Rabbits

[caroline7758]

The rabbit problem on our site gets worse every year. Apparently one of the former plot owners used to shoot them but he's not there any more so they are multiplying.
I don't have the time, money or know-how to fence the whole area, so can anyone give me any other tips for protecting my crops? Also, are there any rabbit-proof veg, or a rabbit equivalent of the "scaredy-cat plant"?

[caroline7758]

[caroline7758]

Bump!

[grawrc]

We have the same problem Caroline and this year, with the extreme cold and heavy snow, they've even been eating kale and gnawing at raspberry canes. All my enviromeshed brassicas have gone, chewed down to stumps. I think they must have been pretty desperate. I'm intending to double up my fencing and make it higher. (the snow was so high they could get in easily over the existing fences).

Aargh!! rodents! Don't you just love them.

[Digeroo]

Rabbits a problem for me too not only eating things but digging holes all over the place.

[ipt8]

A rabbit fence needs to be turned out at the bottom about a foot. Ideally buried but pegged down is common. They generally dig under not climb over, but will do. It should be three feet high.

Is there an allotment committee or something that could get someone to help. A person with ferrets is usually the best option. Whoever owns the allotments could be politely approached I reckon.

[sawfish]

First rabbit proof your plot with chicken wire (small gauge), if you don't no amount of traps will stop them! A couple of rabbits got into my plot through large gauge chicken wire and couldn't get out, then proceeded to live in my plot and devastate it. I then used a couple of live traps which trap the rabbits alive (dispatched to rabbit heaven very quickly afterwards). This is far more effective and safe than snaring. Now I reckon I'm rabbit free.

[Digeroo]

Not so many rabbits now it is warmer, I think that the broccoli was the only thing above the snow so got well gnawed.   My allotment is at the far end to the rabbit holes, so hopefully they will not venture that far when there is plenty near by to eat.
I think with more people on site they are keeping their distance.

Hopefully they will soon find themselves in a bit of a stew. 

[Larkshall]

I have been rabbit fencing today (electric). Use round galvanised wire (1mm diameter), 50mm woodposts at 7ft (2mtr) intervals 650mm high (from ground level). Place the first wire at ground level (earth wire) then next at 50mm (charged wired), 50mm (earth wire), 50mm (charged wired), 50mm (earth wire), 100mm (charged wired),  100mm (earth wire),  100mm (charged wired),  100mm (earth wire). Using alternate earth and charged wires makes sure that if they jump into the wire they will get a shock from two wires, the 50mm spacing at the bottom is to stop youngsters getting through. Having the earth wire at ground level makes sure that they get a shock in dry weather. The charged wires will need insulators but the earth wires only need netting staples.

Keep vegetation down with non-persistent weedkiller. I use an energiser and 12v 7amp sealed lead acid battery, put a switch in the battery to energiser circuit to be able to switch off when you are working on the plot.

[non-stick]

They are a pain on our plot, come in from the cemetary next door. Council made a half-hearted effort to cull their numbers a couple of years back by ferreting on the cemetary but only did it once - like that was going to work. A local siamese cat does his best to keep numbers down and the council did put up new fencing but they get in under the gate.  I've actually found entrances to warrens on the site. Trouble is many local resident's think they are "cute" and oppose any serious moves to get the numbers down/

We bought cheap chicken wire from Wilkinsons which helps keep them off the plot. It's worked reasonably well over the last few years

[nilly71]

Depending what the rules/law is for your allotment, you could look online for an airgun forum and ask for hunters to help you.
It's free and as long as they have insurance and the allotment does not have people on it or built up areas around it, there shouldn't be a problem.

If you need any more advice or links pm me.

Neil

[goodlife]

..or ferret club/keepers who would be happy to work their "pets"...I bet they would be happy to take the "pet food" with them too... ;)

[Torreya]

Non-stick, don't be too hard on the poor, down-trodden cemetery staff, my OH is a manager and had the same prob: bunnies living in the grounds and venturing to neighbouring allotments/gardens, eating everything in sight.  He got a couple of men in with ferrets, and the complaints were just too much!! Cruelty to wildlife, ferrets should be banned, men that kill sweet little bunnies should be castrated.........he just couldn't win!! Being a v. keen veg man himself, he still arranges an odd little nighttime soiree, just to help keep them under control, just keep quiet about it!!

[Robert_Brenchley]

I bet the peole who were complaining were perfectly happy to eat meat as long as they didn't see it with the fur on!

[non-stick]

Non-stick, don't be too hard on the poor, down-trodden cemetery staff, my OH is a manager and had the same prob: bunnies living in the grounds and venturing to neighbouring allotments/gardens, eating everything in sight.  He got a couple of men in with ferrets, and the complaints were just too much!! Cruelty to wildlife, ferrets should be banned, men that kill sweet little bunnies should be castrated.........he just couldn't win!! Being a v. keen veg man himself, he still arranges an odd little nighttime soiree, just to help keep them under control, just keep quiet about it!!

The problem with our cemetery is that it is an old, largely disused one. Most graves are quite old and if it wasn't for a local conservation group would be largely overgrown. The things are a menace burrowing into graves and endangering monuments. 

[Robert_Brenchley]

They'll certainly undermine tombstones, making them extremely unpopular with those relatives who still take an interest in the graves!