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Original poster

Rat in my compost bin

36 replies

Hopelesslydevotedtoshrews · 14/04/2023 00:17

Uninvited. I have asked the cat to deal with it, she gave me her 'nope, no chance' face. What do we think? If I chuck a couple of buckets of water in there do we think that will be enough to make it move out?

Any other suggestions wise Mumsnetters? I think firebombing the compost bin will upset the neighbours.

OP posts:
Tempone · 14/04/2023 00:18

Nothing to add except a bit of UB40....
"There's a rat in ma kitchen, what am I gonna do...?"

DogInATent · 14/04/2023 00:22

Normal for a compost bin. They all get visits from rats from time to time.

Was it just snacking or was it being shown round by a rodent estate agent with a view to nesting?

Original poster
Hopelesslydevotedtoshrews · 14/04/2023 00:33

Tempone · 14/04/2023 00:18

Nothing to add except a bit of UB40....
"There's a rat in ma kitchen, what am I gonna do...?"

I'm gonna fix that rat that's what I'm gonna do - or at least try and persuade it to move on.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopelesslydevotedtoshrews · 14/04/2023 00:33

DogInATent · 14/04/2023 00:22

Normal for a compost bin. They all get visits from rats from time to time.

Was it just snacking or was it being shown round by a rodent estate agent with a view to nesting?

This is my concern, I hope it's just passing through...

OP posts:
Gremlinsateit · 14/04/2023 08:42

I think our rat IS the real estate agent. He’s a well fed gent who strolls along the fence line to the compost bin each day, waving cheerily at the terrier and climbing nonchalantly over the bait boxes in his path.

BarrelOfOtters · 14/04/2023 09:53

Are you putting meat or food scraps in it? The best thing to do is keep disturbing it - so turn the compost, give the outside some good thumps with a spade or fork - just don't make it too cosy...

MereDintofPandiculation · 14/04/2023 09:55

They don’t like disturbance or novelty. Keep turning the bin.

MereDintofPandiculation · 14/04/2023 09:55

BarrelOfOtters · 14/04/2023 09:53

Are you putting meat or food scraps in it? The best thing to do is keep disturbing it - so turn the compost, give the outside some good thumps with a spade or fork - just don't make it too cosy...

They prefer grain and fruit to meat

Umbellifer · 14/04/2023 09:58

It’s too dry and thus too cosy…soak it through and make it less des res…

TheSpottedZebra · 14/04/2023 20:56

Umbellifer · 14/04/2023 09:58

It’s too dry and thus too cosy…soak it through and make it less des res…

Yep. And leave the lid off for a bit, or leave it uncovered anyhow.

And don't put any meat or carbs in, if using have been doing so!

PaperNests · 15/04/2023 08:14

I wouldn't worry, I get them in my compost bin in the winter occasionally but as the weather warms up they don't come back.

xabia · 15/04/2023 08:16

Soak the bin thoroughly and leave the lid off

DogInATent · 15/04/2023 08:41

Do not soak the compost bin. I assume you actually want to make compost? - water-logging it won't help with that. A compost bin used for food waste (inc. peelings) will attract mice, rates, voles, etc. If you only use it for garden waste it will be less attractive to them. If you want an alternative for food waste that's less attractive to wildlife look at a wormery, tumbling compost bin, or a hot box.

Original poster
Hopelesslydevotedtoshrews · 15/04/2023 09:26

Thanks everyone I'm hoping it's the recent grim weather that's made it attractive as a shelter. I'll be a bit noisier around it and hope it moves on. I'm pretty good at keeping food waste out of it but I do add egg shells so maybe that's what's attracted it.

OP posts:
viques · 16/04/2023 18:09

I’ve got one (or some) in my bin too, I noticed the other day that it/ they have been using an old egg carton lid for pooing in! I give the bin a good thump when I am opening it so I don’t get any surprises.

LIZS · 16/04/2023 18:24

Spotted one in the garden yesterday. Envy There is a hole under our compost heap but had hoped it was a hedgehog. We do feed birds but they are pretty thorough about clearing up.

Irridescantshimmmer · 16/04/2023 18:54

That rat will be the size of a dog next week with diabetes.

Before anyone moans about the politically incorrect comment, I am diabetic.😁

DogInATent · 16/04/2023 19:01

Irridescantshimmmer · 16/04/2023 18:54

That rat will be the size of a dog next week with diabetes.

Before anyone moans about the politically incorrect comment, I am diabetic.😁

On behalf of the Dog Defamation League...

thebellagio · 21/05/2023 18:42

I have the same problem. I have two open wood slat bins so clearly an utter joy for the rats. If I swap the bins for the black plastic style ones would that get rid of them?

Hellocatshome · 21/05/2023 18:43

thebellagio · 21/05/2023 18:42

I have the same problem. I have two open wood slat bins so clearly an utter joy for the rats. If I swap the bins for the black plastic style ones would that get rid of them?

I like your optimism but no it won't.

Tots678 · 21/05/2023 18:59

I have badgers, foxes and cats who pass through the garden regularly so lifting the plastic bin off would scare the rats away.

thebellagio · 21/05/2023 19:01

Hellocatshome · 21/05/2023 18:43

I like your optimism but no it won't.

Show quote history

I think I’m just going to have to give up on the compost bins then.

almondfinger · 21/05/2023 19:27

We had a rat family in our heap. We were turning it out and there they all were. I still get the heebeegeebies thinking about it. Ours are open heaps. Advice was to go out every now and then with the garden fork and drive it into the heap. Aerates it and discourages it as a home.

At the time I ran in and posted on a garden forum asking about what to do. People were sending me numbers of animal sanctuaries! I did not contact a sanctuary.

I stopped putting egg shells in too, only garden waste and fruit and veg peelings. All seems quiet at the mo.

However turning the heap out will never be stress free again.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 21/05/2023 19:35

Are rats a problem? They must be all around us judging by the amount the Bengal* used to bring home. At least in the country it was mice and birds.

*Results may vary, bengals are not easy pets.

SchoolTripDrama · 21/05/2023 19:41

@DogInATent "As you can see there's all mod cons... Your carrot peelings, your wood shavings for warmth, even last Halloween's pumpkin..."

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