Rats....!!

[northepaul]

Hiya all,
firstly apologies if I missed a thread when I did a search for information before starting this one.
OK My compost bin, dalek type about ready to unload (checked compost about 2 weeks ago - looked fab was about to use it for my veg bed)

Noticed the other day it was quite low down, assumed it had sunk with decomposition etc, as it had done before. Thought nothing more of it.

Yesterday went out to pop some stuff in and saw the lid was off, and compost everywhere, in big mounds?? I was rather perplexed, and thought maybe one of next door's cats had got in there.Then I noticed a rat running along the back of the fence.
This is not unusual around our way, we are very close to a public pond with ducks and inevitably rats.

Anyway started shovelling it all back in, then we saw holes in the ground leading underneath the bin.

I am assuming it could be a rats nest?

I followed some advice from another thread about making it wet (against my principles I popped the hose in the top of the bin and left it on for half hour) but what do I do next?
Is the compost still usable? Its a year and a halves work, I would hate to loose it unless neccessary.
Should I remove the bin and stop making compost?
Do I need to put poison down?

Any advice very welcome

[vicky]

There is a thread somewhere...
It was suggested to put several layers of chicken wire under the bin to stop them getting in. I'd still use it, there's nothing in there that you haven't already got in the garden, but maybe use it for something that won't be consumed for a while?
I had them at the last house (next to a pond too) and just choose to ignore them most of the time - they didn't bother me too much and never increased in numbers significantly - as you say they are attracted to the pond/bread etc as much as your bin which is probably just a good hiding place for them!

[Aberdeenplotter]

Horrible bleeding things. Is your compost bin at home or at your allotment?

The subject was discussed on the forum here http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eap_27951.html but nothing concrete there really.

My biggest fear would be the possibility of contracting Weil's disease or leptospirosis so wear gloves and make sure any brioken skin is covered.

If it was my compost, I'd be for tipping it out, spreading it about a wee bit to let it dry it out. Then have a bonfire on top of it. Nothing like heat from a fire to sterilise and rats positively hate fire anyway and will vacate the premises.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Th e other thing I noticed and meant to mention was that your compost heap has been there for a year and a half. I'd be for emptying the bin regularly and turning it over. That not only will discourage rats but will help airate the compost so it breaks down more quickly.

[northepaul]

There is a thread somewhere...
It was suggested to put several layers of chicken wire under the bin to stop them getting in. I'd still use it, there's nothing in there that you haven't already got in the garden, but maybe use it for something that won't be consumed for a while?
I had them at the last house (next to a pond too) and just choose to ignore them most of the time - they didn't bother me too much and never increased in numbers significantly - as you say they are attracted to the pond/bread etc as much as your bin which is probably just a good hiding place for them!

Thanks Vicky, the chicken wire Idea sounds good!

Horrible bleeding things. Is your compost bin at home or at your allotment?

The subject was discussed on the forum here http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eap_27951.html but nothing concrete there really.

My biggest fear would be the possibility of contracting Weil's disease or leptospirosis so wear gloves and make sure any brioken skin is covered.

If it was my compost, I'd be for tipping it out, spreading it about a wee bit to let it dry it out. Then have a bonfire on top of it. Nothing like heat from a fire to sterilise and rats positively hate fire anyway and will vacate the premises.

Its at home, dont have an allotment (yet...live in hope I suppose )

I was thinking og spreading it out too - maybe around my fruit trees and flowers.
Although we have by-laws that prohibit bon fires, so cant do that, but a good idea nonethe less.

Th e other thing I noticed and meant to mention was that your compost heap has been there for a year and a half. I'd be for emptying the bin regularly and turning it over. That not only will discourage rats but will help airate the compost so it breaks down more quickly.

Err....correct me if I am wrong, but if I empty the bin out "regularly" surely it defeats the object of producing compost??

Its turned over every 3 months.

We dont produce a lot of kitchen waste, I tend to take the caddy out every three days. Plus I compost paper/cardboard etc, as I had a problem with flies last summer.

The compost is only just ready now.

The rat problem has only developed in the last week or so.

[Aberdeenplotter]

When I said empty the bin out, I should have added then refill it after turning the compost.

I'm not a master composter by any means or indeed anything like approaching it. I do know though that to get materials to compost down quickly that the material does need to be kept airated. It's very difficult to achieve the high temperatures needed to kill bugs and diseases in a domestic compost heap/bin which is why I suggested giving it a scorch.

[Two_Sheds]

Thea, wetting & turning your dalek is the way to go. Both will help decomposition work faster.
The rats are opportunists and will nest anywhere dry & cosy ... get 'em out

[northepaul]

I am thinking of:
1) emptying the bin and spreading the compost thats there around plants etc (not root edibles)
2) wetting and leaving the area to get the rats to move on for acouple of weeks.
3) putting chicken wire down
4) putting the bin back BUT making sure it stays damp andregularly moving the compost around.

Interestingly, next door has 13 cats but they dont seem to be very good at what comes naturally!!

[FB.]

Thea, wetting & turning your dalek is the way to go. Both will help decomposition work faster.
The rats are opportunists and will nest anywhere dry & cosy ... get 'em out

Yes, when my water butts are too full, I pour some into the daleks. Given the stink of the water that comes out of the water butts (due to a few fallen leaves getting into the downpipe), it's probably full of lots of "friendly bacteria" ( ) and fungi that'll quickly get to work on the compost.

I must check my daleks - mine both seem to have "sunk", which I assumed was ground movement due to the heavy rainfall of the last several months.

However, I often find mouse nests around. The mice do a great job of finding all the hazelnuts that I miss.