Verminating Stables

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ovy4213

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South Shields, Tyne & Wear....Surbiton, Surrey.
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Hello
I am offering my services to local stables and training schools in the Surrey area for removal of vermin.
I humanely dispose of various vermin, including rats, rabbits (which im sure you are all aware are very dangerous for horses), pigeons, crows, magpies etc.
I have allot of experience with removing vermin, only use air rifles so there is no traps of poisons involved, always use silenced weapons so not to scare any animals or pets.
I also have full insurance including public liability insurance, and hold a full verminating license.
If you have any questions or would like to enquirer about my services, then please either private message me, or simply email me directly at:
c.ovington@hotmail.com
Thank you.
 
ovy4213 said:
Hello
I am offering my services to local stables and training schools in the Surrey area for removal of vermin.
I humanely dispose of various vermin, including rats, rabbits (which im sure you are all aware are very dangerous for horses), pigeons, crows, magpies etc.
I have allot of experience with removing vermin, only use air rifles so there is no traps of poisons involved, always use silenced weapons so not to scare any animals or pets.
I also have full insurance including public liability insurance, and hold a full verminating license.
If you have any questions or would like to enquirer about my services, then please either private message me, or simply email me directly at:
c.ovington@hotmail.com
Thank you.
Click to expand...

Sounds good. Mind the Fat Controller doesn't tell you off for advertising your services on here though. ;)

One question that puzzles me though, surely it would take for ever to shoot rats? Would it not be quicker to use a posion? And how can you safely operate around yards and fields of horses. Not being critical I am just curious. I know someone who shoots at the local riding club: only rabbits for his dogs to eat, and he is only allowed under the cover of darkness so no one is around, either equine or human.

Even with a silencer on, does your air rifle not make a loud whoosing noise when you pull the trigger?
 
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applecart14 said:
Sounds good. Mind the Fat Controller doesn't tell you off for advertising your services on here though. ;)

One question that puzzles me though, surely it would take for ever to shoot rats? Would it not be quicker to use a posion? And how can you safely operate around yards and fields of horses. Not being critical I am just curious. I know someone who shoots at the local riding club: only rabbits for his dogs to eat, and he is only allowed under the cover of darkness so no one is around, either equine or human.

Even with a silencer on, does your air rifle not make a loud whoosing noise when you pull the trigger?
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Rats are a tricky one, if they are found at stables, they are used to lots of spare food around the place, so they often come out when its quite, so by placing can food or fish or bacon into a open spot close to areas of there activity (obvious chewed holes in barn walls, droppings etc) they will come out to get the food, making them very easy to shoot, and when you do, rats being the lovely creatures they are, will often enough try and eat the corpse of the other rat within a few minutes if you remain still and quite, using poisons is quicker, but more risky, if a endangered animal eats the poison, indirectly or directly (e.g. a red kite eats a dead rat corpse killed by poison, the poison is then passed on to the red kite) meaning I am in allot of legal trouble and would feel rather bad about it aswell. Also what if some of the poison is blown in the wind etc into hay, if a race horse or pet horse eats it, the horse and myself will be in allot of trouble.
I use different air rifles for different areas, varying in size and power depending on where I am shooting, from field guns to barn guns. as for shooting withing areas of horses, I would either request that the horses are placed in barn's or a separate paddock, ensuring there safety, the quiet would also draw out the rabbits into the open thinking its safe to come out. If the horses were unable to move into a separate area, I would only shoot anything a good 40+ meters away from the horses, never anything closer.
As for the silencer, the firing noise depends on the gun it is used with, but my particular ones, make a high pitched sharp noise, meaning it wont scare horses etc, as to them it is no different to the sound of a barn owl screeching, or a mouse squeaking, a non silenced rifle would make a louder bang, which is a unusual noise for them to hear at night etc, so is much more likely to scare them.
I would do most of my shooting at night anyways, as most of the vermin is active at night, and there should be no people around or highly active horses.
I hope this answered your questions, anything else just ask.
Chris.
 
You mean you're looking for somewhere to play with your airgun? I suggest you join your local field target club.

Most people on here know very well the best way to deal with vermin and will know an airgun is next to useless and VERY limited.
 
Sare said:
A what?! I know of no such thing, I can't even think of what you could be referring to. Please can you expand- I'd like to know if there's a gap in my knowledge!
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People often think that anything which is classed as vermin can be shot with an air rifle as long as it is on there land and done humanely.
The fact of the matter is that this is actually illegal, a vermin can only be killed if it poses a threat to endangered animals, live stock, crops, or peoples well being (e.g. when seagulls attack people because they have a nest close by)
To legally shoot vermin, and other not classed as vermin but do cause trouble for people you have to acquire different verminating licences.
Here is a list where you acquire them from.
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/regulation/wildlife/licences/generallicences.aspx
 
ovy4213 said:
Hello
, rabbits (which im sure you are all aware are very dangerous for horses)
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Sorry if I am really stupid, but why are rabbits "very dangerous" to horses?

Personally, I wouldn't want someone with an air rifle anywhere near my animals. A foal of ours was shot in the leg many years ago by someone out "verminating" on neighbouring land.
 
lazybee said:
You mean you're looking for somewhere to play with your airgun? I suggest you join your local field target club.

Most people on here know very well the best way to deal with vermin and will know an airgun is next to useless and VERY limited.
Click to expand...

I am already a member of a number of shooting clubs.
My services are meant for people who do or can not take care of there own vermin problem.
For example rabbits in a field, there warrens can cause horses to break there legs and throw riders if they are in the horses fields.
The best way to deal with rabbits is by snare's, but these are now illegal, as is gassing and the other best ways of killing them.
Which leaves shooting, a shot gun is the best way, but there are all sorts of legal implications (distance from a public right of way, time in which you shoot etc) Whilst with an air rifle these are severely reduced meaning its allot easier and cheaper to kill rabbits with an air rifle. As for other vermin I happily just do them on the side as the rabbits are the real problem.
 
StarcatcherWilliam said:
Sorry if I am really stupid, but why are rabbits "very dangerous" to horses?

Personally, I wouldn't want someone with an air rifle anywhere near my animals. A foal of ours was shot in the leg many years ago by someone out "verminating" on neighbouring land.
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Yes I should have made myself more clear.
Rabbits are perfectly safe around horses, but if they are digging warrens in the fields where the horses are trained or grazing, its very easy for a horse to step into a warren, get a fright and try to run, result, a very badly broken leg which may result in having to be put down.

And I full understand your fear of having someone shoot around your animals, Thats why I take allot of precautions before shooting, and never shoot withing 40+ meters of a live stock or horse. There are allot of 'rambo's' out there, who do not think of consequences, or take necessary precautions when shooting, this is one of the reasons the law was recently changed about who can buy a gun, where it can be used etc.
 
I can tell you now a 12ft/lbs puff gun is not even close to being any good at rabbit control. At best you'll get one or two. They will wise up in about two days. They'll run from the lamp as soon as you switch it on. Snaring isn't illegal (but it should be) Ferrets and nets aren't too bad a method. For rats poison is the most effective method followed by traps. I can't see anyone inviting you round to go 'plinking' around their horses.


Is this some kind of a wind up ???????
 
ovy4213 said:
Yes I should have made myself more clear.
Rabbits are perfectly safe around horses, but if they are digging warrens in the fields where the horses are trained or grazing, its very easy for a horse to step into a warren, get a fright and try to run, result, a very badly broken leg which may result in having to be put down.
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Ahh OK, i understand now why they are considered dangerous. We have more of a problem with badger holes in our fields tbh!
 
lazybee said:
I can tell you now a 12ft/lbs puff gun is not even close to being any good at rabbit control. At best you'll get one or two. They will wise up in about two days. They'll run from the lamp as soon as you switch it on. Snaring isn't illegal (but it should be) Ferrets and nets aren't too bad a method. For rats poison is the most effective method followed by traps. I can't see anyone inviting you round to go 'plinking' around their horses.


Is this some kind of a wind up ???????
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From my experience of getting 12 rabbits in one night an air rifle is very effective, I do not use a lamp, I use a night vision scope, so they have nothing to learn from.
Snaring is legal but extremely tight on restrictions, you have to use free running snares, must be checked at least once a day, They should never be set out in or attached to fences, along public footpaths or in the vicinity of a house or land where there is danger to pets and domestic animals. So especially around barns where horses roam.
Ferrets and nets work well, but allot of the farms I have previously worked on were unhappy about the use of ferrets, the same as bringing as hunting dog onto there land.
And Thats is entirely your choice and I am not here to convince you other wise, I am simply giving people the opportunity to rid themselves of vermin.
And no its not a wind up, I already do a number of farms in the north east, and have been given full permission to turn up as and when I like to remove vermin.
 
StarcatcherWilliam said:
Ahh OK, i understand now why they are considered dangerous. We have more of a problem with badger holes in our fields tbh!
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Ah yes, badger sett's can be rather larger aswell.
Unfortunetly they are protected by the protection of badgers act 1992.
So I specific badger license would have to be acquired before culling of any badgers. As I have never had to clear a badger problem before I don't currently hold this license (as you have to give good reason for wanting one).
All I would say is do not try and get rid of them yourself, they can be extremely vicious, and carry many diseases.
 
ovy4213 said:
People often think that anything which is classed as vermin can be shot with an air rifle as long as it is on there land and done humanely.
The fact of the matter is that this is actually illegal, a vermin can only be killed if it poses a threat to endangered animals, live stock, crops, or peoples well being (e.g. when seagulls attack people because they have a nest close by)
To legally shoot vermin, and other not classed as vermin but do cause trouble for people you have to acquire different verminating licences.
Here is a list where you acquire them from.
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/regulation/wildlife/licences/generallicences.aspx
Click to expand...

I'm aware of where you obtain the General Licenses. This doesn't equate to a 'Verminating license' and is not specific to you therefore cannot be classed as you holding the license. Also it depends on the species as to whether it can be killed legally or not and on the circumstances thereafter.

In basic terms mammals are not protected, except for named species and birds are all protected but in certain circumstances named species may be controlled (and by specific means).

The seagulls is dodgy ground because I think you'll find that the species that is most likely to behave that way cannot be shot (especially not with an air rifle!!) legally- general license or not general license. That would require a special license- which would be specific to you- but which you cannot be a 'holder' of because it is also specific to the place and circumstance.

Sorry to be a bore.

I'm pleased to know that no license requirements have crept in without me noticing though!
 
ovy4213 said:
Ah yes, badger sett's can be rather larger aswell.
Unfortunetly they are protected by the protection of badgers act 1992.
So I specific badger license would have to be acquired before culling of any badgers. As I have never had to clear a badger problem before I don't currently hold this license (as you have to give good reason for wanting one).
All I would say is do not try and get rid of them yourself, they can be extremely vicious, and carry many diseases.
Click to expand...

Sorry OP I didn't mean to start World War 3 on here.

Badgers are a nightmare. A little story about badgers:

When we had a terrier go down a badger set at the local riding club where my partner lived the owners rang the fire brigade. It wasn't definite the dog was down there so they put vibration monitoring equipment down and located the set they thought the dog (or something) was in. The fire and rescue people said they could not proceed to dig out the badger until a special license was granted from DEFRA. This took 24 hours. The owners stayed overnight in the car in case the dog decided to make an appearance from the badger set although everyone believed it was probably dead anyway if it had gone down a badger set it wouldn't have lasted a minute with a badger down there. We were taking them cups of tea and food to the car!

The digging the next day was carried out by a special search and rescue part of Solihull Fire Brigade (who go to warn torn countries or disasters abroad and help out retrieving people and bodies). I watched as they put a camera down the hole and had vibration monitoring equipment stuck in the ground trying to track down the dog which they feared had been killed by the badger. I spoke to DEFRA and the RSPCA which both had to attend the scene! I said to DEFRA if it was a toddler down the hole do you honestly think anyone would have had to have waited 24 hours for a licence?! He replied that a human would be different! Yeah no ***** sherlock! The DEFRA bloke also agreed with me when I said that badgers on the side of the road looking like road kill weren't actually road kill. He said they'd done an autopsy of two badgers in East Anglia a couple of years back and both were riddled with gun shot from the farmer and laid in the road to look like road kill. Presumably due to the TB danger.

PS Well done to Solihull Fire Brigade and their rescue side called Urban Search and Rescue. An extract from Wikipedia.

Technical Rescue Unit (Urban Search and Rescue)

The West Midland's Technical Rescue Unit is one of the best in the country. Located at Bickenhill fire station, the Technical Rescue Unit operates both the USAR pods and vehicles provided by the government, along with several other vehicles specially purchased by the brigade itself. The unit also boasts a brand new urban search and rescue training rig as well as offering rope and water rescue training, making it the second best USAR training centre in the county (the best being the extensive facilities at the Fire Service College).
12 members of the West Midlands team were deployed as part of the UKISAR (United Kingdom International Search And Rescue) mission to Haiti in the wake of the earthquake there on January 12, 2010.[14] The team were joined by 2 further members who had been in Sweden as part of a training exercise at the time of the earthquake. The team were involved in the rescue of several people, including two-year old Mia, who had been trapped for over four days.[15]
 
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ovy4213 said:
Yes I should have made myself more clear.
Rabbits are perfectly safe around horses, but if they are digging warrens in the fields where the horses are trained or grazing, its very easy for a horse to step into a warren, get a fright and try to run, result, a very badly broken leg which may result in having to be put down.

And I full understand your fear of having someone shoot around your animals, Thats why I take allot of precautions before shooting, and never shoot withing 40+ meters of a live stock or horse. There are allot of 'rambo's' out there, who do not think of consequences, or take necessary precautions when shooting, this is one of the reasons the law was recently changed about who can buy a gun, where it can be used etc.
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^5 this Rabbits dig holes horse runs puts put down hole leg breaks :(

I fill holes up with broken glass then debri so they cant dig out.

We have had someone here shooting but unfortunately he didn't catch anything on either occasion .

We have had wasps removed and have poisoned rats , the cats are good at the mice . Foxes are different problem they do hunt the rabbits but they torment our cats sometimes are so infested with mange that my donkey has caught it from them.
 
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