Composting and rats?!

Myrtle

They do really love eggs shells though. I've got a rat in my bin too. I had an old door leaning against the garden wall and the rat had taken the egg shells out of the bin and sat on the side of the door, licking them! :eek:

No more eggs in the compost bin for me. I burnt the door and tidied up round the bin but the rat's still there. I think I need to get some chicken wire but I'm not looking forward to digging the compost in case there's a nest

Blerk!!!! I hate animals! I had an infestation of mice last year after winning the Swizzels sweet competition. The smell lured them into the house and they nibbled every lolly! Took months to get rid.........

squiggle37

i have just been digging at my compost this morning only had it a week and its half way full, i noticed lots and lots of bluebottles about the bin, i have only put green and brown stuff in it with a couple of eggs shells, also my son has peed in it twice, is it normal to have lots of flies as i dont fancy finding maggotts in my bin ewwwwww

thanks

Debt_Free_Chick

squiggle37 wrote: »

i have just been digging at my compost this morning only had it a week and its half way full, i noticed lots and lots of bluebottles about the bin, i have only put green and brown stuff in it with a couple of eggs shells, also my son has peed in it twice, is it normal to have lots of flies as i dont fancy finding maggotts in my bin ewwwwww

thanks

It's not a bad thing.... the maggots will help the process of converting the waste into compost.

The maggots will either

1) turn into flies and fly away

or

2) roast in the compost which will become too hot for them


Don't worry. Your compost is normal - the creepy crawlies are all part of the natural process. To be honest, if you don't want the insects, then composting is not for you

squiggle37

thanks just making sure i was doing it right i dont mind maggotts too much so long as they dont touch me,

Keith

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

There's good advice and a "recipe" for compost from Garden Organic here

Can I just check so it's ok to put our rabbit's woodshavings into the compost bin? And how slow would they compost compared to the other things that are in there like weeds, grass cuttings and veg from the kitchen?

dispic1

get a "big cheese" rat trap. we had one and it was gross, its beedy eyes and its huge fangs. errrggghh!!! our old local allotment had been dug up and we think it came from there. it is no longer dwelling at our abode.

noonesperfect

I get flies in mine, but I don't think they're bluebottles or houseflies. Maybe fruit flies . They disappeared during the winter, but are back in force now.
I just take the lid off, let them fly out then start stirring or adding my bits and pieces.
Then replace the lid - they'll be back by the time I go to it again!

Myrtle

Lots of flies usually means the bin's a little wet. Try adding some shredded paper or cardboard.

I emptied out two bins today. No sign of a rats nest so hopefully I'll have scared it off. If not it's off to the Hardware shop for some chicken wire..........

savingpennies

My Jack Russell Terrier was going mad and when I looked in the compost bin there was evidence that rats had been there. I have a dalek type bin - I wonder if this type of compost bin is warmer and therefore more likely to attract them. I emptied the contents and then put two layers of chicken wire at the bottom and then folded the wire up the sides of the bin. So far they haven't returned though I know there are rats in the area (edge of countryside and less than 50 yards from a pond and three hundred yards from canal). I also keep turning it with a garden fork so that the compost keeps being disturbed. The dog also now regularly 'patrols' around that area of the garden.

noonesperfect

Myrtle wrote: »

Lots of flies usually means the bin's a little wet. Try adding some shredded paper or cardboard.

I emptied out two bins today. No sign of a rats nest so hopefully I'll have scared it off. If not it's off to the Hardware shop for some chicken wire..........

Thanks Myrtle, I try adding more brown stuff (shredded paper, loo roll middles, egg boxes etc.) I may have to beg some as I already put in all we produce ;-/