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rats in the compost!
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Message 1.Â
Posted by sthlndngrower (U14310155) on Sunday, 25th July 2010
I have a couple of compost bins in my shared garden, have a large fruit and veg patch- so the compost is essential.
Today, my neighbour told me she'd seen a rat near my compost bin! I guess I’ll need to get pest control onto it, but what to do with the compost- will I have to give this up altogether?
I follow the usual advice- no cooked food, no rice/ pasta/ bread, no meat products. I add fruit, veg and salad scraps/ peelings and coffee grinds in addition to garden waste. I've been successfully composting for several years now and am loath to give it up and fear I'll end up buying expensive processed stuff from the garden centre to put on my patch.
Help- what are your experiences with vermin in the compost?
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Message 2
Posted by Paul Hodder (U14288973) on Sunday, 25th July 2010
Hello, I've had mice living in my dalek style bin. They just seemed to leave after some disturbance. It is warm in the heap, after all. Could just be coincidence that the rat was seen by your heap.
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Message 3
Posted by dirtyrob (U14395261) on Sunday, 25th July 2010
I would'nt jump to any wrong conclusions here. A rat is hardly a problem, and as you are composting properly, the rat would not be interested in the contents of your bin. It was probably just passing through. Yes put down a trap etc..(safely) Just check if there are other things that might attract the rat into your garden. I've never had a problem myself, and it sounds as if i do exactly the same composting as you.
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Message 4
Posted by poshHebeJeebie (U9319867) on Sunday, 25th July 2010
I have three "dalek" bins, and one had rats in it earlier this year. They also tunnelled into the one where I put all the kitchen waste and dragged stuff into the central bin!
I got some rat poison and put it in a dish inside the dalek, and when no more poison was taken up, I knew I'd dealt with the problem.
Well, I thought I had - but I have suspicions that, many months later, they may be back! I'll have to be vigilant, and deal with them again if necessary.
Infortunately, the bins are next to the leat at the end of the garden, and we are also very rural. It means that it is almost inevitable that the creatures will turn up from time to time.
PHJ -
Message 5
Posted by Paull2 (U14064177) on Monday, 26th July 2010
I think the rats are attracted by the fruit peelings etc if they're just dumped on top. I used to get a fair few mice and the odd rat attacking my compost and laid a trap or two under the top sheet to control them.Now I think that if your compost heap is working properly, you are forking it over regularly to generate the heat, and you cover it reasonably well, then the pests don't like the conditions and stay away.
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Message 6
Posted by Playingtimeaddedon (U14150224) on Monday, 26th July 2010
When you empty your dalek, put some wire netting on the ground and then put the dalek on top of that. It will keep the rats out, but will not hinder the composting process.
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Message 7
Posted by 4smilingcat6 (U14338727) on Monday, 26th July 2010
My bins are a bit larger than `daleks` and the odd rat or two help turn the soil/compost.
And yes I know about disease but it`s a minute risk I am happy to take.
If I were bothered I do have a pretty powerful air pistol I could use,but never poison. No poison is that quick and the sick rats could be taken by passing dogs/cats or even birds of prey -
Message 8
Posted by Pumpkin_Patch_Paul (U14565900) on Monday, 26th July 2010
Well I had a rat in my Dalek bin and like the other poster said the rat (Monty) use to burrow in it and let the air in and give it a good mix up,and remember what's to stop a rat passing through your veg patch anytime and doing his buisness in it Im sure that happens hundreds of times and people dont even know about it........I dont think the odd garden rat is a big a problem as the media would have us believe.
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Message 9
Posted by sthlndngrower (U14310155) on Friday, 6th August 2010
Hello All,
Many thanks for your messages of reassurance.
I have had a visit from pest control and am now following their and your advice. Not seen any sign of them since so am keeping my fingers crossed that's the last of them.
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Message 10
Posted by Barny (U13453961) on Friday, 6th August 2010
Dissolve about a cupfull of ammonium sulphate in a 2 gallon watering can(get it from an Ag. merchants if you can-(a lot cheaper!), and water this strong solution into your compost bin. This makes it unpalatable to rats and also greatly speeds up the breakdown process.If you do this then do not add lime at the same time. If using for peas,beans,green veg. do your liming when you dig your compost in after a year or so.
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