robskyd Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 I've just been to my compost bin and there was a mouse looking up at me when I opened the lid! I'm not sure how may more there may be in there but as you can imagine I want to get rid of it (them). The Bin is one of the tall plastic kind, from the council and its just sat on a muddy part of the garden! We've only had the bin a few months and theres not alot in there... I'm tempted to fill it with poison and then throw all of the contents on the tip. But if there are other suggestions then I'm all ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 OH put a small mouse trap in ours, caught 10 then no more. Can't say I'm too bothered about them in the compost though, as long as they are not in the house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robskyd Posted November 22, 2007 Author Share Posted November 22, 2007 The problem is that we live in an urban area and our kids, plus the neighbors, play in the garden all the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Use traps rather than poison then. If you call the council, they might be able to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 I thought I had wasps in mine once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 (edited) I took the lid off mine once to find a huge rat eating a discarded aubergine. I don't know which if us was more surprised. Edited November 22, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Traps are definitely easy to use and I think the most humane method of keeping numbers down. You can buy new style traps that automatically stay open and look like a large clothes peg http://www.solwayfeeders.com/productsdetail1.asp?STOCK_CODE=3234 I think I got mine from a horse feed store when I got the chicken food. They do a similar, but larger, rat trap. Just set it and leave in the compost bin. Remember to check it daily though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 The mice are probably around anyway - they have just found a handy larder! Just checking - do you put any cooked food in your compost bin? They will still be attracted to vegetable waste, but avoid putting bread or cooked food in as it's much more likely to attract vermin. My personal feeling would be just to leave them to it - they are part of the natural process of destruction and decay, but then I don't have kids and my compost bin is a long way away from the house! And I have a cat who is a keen hunter. If you have to do something I agree with the previous posts, use traps, not poison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 I'd bung the cat in and leave him to it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 That has really made me laugh ... my lovely tabby is a ferocious mouser but otherwise very docile, and he probably wouldn't resist. I suddenly had a picture of his puzzled little face as I lowered the lid of the composter ... "and don't come out till you've caught them all"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 My two cats lay in wait by the wood piles - they're a great wildlife haven and there must be loads of mice in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robskyd Posted November 22, 2007 Author Share Posted November 22, 2007 I've put some traps around the area of the bin, so I'll see if there's a grisley find in the morning. Its funny you mention cats, as it was our neighbors tabby that roused the suspicion. He'd come and sit on our shed and stare into the garden, we thought he was looking at the chooks, but now we know!!! Thanks to everyone who posted help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 I had a mouse in mine just the other week! I was giving the compost a good dig with my nice new compost bin aerator and gave a poor wee mouse the fright of his life. I've not seen him since so don't know if he's moved on or is hiding in fear of the killer aerator . (I'm just glad the aerator didn't emerge from the compost with a mouse skewered on the end of it .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffymuppet Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 I believe that mice prefer fresher food, so once it starts to decompose there is less of an issue. If you're putting food waste on the compost you could consider using a Bokashi bucket first - the food waste spends a couple of weeks in the Bokashi bucket with treated bran that effectively pickles it. After 2 weeks it looks exactly the same, but smells of vinegar and when you put it on the compost heap like that it breaks down very quickly (and doesn't attract vermin because of the smell). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 That's good to know. I've just about filled my first ever Bokashi bin so it'll be in the compost soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
