Cockroaches and mice aibu to move out

[Snowdropfairy85]

We’re doing an extension and we’ve had big holes in the side of the house things knocked about all around the house, the drains outside exposed etc. We live next to a big field full of mice (always see next doors cat with them in its mouth) and since pulling the house apart in nearly every room we have mice and cockroaches. I feel awful, like the worst parent in the world because of all the nasty things these pests carry. I want to move the kids into my mums until we get this all under control but husband thinks that’s a bit over the top. I’ve been crying as I feel like they’re exposed to disease ridden conditions. I’m overwhelmed as to where to start.

Should say that there is holes and work going on in every room, not mice and cockroaches in every room. The house isn’t covered on droppings just a bit here and there

I think your husband is right in the sense that it doesn't make you a bad parent and probably doesn't present a huge risk to them. However, it sounds horrendously stressful (as extensions often are) so I think decamping elsewhere to let the work take place and give you some peace seems like a good idea either way

I just feel ovwrwhelmed about how to get it under control. We’ve had a pest control guy round who left us these poison traps, the mice have eaten some but still finding droppings, and today noticed a cockroach.

I moved out when we had a bluebottle infestation, I would defo move out, but then I couldnt live in the countryside because i hate mice and bugs and spiders!

*sorry, just presumed you lived in countryside.

Semi-rural we are in a village that is surrounded by fields. Wish we’d never done this extension.

I’d back you on moving elsewhere for the time being.

But I suppose it’s how you are with cockroaches and mice. I, personally am shite.

I woke up on holiday to find a cockroach in my hair. Couldn’t rest easy the rest easy the rest of the holiday. Had a family of mice in my house before, didn’t want to be at home and I fair ran up the stairs going to bed and hated getting around the house.

Yes you are a lot bigger than them but I would scream the house down if I saw one.

How long until the the work is complete? Are you able to persevere ? I.e stuffing something under the bottom of the kids doors to keep any insects or mice out? Have them all sleep in the same room?

Oops don’t know how so many rests found their way into that sentence 😂

We can all sleep in one room, and I don’t think about stuffing something under the door like a pillow, thank you that’s a good idea. I just feel like everything is dirty, and as we’ve only found a small amount of droppings and cockroaches I feel like it’s going to get worse rather than better

The work is virtually finished that’s the annoying thing! The mice had set up in a spare room where we were storing kitchen stuff (such a bad idea) the plumbers unbeknownst to us had our in new pipes for the new kitchen but some of the junctions were just open to the outside so there was a straight run from the outside through a pipe into the house. Now filled up with a special anti-rodent foam type sealant thing today, We’ve also fitted all the mesh guards to the air vents, we put lots of new ones in and apparently they can squeeze through a hole the size of a pencil eraser. So basically they’ve got in in the spare room, we’ve disturbed them by clearing it out and they’ve gone all round the rest of the house now. There’s lots of places without skirtingboards so there are little gaps they can go from room
To room from. The mice haven’t surprised me, I bagged and warned my husband to seal up any holes, he thought I was over worrying, the cockroaches though I did not see coming.

I'd take mice over cockroaches any time. Mice are 'oh fuck, gotta kill the critters', cocks are filthy, crunchy motherfuckers that laugh at you when you try to kill them

But, yes I'd move out till it'sall over.

I’d be horrified. When we had a mice problem the pest guy told us to seal up any holes with cement as this is the only thing they cannot chew through.

It so happens ours were getting in from a cavity in the wall right under the kitchen units. I’d go and get some rentokill mouse traps too, the black ones are pretty good we caught about 4 under the work tops. Surprised the exterminator didn’t suggest getting these?

No idea about the cockroaches though I’m afraid 😕. Yes I can relate to the house feeling dirty it’s making my skin itch just thinking about it

I’ve heard you aren’t suppose to kill cockroaches as they shoot their eggs out all over the place? Not sure on how true it is?

Peanut butter is a good bait too

It's standing on cockroaches that can spread the eggs.

Cockroaches like dark places. Keep all lights on for a few days and they'll decamp elsewhere!

I had both when I live in Canaries islands!

Stuff steel wool in the gaps. We have them in our garage at the moment(also surrounded by fields) and this is apparently one material they aren’t attracted to to make their nests. I think pillows would be too tempting for them.

And Yes I would absolutely be moving out!