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Composter

Johnson2745Johnson2745 Posts: 1
in Problem solving

last year we had a problem with rats in the garden and then they started to come into the house, horrid problem was dealt with and we havent seen any for weeks now.  My compost bin was quite close to the house and we were advised not to use it.  Can anybody tell me how far from the house I should site it and how long I should wait before recommencing? Thank you

Posts

  • Wildlife Gardener 123Wildlife Gardener 123 Posts: 51

    We have had mice in the garden before now but they came for the bird food. These too came into the house eventually but now they have gone too.(fortunately)!

    I would personaly suggest putting the compost bin at the very bottom of the garden if possible.image 

  • jeffdjeffd Posts: 61

    We also had rats in our compost bin, so we put down crazy paving straight onto the soil as a base for the compost bin. Worms and insects can still get through the small gaps between the paving to do their thing. Not had any rats since.

  • Angelique2Angelique2 Posts: 13

    We had a rat in our compost bin at the allotment and we found if you keep turning the compost the rats leave and have never come back. They hated being disturbed.

  • Shirley PoppyShirley Poppy Posts: 2

    Hi, is it possible to still use your compost after housing Rats?

  • StevedaylillyStevedaylilly Posts: 1,087
    As gardener 124 stated, site your compost bin as far up the top of the garden as you can. Try and place in a sunny spot so that the compost process in your bin will be made quicker. I would place it directly on to the soil so that the worms etc
  • StevedaylillyStevedaylilly Posts: 1,087
    can get to the composted material. Do not place any raw food such as meat, fish, etc as this will encourage vermin to want to go in to your bin
  • Mel MMel M Posts: 347

    I have been told by a vermin contractor that if a rat can get its head through a hole its body will get through also. On our allotments, some people have rats, others never see them. All I have ever had was a cheeky little chappie field mouse looking up at me when I took the lid off a plastic composter. Just the once.

    Rats are incontinent and their urine can cause serious health isues. If you think you have rats in your compost, wear gloves. Don't know what their urine does to plants though, if anything.

  • mike 14mike 14 Posts: 7

    Both rats and mice can carry weil's disease and other things. Wash hands carefully before anything if you handle anything to do with rats. If there is any food in winter time to be had they move in. If you can get two fingers in a hole they can fit through.They also breed at an alarming rate. Best to get a registered exterminator to poison them and give advice.

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