Desecration in the greenhouse

[Topaz]

Hi there everyone i am a new member and I have a problem am hoping someone can help with. I got up yesterday to find all my seed trays in the greenhouse had been ransacked. Every seed dug up and eaten, all my runner beans were scattered around with huge chunks taken out of them. We went down to the greenhouse after dark last night with a torch and low and behold there was a mouse, digging in my seed trays. Anyone got any suggestions as to how to solve this issue i would be very grateful........am worried about starting all over again in case the same thing happens

[Madasafish]

1. there will be a mouse entry hole somewhere. find and block with stone/cement
2. Cheap little niller mouse trap bait with fresh white bread held on with rubber band (this makes sure they cannot steal bait).. and inspect daily. Killing is the only answer. Mice produce familes every 3 months ....

[TonyF]

Topaz, I had the same last year in my cold frames. The seeds - especially the beans - were munched to buggery, nothing was safe.

So off to the local bricoshed, humane mouse traps, baited and waited. I caught several which were then taken for a nice car ride and released about 5 miles away.

But eventually, I had to resort to the mean, keen killing machine, Sam the Cat, who dispatched the little rascals quicker than enough.

[terrier]

Cats or traps I'm afraid, but if you really want to live and let live, make cages out of chicken wire to protect your crops. Chicken wire is cheap and can easily be formed to shape and the mice can't chew through it.

[Sue]

Topaz
Just had the same problem, really dispiriting, every blasted pea and bean seed gone and other seed trays and pots disturbed as well.
Spent all day resowing the lot
Until I can get help in discovering how they're getting in I have resorted to covering everything up with perspex, glass and a big propagator lid, and now I come to think of it, you can buy just the plastic propagator lids from Wyevale so might get some more - they cover 30 pots at a time.
After that I put all my seed pots in plastic bags and then using an old plant sprayer lightly sprayed the outside of the bags with paraffin
Can't get to the DIY centre till next week but will check out chicken wire as a possible for when the seeds start growing.

I really don't want to trap them unless I absolutely have to, so hope tomorrow that my emergency methods have worked.
Sue

[SMS6]

Topaz - have a read of Sue's thread about Mouse Calamity

[Sue]

Topaz
Went up to the allotment this morning and almost couldn't bear to look in the greenhouse, but touch wood (lots) everything had been left alone. Now don't know if they were all out celebrating on someone else's plot or my deterrents have worked, time will tell.
They'd had another rootle round in the coldframe though but nothing of interest there so lost a few more onions only.
Good luck with your efforts
Sue

[Topaz]

I opted for the traps (non humane) as he obvioulsy has a family near by and has told them all about a warm place with food. And traps will remain in place so far one caught and no more seeds dug up, hubby is gonna put up more shelving for me to put my seed trays on so they arent on the floor.

Thanks all for the advice