I'm growing owl food!

[KentYeti]

Well I hope I am!

My youngest daughter moved out with her partner, (now her husband), last year, taking the two family cats with her.

So my garden field mice are no longer being eaten under my bedroom chair in the early hours of the morning.

We have had Owls, (Barn Owls I think), heading over our garden at night before and it would be lovely to get them back. Even just occasionally.

So I'm starting to put seed down for the field mice. Part hidden from birds and where I see the mice running from their nests in the Kent Rag Stone walls. Not really walls, just retaining sectiions about a foot high, in various parts of the garden.

I've also left a narrow margin of grass untouched joning two sections of such Rag Stone.

Hoefully with the mice population will grow, but one day will be kept under control by an Owl or two!

Wonder if anyone else has done the same and can ralate their experiences here.

Cheers,

Bryan

[Acipiter]

I have visions of mice at your door Bryan, Oliver twist style asking for more.

[~T~]

Haha it's usually the other way round with people trying to discourage mice. Hope your idea works and you don't end up needing the pied piper.

[KentYeti]

Originally Posted by Acipiter

I have visions of mice at your door Bryan, Oliver twist style asking for more.

I think it will be a while before they come to my door. Only when the stories of the great fury beast that used to hunt them at night are left behind in the mists of time.

Oh. And the stories about them being hunted by my ex cats as well! LOL!

I wonder how fast they breed?

Cheers,

Bryan

[Dogghound]

Are you situated in quite a rural setting and is the garden quite open? Its usually Tawny owls which you associate with gardens. Barn owls favour open habitats with areas of rough grassland, in which they can hunt field voles their prefered prey. If you garden is adjacent to open habitats (farmland, rough grassland, river banks etc) they you may get field voles coming in. The seed will be exploited by mice more than voles. Its likely you will get tawny owl activity if there are plenty of trees around.

Woodmice can have over five litters in a year, and can breed quite rapidly. You could do with adding some areas of tree cover/scrub for this species. Also be aware that mice will often enter buildings during the winter and can cause damage.

[Acipiter]

Like I said Bryan, knocking on the door.

[KentYeti]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Are you situated in quite a rural setting and is the garden quite open? Its usually Tawny owls which you associate with gardens. Barn owls favour open habitats with areas of rough grassland, in which they can hunt field voles their prefered prey. If you garden is adjacent to open habitats (farmland, rough grassland, river banks etc) they you may get field voles coming in. The seed will be exploited by mice more than voles. Its likely you will get tawny owl activity if there are plenty of trees around.

Woodmice can have over five litters in a year, and can breed quite rapidly. You could do with adding some areas of tree cover/scrub for this species. Also be aware that mice will often enter buildings during the winter and can cause damage.

I'm close to the edge of the Green Belt, but I know from my current studies of Barn Owls there is only limited ground locally for them to hunt in. The nearest viable area is probably outside or right on the edge of their normal territorial range from here.

But I do know it was almost certainly Barn Owls that my late wife and I heard some time ago. And more than once. Maybe a juvenile looking for a territory.

With a large circa 200 year old oak tree in my garden and other trees not far away it is more likely a Tawny Owl will be attracted. But realistically I know the chances are slim. But nothing ventured, nothing gained!

And we've had mice in the garden for many, many years. And so far the only building they have got into has been the garden shed.

Cheers,

Bryan

[Dogghound]

How about putting a box up in the oak tree? For either species?

[KentYeti]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

How about putting a box up in the oak tree? For either species?

I have thought of that. It has a Tree Preservation Order on it so I would need to investigate that. And I would have to find out what my neighbours thought.

But thanks for the prod!

Cheers,

Bryan