Rats in the compost bin - eek! MERGED

Lotus-eater

cazbust01 wrote: »

Omg was just about to go and buy a compost bin but think i have changed mhy mind with all these posts eeuuugggghhh. can anyone give me a easy reasssurance that i can avoid all this easily
shuddering at the thought of rats in my garden as i have 2 children age 4 and 6#
many thanks in advance

For the flippin 30th time, put heavy duty wire under the bin!

daska

We're just about to have a new food digester delivered, we didn't have any problems with rats last time we had one (a Green Johanna) because it had an integral perforated bottom - has the added advantage that you can put ALL your food waste in it, including bones etc and you get lovely compost out of it at the end.

cazbust01

Lotus-eater wrote: »

For the flippin 30th time, put heavy duty wire under the bin!

sorry, i was just seeking reassurance, think i gottit now wont ask for 31 times :-) thanks

cazbust01

daska wrote: »

We're just about to have a new food digester delivered, we didn't have any problems with rats last time we had one (a Green Johanna) because it had an integral perforated bottom - has the added advantage that you can put ALL your food waste in it, including bones etc and you get lovely compost out of it at the end.

oh that sounds interesting, can i ask where you got it from ?

savemoney

It mentioned this in todays DM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1131055/How-green-gardening-encouraging-explosion-rat-population.html


Only a sealed bin, placed on a metal mesh, is rat-proof, they said.

daska

We got our first green johanna from the local council using a subsidy scheme. They're supplied by greencone dot com - they have a useful look up facility so that you can check whether you're eligible for a discount. My hubby became quite addicted to going out to stir the compost, he was amazed when six months later even the bones out of legs of lamb had completely disappeared.

cazbust01

thanks so much for these extremely helpful replies

Artytarty

Hi, after years of nagging, my husband has finally constructed a much awaited compost heap for us.We used to spend ages taking green waste to the recycling centre and then calling in at the garden centre to spend £££ on " soil improvers"!
Anyhow, the thing is, I am now having nightmares about...rats!
Are we only asking for trouble here?
i do know the guidlines about no cooked food, but I also read that you should not place it in an inconspicuous, remote corner of the garden because rats are cautious timid creatures and the nearer the house and the more noise the better. Well, we have sited ours in a far away corner so it is hidden from the view from the living room.
Im just really worried, we cant use poison or bait if we do get rats because of the dog.
Has this been a problem for other composters?
My Mum got mice nesting in hers which is creepy but not soooo bad!
Arty.

billieboy_2

I read somewhere that you should put fine wire mesh in the bottom, which stops the rats and mice tunnelling under to get in.

Pink.

Hi Artytarty,

I've never had problems with rats in my compost which is not situated near the house but I only ever put non cooked vegetable matter in there.

We have a greenfingered board where you should get more advice so I'll move your thread over there to see if you get more replies.

This thread may help too:

Rats in the compost bin - eek!

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