Rats in the compost bin - eek! MERGED

Artytarty

Thanks to everyone for their experiences. I think now that it is built shall give it a go and bang,& shout when Im out there! ( pretty normal behaviour for me really!)
If we run into problems then a change of tack is in order and "the men" can sort it out.
Cant wait to see the look on their faces when I ask them to pee on the pile! lol!
Arty.

hungrynurse_2

Ive just put a couple of bags of manure on the compost as I was given some & 2 bags wernt too well rotted. Ive also just thrown a load of sprouting spuds that were past it on. At the same time, Ive noticed tunnels in my compost, and now the spuds have been nibbled on.

Please, someone tell me that this isnt rats! Ive got an open, 3 sided compost 'compound', but have also got a baby, and grow fruid & veg so dont particularly want rats in the area! Is there anything else it could be, and what can I do about them? It is generally well turned, and wet enough I think- or can it ever be wet enough?

Lotus-eater

I think you will find it can only be rats. The tunnels may have been moles, but they won't nibble spuds.
I think it might be time to build an enclosed heap with wire underneath.

hungrynurse_2

SKIPPY54 wrote: »

Hi,Put fine mesh wire under the composter,don't let the compost become to dry,get the men of the house to pee in a bucket and pour it on, it may-not sound very nice but it helps keep everything moist and also helps composting.Yes bang the sides of the bin then you will not scare each other when you take the lid off.I have seen rats in the garden but never in my compost.Dont give up composting keep it out of land fill.

How fine wire mesh is needed? wilcos have some 13mm mesh for 3.99, which they sell as cage mesh, so Id guess this was thick enough to keep vermin in (as pets) or out. Anybody, know

cazbust01

hi all, ok got my compost bin but unsure what wire to put underneath and where to get it from, my hubby went to b& q and said he wasnt sure what to get ? any advice greatly appreviated, cheers

Lotus-eater

Not chicken wire. It's called galvanised welded wire mesh. Looks a bit like this.
http://www.focusdiy.co.uk/invt/185570

Anything like that will do. I think Wilkinsons may sell small bits of it. But don't take my word for that, wait till someone else agrees.

squeaky

darcyvuqua wrote: »

well guys i have no problems with rodents but flies and my bin a darlek kinda one is leeking a very unpleasant fluid from the bottom that smells so foul what can i do to stop this any help would be great i only started this about 5-6 months ago

Is your bin sat on pavement or concrete? If so, next time you empty it, if you have somewhere in the garden where you can sit it on soil you'll find that this problem stops. Any liquids produced will drain slowly and naturally downwards, not to mention that assorted beetles and, especially worms, will be able to find their way in and help you out.
My dalek composter, even so, tends to make on the damp side, so all my shredded paperwork goes in there too.

Having said that - last summer I noticed a fair few ants in there. Recent checks have shown a full blown colony in residence and the number of other insects which were once numerous and varied are now gone. Time to recover the compost and er... encourage the little burghers to leave methinks!

Capt._Caveman

Thought I had rats/mice in my black bin composter last summer, so I mounded up some fallen holly leaves all round the base (sited on open ground next to a holly tree- by chance) and added more moisture (vegetative and human!) and that did the trick.

With the pallet composters, I think there is only the option of turning over regularly from one bin to another and setting traps.

I would always put composter far away from the house and far from the veg patch, for this reason and because of slugs and fungi which break down the stuff in there.

Jaggers_2

I've got to say, as a man with strange (and possibly slightly unhygienic) interests I do love a spot of ratting with terriers (wait howls of protest about blood sports!). you may find that there are local terrier owners willing to help you out. Hell, if you are in my area I'll do it for a cup of tea! Better than putting down loads of poisons, and indeed in my opinion a lot less cruel.

However please be careful that if you get volunteers for this that they are not, unless very experienced, using ferrets to bolt the rats. A doe rat that has just given birth, or is due to do so will stand her ground and inflict awful injuries on a ferret. Whilst many people do not like ferrets either these wonderful animals certainly do not deserve to be ripped apart by an unhappy rat.

As for letting a rat live in the compost, I'm not sure that I would like the idea of putting decayed rat faeces round my veggies. After all you wouldn't put dog or cat poo in the compost for the reason of transmition of horrid diseases.

By the way, if you have a rabbit problem I have ferrets to help out....

Told you I was a man of strange habits!!