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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

in being angry with dh for killing and poisoning?

59 replies

Spidermama · 03/05/2007 22:10

I found a dead rat curled up in the compost bin. When I told DH about it he admitted that he knew there were rats down there so he put poison down the hole he found under the compost bin to kill them.

I'm upset, but he's angry that I'm upset. You see he reckons I should be pleased and grateful that the big hunter/warrior (him) has protected me and the kids from the terrifying invader (rats). However now there's a rat's body in the compost and who knows how many more in their hole.

He says he'll dig them out and sort out the bottom of the compost bin so no more holes can be dug in it but my point is, why didn't he do this to begin with? Then they'd have gone away because their food supply was cut off, surely.

Now we have poison in our garden and compost as well as dead rats.

So. AIBU? Or what?

OP posts:
MrsApron · 03/05/2007 22:47

Sorry to hear that you are not getting on Spidey. How is everything else? I keep checking in on the mother thread but cannot bring myself to post just now because I have too much on to have a setback just now.

mateychops · 03/05/2007 22:43

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, so what do we do about the rat shit in the organic compost?

Original poster
Spidermama · 03/05/2007 22:41

PMSL @ 'rats rights'.

OP posts:
Blu · 03/05/2007 22:41

The Rats of Brixton.
Wasn't that a song, by the Clash?

I take your point about the organic compost and possible pet danger.

The council had a big poison offensive against the huge plague of rats by the pond in Brockwell park and loads of crows and a couple of small dogs got poisoned

Original poster
Spidermama · 03/05/2007 22:41

MrsA I was narked about other stuff earlier in the week. This is one in a string of recent 'crimes' of his. We're not getting on all that well atm.

OP posts:
rowan1971 · 03/05/2007 22:40

Agree with the Apron. Have no strong feelings about rats' rights myself, but if he only did it this way to avoid a row he was being unreasonable.

whomovedmychocolate · 03/05/2007 22:40

Edam, sorry to hear about your cat. I'm sure s/he had a wonderful life with you though.

MrsApron · 03/05/2007 22:36

Oh yeuck Spidey. Is this what you were fuming about earlier in the week?

What a waste of effort re organic compost.

I would be pretty narked about the compost, v narked about the poison (child risk).

The poisoning was the lazy way to deal with it for him.

I think I would be most narked because he did it even though he knew you wouldn't want this as a solution, he is trying to dress it up as him being nice. When in fact he did it to be lazy knowing what your choice of solution would be.

Original poster
Spidermama · 03/05/2007 22:34

Oh fuck edam, I'm so sorry.

OP posts:
edam · 03/05/2007 22:32

Oh f*ck I hope those cats are OK, Spider, having had my beloved cat put down today I'd wring your dh's bloody neck if he's risked the lives of any other pets.

mateychops · 03/05/2007 22:32

Invite them round for rhubarb crumble.

Original poster
Spidermama · 03/05/2007 22:30

Blu I also had rat horror in Brixton. They came from below and chewed through iron pipes to get to me. Like a horror film.

Mateychops I certainly wouldn't miss the cat poo if the neighbours pets were to take ill (mwah ha) but I like the neighbours so I am a little scared.

OP posts:
Londonmamma · 03/05/2007 22:27

Blu - I would have DIED had that happened to me OMG

mateychops · 03/05/2007 22:25

What were the chances that the rats had already crapped over your top organic matter?

Blu · 03/05/2007 22:23

The poison isn't scattered freely about the garden, is it?

Original poster
Spidermama · 03/05/2007 22:23

What are the chances the neighbour's cats will eat the rats and die?

OP posts:
morningpaper · 03/05/2007 22:22

WEeeeeeeeeeeeell it's never as good as John Innes is it?

Original poster
Spidermama · 03/05/2007 22:21

I suppose that's our lovely green organic compost fucked then. Months of top quality potato peelings now all steeped in warfarin. Not much good for the rhubarb.

OP posts:
Blu · 03/05/2007 22:20

Having had rats in a previous house, I would say that no, the rats would not have happily toddled off elsewhere when their food supply was cut off - they would determindly find their way to the next easies nearby supply - in your cupboards via an airbrick, drain hole, or actually through the back door when you have it open in summer.

The ones in my house got into the foundations and then gnawed their way into my cupboard through some damp-proofing sealant stuff. They gnawed runs through the whole place very quickly, making entrances and exits. One morning I came into my kitchen to see a rat eating an apple in the fruit bowl.

They urinate constantly wherever they go because they have no sphincters - and spread diseases that way.

No warrior to spread a bit of poison, but, I think the best way.

You really don't want what I had to deal with.

NB to any MN-ers who have been to my house: it was a house before I was a MN-er!

mateychops · 03/05/2007 22:20

What did you want him to do with the rats? What were your options? Get a grip, girl.
So, yes, IMO you are being unreasonable.

lucy5 · 03/05/2007 22:20

Eeeew, hey are horrible things. We had a palm rat move in when we were renovating the kitchen. it was living under the new units, yuck. Dh poisoned it and I was very happy.

I get your point about the food supply though, ours was living on the dog biscuits.

edam · 03/05/2007 22:18

Um, in practical terms I'd be FURIOUS about having rat poison around without you knowing, given you have children. Dh did this to me when ds was small. I only found out about it when ds found the poison. Thank f*ck he was OK but dh wasn't, when I got hold of him.

Fortunately the National Poisons Unit told us via NHS Direct you need more than a grain or two of warfarin to seriously harm a toddler. But it's not something anyone should muck about with.

whomovedmychocolate · 03/05/2007 22:18

I'd be annoyed too - esp. if you have pets as well as kids. Kids you can tell to be careful, pets you can't.

Find out what poison he used and call the council, they will properly eradicate them for about £30 (or free in some areas) and advise you how to clear up any remaining poison.

galaxy · 03/05/2007 22:17

I would do the poisoning myself - we had rats last year in tge garden - cost us £60 to get rid and I think they're back again too

Original poster
Spidermama · 03/05/2007 22:17

rowan he was definitely being secretive because he knew I'd object.

UCM good point, but the compost is definitely his project. However if he's poisoning the garden my kids play in then I think I should perhaps be consulted? No?

See, MrsJ once he has got rid of the bodies he'lkl need to secure the compost bin to make sure more don't come. So if he had done this in the first place it would have negated the need for poison.

I must admit to being a bit upset to see a tiny furry body all curled up in the compost. Also I think it's a pretty nasty way to go isn't it?

Maybe I'm just being a dippy hippy.

OP posts:
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