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Rikard's avatar

Nyuk nyuk nyuk, I've met his kind several times over the years. I always wonder, what did this kind of people do pre-modern society (say before 1800 or so)?

The condescending attitude along with the Besserwisser personality must have been tightly controlled in nations and cultures where it could have gotten you killed or imprisoned, I think.

As for marten proof, do you mean wolverine/pine marten proof? That's a challenge to build as they are quite strong (their jaws can snap the leg bones or vertebrae of reindeer after all). Am currently building a new chicken coop myself. As we have a 250 kilo bear living about 1 kilometer up the foothills, I've callously decided to make it rodent and vermin proof, but bear-proof? Might as well let the chicken live in the house in that case (which is a no-go, I might have a romatic view of the Iron Age but not /that/ romantic!).

Oh, have you considered hares? I believe there's a german breed specifically intended as a meat animal.

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epimetheus's avatar

Re the first two paragr.: I dunno, oucasts, dimwits, vagrants, criminals of the rather unpleasant sort. Some became priests, for sure.

As for the bunnies: well, they are our daughters' pets, so, they're not for human consumption. We've used chicken wire inside the barn; there's a lot of manure left from the previous owner, as well as a heavy iron grate w/fence.

I'll check later if the bunnies made it through the night.

According to the neighbours, we don't have wolves or bears hereabouts; we shall see if that's actually true, but for now I'm inclined to believe them (their sheep are outside during the night).

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Rick Larson's avatar

I constructed a bear proof apiary that worked. Made out of hog panels, sunk into the earth, then pinned in with large rocks, and barb wired together. I have videos of bears coming and after trying to break in just sit down and think about it. Nothing more powerful to draw in bears than honey!

But one does have to remember to shut the door (which is a chain wrapped around the cattle panel door).

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Rikard's avatar

That is some heavy duty construction, that!

I've been thinking of upgrading in the future, but using logs instead. A small log cabin, sort of, maybe 200*200 cm floor space, built into the side of the slope behind the house. The local predators don't drop in during the day, so the fence around the run only needs to be "chicken strength" + a net for a roof to keep out crows, ravens and raptors.

Bee-hives are on the wife's 'five-year plan'. Main question is as always DIY or buy prefab, and totalling up the cost and the return of investment timescale.

I must ask, is it black bears, grizzly or brown bears? I understand the black ones are quite clever, judging by numerous clips online. We only get the european brown bear, and they are plenty enough - when you're out walking and hear that special whistling noice mother bear makes to warn you she ahs cubs nearby, it's about turn and go home.

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Rick Larson's avatar

Black. I haven't worked honey bees for a few years since a winter killed them all, but here are videos of the bear action. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDCRYtmkDsX8RkrfDCFACA-IdbO4iIm2C

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Irena's avatar

I'm not sure what you're objecting to. What he wrote is perfectly true. And he may have written it for the benefit of people considering grad school.

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epimetheus's avatar

Haha, I know it's true, to certain degrees, but I doubt the level of self-awareness necessary to be so reflective.

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