TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/11/2025:  12:41:25

You've heard of the group, "Counting Crows?." Fortet them. For the past 5 years I've been trying to Feed crows.. Yep. I started during the Covid lockdown. At first the crows would only come for food if I was in the house.. Eventually, slowly, slowly, they'd get a little more bold around me.. Today was a breakthrough day.. I'd been out working on a 'honey-do' project. As soon as I got back into the house a crow perched 5 feet from my back door and let himself be known. I grabbed some Kibbles and intended to just throw them into the street while the crows retreated.. This time the crow stayed close and did NOT retreat..It did not spook when I tossed the food... FINALLY, some acceptance..!
Do you feed crows?

pete_fiddle - Posted - 03/11/2025:  13:38:29

Yes! they come down to steel the chicken food. They must get wormed at the same time as the chickens, as i bye chicken food mixed with worm powder. They are local crows (a half dozen or so), and fly up to discourage errant crows flying over at roosting time.

My neighbor wanted to shoot them, but we managed to dissuade him for fear of even more crows moving in on their territory. Now with Bird flu, we have to keep the Chooks locked up. So the crows don't get fed... or wormed, for the time being.

They also discourage pigeons, Magpies, Buzzards etc, and warn us of anything else going off in the woods. Our dogs and horses have learned to listen for their alarm calls for foxes etc.

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/11/2025:  13:44:15

When I was in highschool, us kids would always look out of our front door to try to see the bus coming about 1/2 mile away and then we'd head for the corner to catch the bus.. When it was My turn to look for the bus I always counted the crows flying across the fields.. I'll never forget the delight I felt doing doing that count.

pete_fiddle - Posted - 03/11/2025:  13:54:15

They seem to be very punctual, territorial and smart.

Quincy - Posted - 03/11/2025:  14:42:57

Hehe , I absolutely love crows... they have this aura of magic around them <3 My grandmother and grandfather on father's side used to have a crow that was pretty tame, my father was still living there I think, so it was a long time ago. This crow always flew into their house and it would violently attack visitors - then my grandfather had to use his cap to chase him away lol, but he always came back.

Quincy - Posted - 03/11/2025:  14:44:07

Don't know if this crow was from a stolen egg or not, I guess so, my grandfather was a notorious bird catcher. He had a large volière outside....

Bird trapping became illegal in this country. They used to use glue... :-/

Edited by - Quincy on 03/11/2025 14:45:00

Quincy - Posted - 03/11/2025:  14:48:36

quote:

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

When I was in highschool, us kids would always look out of our front door to try to see the bus coming about 1/2 mile away and then we'd head for the corner to catch the bus.. When it was My turn to look for the bus I always counted the crows flying across the fields.. I'll never forget the delight I felt doing doing that count.

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I can imagine, I always wanted a tame crow or a magpie as a kid...one that would fly into my room each morning when I would open the window and that would always circle around me up in the air. That idea still sounds very appealing!

ChickenMan - Posted - 03/11/2025:  17:12:36

I remember you talking about crow feeding on here back in the lockdown age. Good to hear you're winning them over. I'd try feeding them other foods, things that might make you seem like delicious slot machine. When you train animals, particularly wild ones, it's best to use a high value reward. Worms, fruit, peanuts (these are fun to eat and squirrels like them too)...

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/11/2025:  17:32:34

quote:

---

Originally posted by Quincy

Hehe , I absolutely love crows... they have this aura of magic around them <3 My grandmother and grandfather on father's side used to have a crow that was pretty tame, my father was still living there I think, so it was a long time ago. This crow always flew into their house and it would violently attack visitors - then my grandfather had to use his cap to chase him away lol, but he always came back.

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The remedy for that is to give visitors peanuts to toss to the crows..

Flat_the_3rd_n7th - Posted - 03/11/2025:  18:42:30

Sorry, but crows are the enemy to a farmer. Kin to possums, raccoons and coyotes as far as pestilence.

You will see crows out soon pulling up corn sprouts in order to eat the kernel, leaving the planter with 2 less ears of corn. Things are always around to steal the food a farmer has worked hard to produce. Genesis 3:17-19

Here's my 'when I was a kid' story. I was the one assigned to get up before school in Apr-May, get a gun and climb in the loft of the barn before sunrise to sit in ambush. My goal was to ventilate a crow walking around in the furrows. We would then hang it upside down on a pole in the cornpatch. That was our scarecrow for the summer, and it worked beautifully.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 03/11/2025:  18:59:02

When we used to plant corn, just in our garden, not the farm..."one for the blackbird, one for the crow, one for the cutworm and one to grow." I guess I still do that...lol...I do remember people hating crows and yes they do love the corn...everything that walks loves corn. I tried to grow a small patch of it here before...I even pollinated it by hand because our place is so small I didn't think it would be able to pollinate well...anyway, apparently the raccoons, which we have plenty of, were having big corn eating parties down in the back overnight..there were cobs and pieces laying around all the time. We never got any...lol. But I just can't kill them. I know people have had to just to grow anything.



I'm really impressed with techniques that have been used by farmers in parts of Africa where the wildlife messes with the crops but they are endangered and can't be harmed... one thing I've read about it placement of bee hives...apparently elephants, who can't be stopped by a fence, are terrified of bees, so they keep their distance from crops when bee hives are placed strategically. I've thought about doing that here...it wouldn't take much in the way of hives.



But the cheapie poultry electric movable fencing does work to keep the raccoons and foxes out of the chicken lot...not that we have chickens anymore, but that does the trick without disrupting the native wildlife. It's different than what we used to have for the cattle...that was one wire going across that would 'bout kill ya, felt like...lol...if you dared to touch it. The poultry fencing I'm talking about is less zappy...but enough to starve off predators and you can move it around where needed. It works with a solar panel and battery.



Oh but anyway, these days we feed crows and all types of birds and squirrels and even some pigeons started coming over here...at first I chased them away with grandsons' Nerf blasters because they are way too hungry...lol...but we've come to terms with them and now we feed them something different...they eat it when they come around, and surprisingly, they leave the squirrels and birds to their own stuff. So...yeah, a little more expensive, but I'm a pushover, I'm afraid. Anyway, I'll use the poultry fence next time I plan on growing corn. I'm gonna try sorghum grain, not the syrup cane, but eh grain itself, this year. Not sure if raccoons will want that or not. I grew brown rice out of the bag one year and no animal touched it...found out why when I harvested it for myself...way too much trouble to get at...lol. But it is a beautiful plant.

Oh yes, anyway, when I go out in the mornings with peanuts in the shells...first the blue jays holler, then the crows, and finally the sleepy squirrels come down from the trees and they all have a party while I fill the bird feeders with sunflower seed.  That's how it works here.

Edited by - groundhogpeggy on 03/11/2025 19:02:01

RinconMtnErnie - Posted - 03/11/2025:  19:55:13

The closest things we have to crows are ravens, and they don't come looking for food!

Quincy - Posted - 03/11/2025:  22:05:13

quote:

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

quote:

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Originally posted by Quincy

Hehe , I absolutely love crows... they have this aura of magic around them <3 My grandmother and grandfather on father's side used to have a crow that was pretty tame, my father was still living there I think, so it was a long time ago. This crow always flew into their house and it would violently attack visitors - then my grandfather had to use his cap to chase him away lol, but he always came back.

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The remedy for that is to give visitors peanuts to toss to the crows..

 

---

I am pretty convinced there is a positive reinforcement solution to manage a lot of unwanted animal behavior, but this was after war Europe and don't think people were that knowledgable back then...Too bad ofcourse. Nevertheless, owning a high drive working line Belgian Malinois from a pedigree of tough dogs meant for bitework/defense, I sometimes, when my dog is just too defensive towards a stranger ( often, most of the times,  a simple 'no' is just enough to stop her, but sometimes her reaction is too explosive) she will get an immediate slap to instantly make clear : no is no! Wthout an extremely good bond and for a 'soft'  normal household dog I would never ever stand behind this approach, but in case of a very tough dog like this, and only when she knows very well I don't want it but chooses to do this anyway, for a working breed dog from such a line this is not something bad. Society is happy with my well behaved dog, but it takes a fair and mental strong owner to guide a dog like this. If you can't see this then a really tough 'hard' dog like that is not the right dog for the person. The defensive skills in a Malinois are this strong that sometimes your dog might exaggerate it in a way it might cause problems or poses direct danger. Then the art is action- instant reaction. I don't even really hurt her at that moment when she is very high drive , but the short not too hard not too soft slap will bring her back to the limit: 'ok, that's right boss don't want me to do this'.

I regret all trainers who easily turn to a slap or even very mean stuff, there is just too many of these 'trainers' around, but one should never throw away the child with the bath water... There really is a truth in this approach also.

I am proud my dog is a very happy and well behaved dog. I am very aware she could be used as a weapon. I like to have her around because I like my freedom and only a nutcase would try to attack me/rob me/ harass me/ yell at me with a dog like Ziva next to me. She is my freedom as a free woman in a place where women are frequently harassed by 'some men' where it used to be safe when I was a kid and young girl. She is my freedom to walk during midst of night, my protector, my eyes and ears and gut feeling and I love her to death. Above all she is my very best friend and the soulmate I live for. We are that close and she is such a dog that sometimes , only when needed, a hard drawing of the border is perfectly possible without harming her soul...

I felt the need to explain that about this lovely breed <3

wrench13 - Posted - 03/12/2025:  03:08:17

Lee, cool that you are not on 'Corvid' lockdown ! Crows are right up there in intelligence with chimps, dolphins & African Grey Parrots. A friend runs a raptor show, he has an African crow that is amazing.

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/12/2025:  03:44:52

Maybe some think that there are too many crows, which brings to mind a friend who says there are too many wild turkeys... That is what they said about passenger pigeons...

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/12/2025:  04:16:11

Who has seen that video about how a National Park was changed when they reintroduced Wolves? If you haven't seen it you might check it out.. A pest animal could be an important part of our ecosystem..youtube.com/watch?v=4_BqQEZQOJw

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 03/12/2025:  05:16:09

That's the issue...don't forget, according to the natural world, there are too many human beings. I mean, I'm all for humans, but honestly, we overtook the natural world, we need a lot to eat (have you ever tried subsistence farming??? People eat a LOT), we can't just go foraging and find enough food for ourselves...we need clothes and complicated shelter...I mean...the eco balance is pretty far off. I guess only humans can manage to try to set it straight but with us sharing this planet, it's always gonna be our needs vs the natural world.

The last passenger pigeon died in the Cincinnati Zoo...over across the river. I don't remember the year, but they do have an impressive display of that tragedy (you'll cry as you walk through that) and other species of birds that were wiped out. All of our birds, especially native eastern birds, now are decimated somewhat and on shaky territory at the moment. That's why I feed them no matter what...any critter, pest or not, who comes around will get something from me. Yes, I got my nickname from feeding the groundhog families across the road. Maybe I'm that dumb...lol...but we are the cause of their need...and at least we can try to help. It's not easy because it's expensive but seems only right to do if a person can possibly help somewhat. Also...growing native trees or flowers and such is a help too. There's not much of a balance now and even though some people argue that there always were mass extinctions on a 26 million year cycle. And there is the predator vs prey cycle of 4 years that goes on. But it seems we are off cycle in our time now, because the natural way things work is pretty much messed up with human activity. Seems like anyway. So...yeah we need to try to get along with nature.

tonyelder - Posted - 03/12/2025:  07:45:23

Too many Canadian Geese.

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/12/2025:  08:21:12

quote:

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Originally posted by tonyelder

Too many Canadian Geese.

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Now, hold off... I"m supporting Canadians at this time!!!  Maybe we need more coyotes? More skunks/raccoons to eat their eggs?

Edited by - TuneWeaver on 03/12/2025 08:22:07

tonyelder - Posted - 03/12/2025:  08:28:20

quote:

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

quote:

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Originally posted by tonyelder

Too many Canadian Geese.

---

Now, hold off... I"m supporting Canadians at this time!!!  Maybe we need more coyotes? More skunks/raccoons to eat their eggs?

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I just want to - Make my back yard great again!  

I wouldn't mind it  - if I could train them to "do their business" on the compost pile.  But - NO - they think the patio driveway, and back yard is better. I can only imagine one reason why they think like that:  They take great pleasure in aggravating me. 

Edited by - tonyelder on 03/12/2025 08:32:26

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/12/2025:  08:37:08

quote:

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Originally posted by tonyelder

quote:

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

quote:

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Originally posted by tonyelder

Too many Canadian Geese.

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Now, hold off... I"m supporting Canadians at this time!!!  Maybe we need more coyotes? More skunks/raccoons to eat their eggs?

---

I just want to - Make my back yard great again!  

I wouldn't mind it  - if I could train them to "do their business" on the compost pile.  But - NO - they think the patio driveway, and back yard is better. I can only imagine one reason why they think like that:  They take great pleasure in aggravating me. 

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Hey, the geese and I have something in common...eh?  Maybe you need one of those little yappy dogs that likes to chase geese.

Erockin - Posted - 03/12/2025:  08:39:34

We got pretty close to some crows out behind our house. Then generally seemed interested. Eventually, they left. Mainly because of our pup I imagine.

DougD - Posted - 03/12/2025:  15:53:53

Here's a little folk song for you crow lovers. Maybe it will help you understand and communicate with them. They're apparently fond of jokes.
youtu.be/Gw_638skaRM?feature=shared

Edited by - DougD on 03/12/2025 15:59:32

tonyelder - Posted - 03/12/2025:  16:08:49

quote:

---

Originally posted by TuneWeaver

quote:

---

Originally posted by tonyelder

quote:

---

Originally posted by TuneWeaver

quote:

---

Originally posted by tonyelder

Too many Canadian Geese.

---

Now, hold off... I"m supporting Canadians at this time!!!  Maybe we need more coyotes? More skunks/raccoons to eat their eggs?

---

I just want to - Make my back yard great again!  

I wouldn't mind it  - if I could train them to "do their business" on the compost pile.  But - NO - they think the patio driveway, and back yard is better. I can only imagine one reason why they think like that:  They take great pleasure in aggravating me. 

---

Hey, the geese and I have something in common...eh?  Maybe you need one of those little yappy dogs that likes to chase geese.

 

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Got one. Her name is Elle Mae. 12 lb mini dachshund.  Lately - she's more interested in the squirrels.  But, when the squirrels are up in the trees, the geese are still on the ground. 

Her big problem is figuring out what she's suppose to do - when she catches up with either.  "OK. What do I do now?"    clueless.... 

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/14/2025:  15:22:10

too many Canadian Geese.. PC says Canada Geese..but either way, once Trump makes Canada the 51st State, they will all be American Geese.. Then what?   Maybe there will be a hunting/trapping season..?

ChickenMan - Posted - 03/14/2025:  15:47:26

quote:

---

Originally posted by TuneWeaver

too many Canadian Geese.. PC says Canada Geese..but either way, once Trump makes Canada the 51st State, they will all be American Geese.. Then what?   Maybe there will be a hunting/trapping season..?

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It's not "PC," that's just what they are called. Has nothing to do with "P" but is correct. You don't call the orchestra a violinist. 

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 03/15/2025:  05:36:59

I've seen those Canada Geese standing in line to cast their vote...lol. Ok, not funny. It's early, it's dreary and stormy.

I watched in amazement...call me stupid, but I never knew or thought about how geese or ducks would cross a river during flood stages. Why they might need to, I also don't know. But one day we were walking our dogs along the bank of a local river, and I was recording for a friend in England who wanted to see that river, thinking it was similar to the Severn over there across the big pond. So I was recording with my camera and kind of narrating where we were...the river was at a flood stage, but not terrible at the time...anyway, the current was pretty strong and there was some debris rushing through, and there were Canada Geese along the bank in small groups. Then I saw one group float in and just sorta faced the current, stayed there letting the river push them backwards...somehow they also gradually drifted toward the other side, the opposite bank, only ended up several yards down from where their starting point was. I had never seen anything like it. Once the first group was over the halfway mark across the river, group two started into the current and began to cross, in that same passive way. Maybe everybody else knows this is how it's done, but I was completely amazed and happy I caught it on video. I used it for one of my YouTubes, but I don't remember which tune it was...oh, maybe Life Gets Teejus...not sure but maybe. Anyhow...I learned something that day...lol. You can learn a lot just by watching.

tonyelder - Posted - 03/15/2025:  08:47:08

quote:

---

Originally posted by TuneWeaver

too many Canadian Geese.. PC says Canada Geese..but either way, once Trump makes Canada the 51st State, they will all be American Geese.. Then what?   Maybe there will be a hunting/trapping season..?

---

Actually, the proper scientific name is Branta canadensis.  The origin of the name is more related to where they were first studied, by the person who got the largest "federal grant" to study them at the time.  However - there are several species of geese in Canada. 

Truth be know - Canada is included in the North American continent, So - today - if habitat is what defines them - then the geese *could already be* correctly called American Geese. 

Truth be known - the geese on our small lake (over 100) spend more time here each year than - than there / or anywhere else for that matter. So - today - if habitat is what defines them - then ours *could be* called Mississippi Geese. 



...and - sadly - our Federal Government has laws protecting these foul (fowl) birds (Migratory Bird Treaty Act).  Its illegal to harm, capture, or kill them - or interfere with their nests and eggs. And - according to some - it is unlawful for me to even chase them out of my yard (harassment). Who's saying that?  ...those who don't have to put up with 100 geese in THEIR back yard. Soooo, it could be said that there are some folks in the neighborhood who are "on the lam" - while leading others on a "wild goose chase" - refusing to be a "sitting duck". 



It would be nice to gather them up and "relocate" those "crossing the border" to the backyards of those wanting to protect them so bad. Let them deal with it.    

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 03/16/2025:  05:38:46

We have turkeys, geese, crows, and the small birds, many native and some not. They don't bother us to be there. I love the mockingbirds singing through the night...and the sounds of the owls at times. I love to hear the geese honking as they fly over...I mean...I just love birds.



Anyway, here's one for Lee, who I believe loves a mysterious situation. This morning as we were filling up bird feeders and throwing out nuts for the squirrels, we found a soggy 5 dollar bill laying there under the feeders. Probably something from high winds and possibly even tornado debris, and if I could possibly find the owner I'd give it back. But the fun thought I had was a thank you/payment from the crows, who've been eating a lot of our squirrel peanuts lately...lol.

Edited by - groundhogpeggy on 03/16/2025 05:39:23

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/16/2025:  07:19:12

Clearly, a thank you 'note'...times 5.

tonyelder - Posted - 03/16/2025:  08:35:52

Well... just so no one thinks I'm "anti-bird". We do have several bird feeders out in the back yard too. 6 with seed and 2 more for the hummingbirds. And then there is the sunflower seed that gets put in plates for Cardinals, and Finches. They are loaded down with birds every morning.



And we have more than just the geese on our lake. There are 3 different species of duck that hang around.



The problem is the number of geese (in combination with all the other fowl). Our lake (and neighborhood) is just not big enough to support that many (100+) without suffering some ill effects - including the lake water. There are 2 other lakes in our neighborhood, and - for whatever reason - they like ours. Now, compare the "waste" of geese and the smaller birds... yeap, now you are getting an idea of what the problem is.  Goose dropings are about the size of our 12 lb puppy.



Some folks are accusing our neighbor across the lake from us for feeding them regularly - over the years - so they have become "trained" to accept that they will always be fed here. hmmmm... Why would they not come - if everything is going to be provided at no cost?



...and no fear. I think they know they are protected. They don't move, until they are almost in arms reach.



Anyway. It is a problem. And - like so many other things in life - there is a solution, but so far its all talk - no action.



But - life is good. We are grateful for the wildlife around us. We have arranged our property to be a sanctuary. Details if asked.

Edited by - tonyelder on 03/16/2025 08:48:17

ChickenMan - Posted - 03/16/2025:  10:36:22

There's usually a pair of them around my apartment complex for a stretch during this migratory time and we're miles from water. The other evening, windy as heck, a single one was on the sidewalk across the street honking a lot, probably lost. I see them land on the flat building tops occasionally (I'm third floor and they are downhill from me), but usually they are on the sidewalk down by the road for some dumb reason. And their dropping are definitely small dog sized and are everywhere.

My feeders are mostly visited by chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers and house finches. And squirrels. I tried spicing up the seed but the squirrels (some of them) developed a taste for it. Hilarious was seeing them chewing and opening their mouths very wide each chomp, clearly finding it unpleasant. Now, the couple that do visit just munch away like they were raised on cayenne peppers. I have to meter out tiny amounts of the seed for the birds during the morning and evening and toss peanuts down for the squirrels to keep them away as much as possible.

But everyone is free to drink the water, and the squirrels practically line up for it in the evening during winter.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 03/16/2025:  10:41:43

I gotta say geese poop is bigger than chihuahua poop...lol. Apparently geese poop doesn't spread diseases like other kinds of poop do...at least I read that a long time ago. Could be free compost, I guess...but I don't know. I hear ya, Tony. I don't have that issue so I don't know the answer but I do get your frustration. The biggest problems we've had were with raccoons threatening our chickens and then foxes. We could control the raccoons by making sure we had the coop locked up by dusk, which meant always being home by then, but the foxes were another matter. We were just selling ours when the foxes started sweeping the neighborhood of chickens. But one of the neighbors bought a movable solar electric poultry fence...more like netting...easy to move around, etc., and the foxes stopped just about immediately. I guess one good zap to the nose showed them they weren't welcome to her chickens. Next time we get chickens I'm gonna get me some of that poultry fencing...I might even get some this summer if I can afford it. We have a different kind of fencing on our yard now and the deer can see in and just come on in...when we had the 6 foot wood fence, they couldn't see in and didn't feel comfortable jumping in there. Now they can see and I'm sure the raccoons will find the yard more inviting too...we also have groundhogs...they haven't bothered our garden too much but I've always had veggie scraps for them. They did eat my strawberries...anyway...an electric poultry fence might be something I need to purchase soon...lol. I don't have much land, and it's all hillside, but we do have a lot of hungry animals...lol.

pete_fiddle - Posted - 03/16/2025:  14:48:05

We had electric chicken netting but hedgehogs just curl up when they get zapped, by the time they uncurl along comes another zap. They die after a few zaps. Dogs cats and other animals get tangled up also. A dog who was after a neighbors sheep got tangled. it was lifting the dog off the floor with each zap.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 03/16/2025:  16:38:53

The ones I've seen are pretty weak...I don't think they damage animals...chickens certainly don't get damaged by them. It's a pretty mild shock. Not at all like the ones we used to have for cattle...we all feared those wire fences...lol.

tonyelder - Posted - 03/16/2025:  19:08:55

quote:

---

Originally posted by groundhogpeggy

I gotta say geese poop is bigger than chihuahua poop...lol. Apparently geese poop doesn't spread diseases like other kinds of poop do...at least I read that a long time ago. Could be free compost, I guess...but I don't know. 

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lol... if you recall, I said earlier: "I wouldn't mind it  - if I could train them to "do their business" on the compost pile."    But I don't have much interest in going around collecting it. I'm just tired of having to step around it (when I remember).   Thank goodness for riding mowers. 

I have 3 compost piles. 1 is 16' x 5' x 4' tall. Another is 8' x 4' and only 2' tall (right now). And we have a 4' x 4' x 4' bin built in the middle of our veggie garden. I shred leaves to use as a mulch, and keep them in the bin. And the bottom of the heap usually ends up as leaf mold before it gets used.

And we also have our vermi-compost setup. I get two 5-gallon buckets full every other week. And I'm also making biochar, inoculated with lake water and fermenting comfrey. Good liquid fertilizer and soil amendments. 

...nope. Not just fiddling around. 

**********

ha ha ha...  I just re-read what I wrote earlier. I need to make a slight correction. I said: "Goose dropings are about the size of our 12 lb puppy."  lol...well. not quiet the size of the puppy herself, but her poop.     ...no charge for the entertainment. 

Edited by - tonyelder on 03/16/2025 19:17:02

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 03/17/2025:  07:30:13

I'm glad your puppy is bigger than goose doo doo...lol. Yeah I guess those dang geese won't allow any potty training so they will never poop where you want them to.

ChickenMan - Posted - 03/17/2025:  09:26:55

I'm not convinced about the poop not spreading disease. Re: bird flu
- Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces, allowing other birds to become infected through contact with contaminated surfaces or direct contact with infected birds." Geese and ducks are carriers. Also this for you pet owners: "Keep pets away from areas where dead birds or bird droppings may be present." Dogs can get it and cats at dairy farms are dying from it (cows carry it too as does raw milk).

pete_fiddle - Posted - 03/17/2025:  14:15:17

Re electric netting: Dogs just bounce around like they are in a pinball machine at the slightest shock. Other wild life does the same. i think they just die of shock after a few belts. These things are 10's of thousands of volts depending on where in the line you are when you get zapped and it only takes 100 milli amps (1/1000) amps to kill a human dead.



i was setting a post in for a shed on a misty day sweating a bit and bent down to take the last spade full out of the hole (only way i could have been better earthed is if i had copper boots on), and touched the electric fence with my forehead . Woke up about ten minutes later (so my workmate told me), with a burn mark on my forehead....But it cured my hangover........ dont think i would have woke up at all if i was tangled in electric netting.

Also we used to have spring gates to let the horses in and out. George (my horse), swished his tail to get rid of a fly and his tail got wound around it. Poor animal was getting shocked for about a minute before i could get to him to cut his tail out. .... Who knows what would have happened if we weren't on the job?.... Another time we had a 50 meter line of high tensile fence springing across the paddock with a panicking horse entangled in it. just surprised  never got sliced up...Use with caution.

Edited by - pete_fiddle on 03/17/2025 14:32:19

ChickenMan - Posted - 03/18/2025:  15:08:18

Pete that is definitely more juice than the standard electric fence wire here in the States. I've touched plenty of them, once hit one while crossing a creek (yow!) that made me ache, but otherwise, no worse or as bad as a finger in the light socket.

Edited by - ChickenMan on 03/18/2025 15:09:51

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 03/18/2025:  15:20:30

Our dogs used to regularly get zapped in the tail while running underneath the cattle wire...that was a good zap to get your attention...but the dogs just yelped and went on...same as we did...lol.

Well Chickenman, that might be the case. When I read that goose poop was pretty clean, given their diet of mainly grasses and seed, that was probably even before the internet...lol. Times have changed and now we have a bunch a new virus types to threaten all the critters around us...so...I guess I haven't kept up with the times. Migrating birds do spread disease easily in their travels.

tonyelder - Posted - 03/18/2025:  17:07:57

I asked "copilot" (AI): would goose "poop" carry pathogens or the bird flu?



Answer:

Yes, goose droppings can carry pathogens, including bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella, as well as parasites. Additionally, geese and other waterfowl can be carriers of avian influenza (bird flu), such as the H5N1 virus. While geese may not always show symptoms, their droppings can spread the virus to other birds and potentially contaminate water or soil.



I also asked: if a compost pile is heated to above 160 F - would that kill any pathogens or bird flu virus?



Answer:

Yes, heating a compost pile to temperatures above 160°F can effectively kill many pathogens, including the avian influenza (bird flu) virus. Composting at high temperatures is a well-established method for sanitizing organic material, as the heat generated during the process can inactivate viruses and bacteria.



However, it's important to maintain these high temperatures consistently throughout the pile for a sufficient period to ensure thorough pathogen elimination. Proper aeration, moisture levels, and turning of the compost are crucial to achieving uniform heating.



Me: 160 F is considered the "best practice" or rule of thumb for making the best compost. At that temperature - you also kill weed seeds. You have to make the effort to insure that temperatures get that high - but understand - it is not difficult to accomplish.

Edited by - tonyelder on 03/18/2025 17:08:31

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 03/18/2025:  18:31:59

Thank goodness for AI...I think of it as AL...it's easier to say than AI, and AI just looks like AL to me. I guess my info was actually very old stuff, way before the net...So, thanks for updating with our dear friend, AL, Tony.

I think usually strict herbivores do have cleaner poop than carnivores...like you know...our chickens used to eat everything from lizard, frogs, baby squirrels, mice, etc. Geese are more like cows when it comes to diet. I always thought cow poop was pretty clean too...maybe it's time for me to ask AL about that...lol.

pete_fiddle - Posted - 03/19/2025:  07:05:14

quote:

---

Originally posted by ChickenMan

Pete that is definitely more juice than the standard electric fence wire here in the States. I've touched plenty of them, once hit one while crossing a creek (yow!) that made me ache, but otherwise, no worse or as bad as a finger in the light socket.

---

Depends how well earthed you are, and where the Amps travel through your body to get to ground. It's Amps that kill not voltage. Ever welded a spanner across a 12v car battery? Finger in the light socket is AC and that would fry you if it didn't throw you off. You stick to DC and fry. Pulses of DC wouldn't be good either. if you couldn't get away from them.before the next one.....like if you where tangled up in a wire net.

Strabo - Posted - 03/19/2025:  07:15:00

Warning: Do not eat goose poop.

DougD - Posted - 03/19/2025:  07:29:37

Pete, the "mains" voltage over here is 120 (or 110) volts, while I think in the UK yours is 230 volts. Thats a big difference if you stick your finger in a light socket. I don't know what that has to do with electric fencing, but over here what I've encountered is nowhere near lethal (at least for humans). I'd imagine Peggy knows what she's talking about when it comes to chicken netting too.

pete_fiddle - Posted - 03/19/2025:  07:43:52

The voltage for a fence is apparently around 8000V no matter what the mains voltage is. It was enough to knock me out. And if i had fallen on the fence i would have been getting that through me every second or so.

As you know it's just Ohms Law. And a couple of hundred milliamps through you can and will kill if you can't get away. Like if you where tangled in a wire net.

ChickenMan - Posted - 03/19/2025:  11:54:24

Light sockets came up as an example of our electric. As a kid I've put my finger into sockets a few times, once on accident because the light was off with no bulb in it and at my house we had to screw/unscrew that bulb to turn it on/off. I reached up in the dark and zap. The other times were on dares because I knew it wasn't that big a deal.

pete_fiddle - Posted - 03/19/2025:  14:07:29

Only electric fence i have pulled dead animals out of is chicken netting. incidentally my neighbor was wrestling a muntjac out of his chicken netting about 3 weeks ago.....Don't think it would have got out alive if he had called me for help...