Arson most fowl

Unlike most of the guys on this board, I don’t often have need of a tractor. I have only 12 acres, and what’s not in oak and pine trees is considered “lawn”, and I mow that six or so acres with a JD zero turn.

So why do I have two tractors and would like to get a third? I suspect it’s probably unnecessary to pose that question on this board.<br<br
>Anyway, because my tractors sometimes sit for long stretches, critters of various kinds like to call them “home”. Rats and mice stash their acorns in every cranny and leave empty shells all over everything. One year I had to put off some bushhogging while waiting for a hatching of bluebirds to fledge out and move off the top of the battery case of my 8N. Now I watch out for and discourage them and the wrens.

Must have missed one, though—I cranked up the JD 1020 the other day and went down on the backside of the place when I noticed a rosy glow through the crack of the battery lid of the hood. Discovered a nice little bonfire of pine straw and leaves on top of the manifold, in a place that was almost impossible to reach. I wasn’t near a water hose so I basically had to let it burn out. The birds had apparently just started the nest, so no real harm done. This time of year it's a good idea to make an inspection every now and then.

I had to move a wren nest, with three little ones almost ready to leave on their own, out of the battery box of the Miller welder on my servicd truck. The welder cranks off the truck batteries so it's a nice, large, sheltered, safe area for them to build, until I'm gone from home for a day or so that is. Fortunately this time the parents quickly discovered where I had moved the nest and the little ones and continued their care for another week or so until they left the nest on their own. I caught another pair starting a nest in there over the weekend and got rid of their work before they got too much further along. Wrens are cute little birds, and they eat alot of insects so they are good to have around, but they can build in the worst possible places sometimes......

You need some good cats, they will keep them away from the equipment.

I have a swallow nest and 2 hummingbird nests in my shop.Its kinda fun to watch them grow up and leave....Did you know they use the same nest year after year?

I just cleared a nest that was started on top of my battery on my 641.

Of course, I noticed when I was removing my fuel line to take my carb off and touched the line to the positive side of the battery.

Try moth balls in an old nylon stocking. Works for mice or birds.

Wayne - I put wren boxes all around the yard and where do they build a nest?

In the tractor funnel. . .