Allotments 4 All

Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: kippers garden on October 05, 2010, 15:08:53

Title: Mouse in my dalek compost bin.....
Post by: kippers garden on October 05, 2010, 15:08:53
Yesterday and today i've opened my dalek compost bin and found a mouse looking at me.  Though the mouse is lovely, i don't want it making a nest (even though it may have done this already)?

What should I do to get rid of them?
Title: Re: Mouse in my dalek compost bin.....
Post by: kypfer on October 05, 2010, 15:29:10
If you're not into beating it to eternity with a shovel ... get a humane trap and relocate it some little distance away ... half a mile is probably adequate so's it doesn't find it's way back. Obviously, if you anticipate there's more than one you'll need to repeat the exercise ... in the event of a brood of youngsters, I'll leave that to your consciense  ???
Title: Re: Mouse in my dalek compost bin.....
Post by: Tee Gee on October 05, 2010, 16:42:35
Proves one thing;............there is some heat in there!...........which can only be a good thing!

Title: Re: Mouse in my dalek compost bin.....
Post by: gp.girl on October 05, 2010, 18:36:45
I opened one last year to see a large grass snake slither down into the compost, poor thing was having a lovely time until I disturbed it.

To get the mouse to leave, keep disturbing it by opening and stirring the contents, it will get the hint.... ;)

Alternately get a cat and put it in the composter, certainly worked in the kitchen cupboards when I was young! Do take it out after a few minutes......
Title: Re: Mouse in my dalek compost bin.....
Post by: lincsyokel2 on October 05, 2010, 20:00:32
Quote from: gp.girl on October 05, 2010, 18:36:45


Alternately get a cat and put it in the composter, certainly worked in the kitchen cupboards when I was young! Do take it out after a few minutes......

Mary Bale tried that, i dont think she would  recommend it in the light of subsequent events.
Title: Re: Mouse in my dalek compost bin.....
Post by: gp.girl on October 05, 2010, 20:16:44
Thats landfill bins.........composters are organic and eco so it's fine ;)

Mums favourite cupboard mouser lived to 19 years and loved people so it's definately not bad for the cat. She'd get a meal of fresh mouse for starters :)
Title: Re: Mouse in my dalek compost bin.....
Post by: lincsyokel2 on October 05, 2010, 22:25:16
Quote from: gp.girl on October 05, 2010, 20:16:44
Thats landfill bins.........composters are organic and eco so it's fine ;)

Mums favourite cupboard mouser lived to 19 years and loved people so it's definately not bad for the cat. She'd get a meal of fresh mouse for starters :)

i have a cat who is fantastic at catching and eating mice.........and then puking them up on the living room floor

>:(
Title: Re: Mouse in my dalek compost bin.....
Post by: theothermarg on October 05, 2010, 22:35:06
I often see a mouse in the compost bin. I just leave them there. live n let live I say. they soon scat when I empty it
marg
Title: Re: Mouse in my dalek compost bin.....
Post by: I love digging on October 06, 2010, 00:55:06
Mice (in the compost bin) I can cope with, but a few years back I had at least one rat which I didn't like at all.  Found the answer was to a) get a big stick and push all the material down to fill the holes it was getting in by and b) stop putting eggshells in the compost bin as I was told by my field rep that rats like eggshells.

Now mice eating my sweetcorn - that's a whole different matter! >:(
Title: Re: Mouse in my dalek compost bin.....
Post by: kippers garden on October 06, 2010, 06:12:37
Thanks for your replies.  I suspected a rat a couple of years ago as big wholes kept appearing next to the bottem of my bin.  My suspision was confirmed one morning when a lifted the lid to find a massive rat staring at me...i'm not sure who jumped the most, me or the rat!  Anyway i take the lids off now in winter so they get wet and are not warm in the hope they go elsewhere....but i am surprised about the mouse as it's not even cold yet.