Composting and rats?!

RAS

Couple of options.

If you can stop using the dalek for a few days, install a rat trap. Will only kill one at a time and it is not my favourite thing prising the trap apart but it can be done without touching the body.

get hubby to wee on it. Human Liquid Activator (one third wee to two thirds water) is a great compost accelorator anyway and rats do not like wee sodden bedding, but male wee has hormones that seem to be even more of a deterent.

beautiful_ravens

Oh lots of ideas to try then - so glad I asked! Thanks!!

I dont put meat in there, they are eating the veg.
I have noticed holes in the garage (barn) floor, which is near the daleks, and think we may have a problem there, other half thinks thats where they are living...
I will try some of the ideas here, though!

Oh - someone else suggested ferret poo? How does that work?

Lotus-eater

You can try all the deterrents, but rats ain't stupid you know. You really have to deal with the problem and not hope it will go away.
You must stop them getting into the compost bins, they are getting food from there. Pull the bins to one side, (stand there with a spade if you have the guts to squash a rat) rebuild them over heavy duty wire, bend the wire up and over the sides and anchor with something to stop rats tunnelling down the sides of the wire, or in the front door. I use bricks stacked up.
Next you must get rid of ANY food source they my be using. Chicken food? Bird feeders? Anything food like stored outside/inside barns.

Now, you can't stop the neighbours putting out food for the birds at night and if that is the case they will continue to live in your barn and go next door for the food. So you can talk to the neighbours or not, that's up to you.

Clear out the barn and find out where they are coming in, cover all holes in metal and watch like a hawk. Or if they live underneath it, fill all the holes in and watch.

You must poison, there is really no other way. Unless you know a ratter, which is almost impossible today.

I have dealt with rats and there is no easy way I'm afraid, you must hit them with everything you have.
Best of luck.

RAS

Hi

if you know anyone with a ferret or a terrier, get them in. We have used them with effect on the plots.

onetomany

omg should i check mine? me to scarred i hate rats

HampshireSeagulls

Urban warfare. Terriers or air rifles. No time to be squeamish on this one, they need to be got rid of before they multiply and you end up with a serious problem. Council will come out and lay poison, also they will look for rat runs and other problems in the area.

beautiful_ravens

Eeek!
Im worried now...Must get on the case!!
Theres bird and chicken food all over the place - this is a nightmare!! Whats less funny is that 2 chickens were taken by a fox this morning aswell...oh the joys of living in the country. Going to speak to the local gamekeeper, he might know some helpful rat killing people.

Lotus-eater

Are they your chickens, or your neighbours?
You must clear up the food properly everyday, you can get a type of feeder now which only delivers food on demand, which would cut down on wastage.

The gamekeeper is great, he may have some poison that you could have as well.

For birdfood, have a table underneath the feeder to catch the falling food, make sure its rat proof and clean it often.

I often say that wherever there are chickens there are rats, I've been slated on here before with, "I've never seen a rat" etc.... which doesn't mean a lot. I keep a box of poison and check every now and again to see if I have any around. Although I don't have chickens at the moment my NDN's put out alot of food for the birds and don't seem to worry about the rats being around, but I do.

Btw, it helps to vary the type of poison used every now and again.

Lotus-eater

Sorry to hear about the chickens btw.

eco

I noticed a rat in my compost bin the other week, it wasn't pleasant seeing a nose twitching in the bin, I have wet it, I thought they were sleeping in it cos it's been so cold, when I hit the bin with a stick it ran under the shed, I will now deal with the problem with chicken wire, I was going to empty my bin and get it ready for spring anyway. As other posters have said my bin doesn't have meat in it just veg, cardboard and garden waste.