[Oliveview]

Now I do not mind hunting down the snails to give to my hens but I draw the line at baby mice :shock:  They were about 1" long furless with their eyes shut squirming about... :shock: Still at least it is 7 less mice to eat the veg they grow.

[John]

The Spanish don't seem to have quite the same attitude to animals as we do. Personally, I think what makes us human is the ability to choose to take life of animals with a minimum of pain.

A cat, for example, can't consider the pain it causes its prey. It's not cruel - just incable of that empathy.

Making that choice, to be cruel or not, is a measure of our humanity.

[Aunt Sally]

The Spanish don't seem to have quite the same attitude to animals as we do.

Absolutely John.  Cultural differences can cause misunderstandings friction and even anger.  And you don't even need to be of a different culture to see things differently.

I set break neck traps for catching mice around my hens run but I have friend who think that is really evil.  I have one friend who uses a "humane trap" and drives the live mouse about two miles away to releases it  :roll:

My hens like to catch frogs.  They kill them by pecking their heads and swallow them whole, head first.  I was horrified the first time I saw this and "confiscated the dead frog.  I got such a beakful of abuse from the hen that I thought OK... why should I force my values on a hen  :?:  

Not a different culture but a different species.  If they catch a frog I now just leave them to enjoy it  :shock:  :roll:

[GrannieAnnie]

I have seen hens eat mice, but I woldn't deliberately feed them mice.  Anyway, no chance if the dog gets to them first!!!  She ate a nestful of them once, including the dried grass of the nest, but I didn't stop her, and its her natural instinct!

[John]

I didn't realise chickens were sp much like Jurassic Velocorapters

Despite what I said about cats - our Claudipus is scared of them.

[hermon]

talking of spain and animals an animal charity which i was a member of years ago sent photos of the "festivals" thay have in some back street villages oh god they where awful, pulling heads of live geese that where hung upside down, throwing goats out of church windows in the name of religion! oh it makes me mad!! so i am slightly biassed to the spanish now.....sorry if anyone on here is spanish!

[John]

Coming from a country where we had and have fox hunting, badger baiting and dog fighting  I think we need to be careful about pointing fingers too hard.

[purplebat]

but we have had the sense to make these things illegal now!

[John]

but we have had the sense to make these things illegal now!

True enough but dog fighting still goes on apparently -

[Aunt Sally]

As does fox hunting  :!:

[John]

I was trying to avoid that hot potato

[Aunt Sally]

Not me I love hot potatoes; baked, hot, butter, herbs, some chopped bacon and grilled cheese on top.  Yumm    :roll:

But foxes In my garden smiling at my chooks,   I am not keen on but I'd rather have them shot than chased by hounds :!:

[Little Miss Muffet]

I'd rather have them shot than chased by hounds


I would to.I have never liked hunting with dogs to many hunters have let the fox go to the ground only for the dogs to dig it up.There is no sport involved.At least with shooting them its quicker is shot correctly.

As for jackett potatos cheese and coleslaw with lashing of butter for me


I have never known a chicken to eat mice.

[Aunt Sally]

I keep a mouse trap set near the hens run in a clear plastic lunch box with just a little mouse hole in it .  Little birds won't go in and cats and chooks are not in danger of getting snapped.  

The chooks just can't work out why they can see (and probably smell) the mouse but can't get at it to eat it  

[Oliveview]

The neighbours think we are mad to have our dog sleep in the house, to them dogs are to make a noise if folk are not meant to be on your property. As our dog is a Chihuahua he can make a noise but runs a mile when strangers come in the gate!!
I must say though, their hens are well housed and well fed.
The closest mine get to meat are the snails I collect. Although I noticed yesterdays snails were still on the floor of the outside run last night.... hope they have not moved on to my veggie patch! :shock:
Pamela (in a very damp & dreary for the past week Spain)