Harvest mice House mice Long-tailed Field mice West Indian mice Wood mice and Yellow-necked mice.
Then of course theres dormice, various voles, shrews, rats.......
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: wardy on March 05, 2005, 17:51:07
A mouse jumped out at me when I took the lid off the compost bin :o :o :o
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Plocket on March 05, 2005, 18:28:53
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Marianne on March 05, 2005, 19:02:02
Plocket, I absolutely ADORE your "EEK" smiley!!! It's not on here though ... :'(
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: MagpieDi on March 05, 2005, 22:34:59
Hahaha!!! Isn't it amazing what effect these tiny cuties have on us ? ;D
Done a bit more research, and totally confused now ! Apparently the house mouse is the one that breeds all year round, and even the babies are 'at it' at approx 6 weeks old ! :o
More pics to help identify ( look away now Val ;) )
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/magpiedi/2375-w-mouse-500x3331.jpg)cute wood mouse (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/magpiedi/field_mouse1.jpg)NOT so cute field mouse !
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Val on March 06, 2005, 10:24:00
;D..This thread is like watching one of those horror movies,you don't want to,you try and switch it off, everything is stuck in terror, It was bad enough thinking there were 2 different mice, turns out there's hundreds, the stuff of nightmares. :o :'(
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: eileen on March 06, 2005, 10:55:58
Hey Di that field mose piccie you posted looks more like a rat to me!! ;D
We have field mice and wood mice in the garden as well as shrews and they don't cause any problems ...well....except for last year when one built a nest inside one of Ian's gardening boots!!
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Carol on March 06, 2005, 14:01:23
Well, personally, I think they are all adorable creatures, but then I can be strange! I do like the field mice that are around our garden but OH hates them cos of all the holes they make. We also have shrews and last year OH dug up a nest of shrews and he didnt know what to do with it. I carefully lifted the lot up and placed them at the other end of the garden and hoped they would survive in their new position. We also have field mice in our attic most winters. I have nothing to do with the traps being laid to get rid of them because they are welcome to stay for me but again OH wants them out.
I once spent a good half hour watching a mother field mouse moving her litter from one position in our garden to another because the nesst must have been filling up with water. I went outside and watched her. She ignored me completely and carried on carrying the babies one by one in her mouth to another 'safe' place. eeee nature is wonderful.
Mind you, I would not like to see a mouse of any description in our living quarters. They would be welcome if they walked about. ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Marianne on March 06, 2005, 19:25:30
Good on you Carol ! We too can often hear the patter of small feet in our loft. I am sure they enjoy it up there as our place is very warm. :D
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: MagpieDi on March 06, 2005, 21:57:23
One last pic, just for Val !! ;D
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/magpiedi/SLEEPING_DORMOUSE_M_J_WOODS_640wide1.jpg) so cute and cuddly !
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: MagpieDi on March 06, 2005, 22:02:27
Eileen, wonder how Roland sneaked in there!! Haha!! ;) ;D
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Val on March 07, 2005, 11:47:40
;DThanks so much you're too kind..now tell me how do you uncurl toes? ;)
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Plocket on March 07, 2005, 18:41:30
With a large mallet?
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: eileen on March 07, 2005, 19:24:27
Love the picture of the dormouse Di. :D Now if I had some of those in my garden I'd be an extremely happy bunny!!!!
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Val on March 08, 2005, 16:39:08
;DSave that for Mickey and Co. Plocket...have you planted your veg seeds yet? ;D
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Plocket on March 09, 2005, 08:20:12
Hi Val! I've germinated tomato seedlings, my potatoes are chitting (not long to go now - I might even plant them at the weekend!) and carrots, chillies and parsnips will be sowed later this month. Hurrah! How's tricks with you?
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Val on March 09, 2005, 10:31:03
Well so far all I've done is bought the compost. I must pull my finger out. I think I might have a go at chillies. Frank uses them in curries so it would be good to try something different. ;D
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Plocket on March 09, 2005, 11:09:31
I've started the chillies for OH - he can eat them and I'll appreciate how they look! It's still early days for sowing veg seeds Val, but you'd better start soon!
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Heldi on March 09, 2005, 12:11:29
Aaaaw that's sooo cute!
I have my very own breed called "shed" mice. Yours is a "wall" mouse isn't it Plocket?!
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: Plocket on March 09, 2005, 12:16:01
I think it could well be a "wall" mouse Heldi - or a "gutter" mouse! I'm not really sure! We do have a "garage" mouse and it could be one and the same!
Title: Re: Feeding the birds?
Post by: MagpieDi on March 09, 2005, 15:16:32
Sorry, Plocket and Val, just can't resist posting these cute pics !! ::) ;D
How do you feel about this little darlin' ? Don't you just want to reach out and stroke his cute little snout ? ;) ;D