Rats - seriously...

[c75kp0r]

I moved the compost bin onto the patio as rats had been going in it and I put down poison. Shocked to go out today to find they have chewed a hole in the bottom of the compost bin to get into it again . Obviously I need to stop putting veg peelings in there, but any ideas to stop them right now?? Can I put poison into the compost bin or is that madness?

Clever darlings... Doesn't seem ideal to contaminate your compost with poison.

A lot of men wee on their compost heaps (or pour bottled wee on it). Accelerates the composting & may spoil anything that rattie would like to eat.

I think you can get wire mesh underneath, too.

I have cats.

Bizarrely the patio is at the farthest end of the garden, but good thinking on not bringing them nearer the house, zzzzzzz

You mean put wire mesh around the outside of the bin so they cant chew the plastic - I hadnt thought of that - it might just work - yes IIjkk, they are smarter than me, that’s for sure....

We have rats in our compost bin. If we spot them, they're actually quite sweet :) I wouldn't put the compost bin on the patio - doesn't it need to drain out the bottom? I wouldn't want a pool of compost water standing around on concrete (not envy)

I’ve found Stainless steel .5mm mesh that claims to be rodent proof... have ordered it online so will see if the gnaw through that...