Allotments 4 All

In the garden next door to us.  (its very overgrown in parts,  forced the top of our fence ) a plastic compost bin has been situated 4feet from our dividing fence and 4inches from a garden shed. Result- loads of flys, smells dreadfull and now rats are underneath it.  my dog (Jack Russell) has half eaten the bottom of the fence to get at the rats, he`ll soon be in their garden.  I have explained what is happening to them and they seem to think that its O.K  I would`nt with a couple of kids under 4 playing in their garden.  I do realize that rats are everywhere, but now  I have been told that if I want to get rid of the rats then I have to pay pest control myself.  (its not on my property)   Perhaps I`m being petty but I hate rats so close to the house and now won`t sit in the garden or leave the back doors open.  What does anyone else think?

I have every sympathy with you. My Granddaughter (Mum to my 1st Great Grandchild) along with her partner saved hard to buy their 1st little house. Pity they viewed it in the dark and cold weather!! The older couple next door have 3 dogs, not sure how many cats, various small animals in cages in the garden. The animals are often left from 8am until 10pm locked in the house and when they open their door the stench is terrible. Couple of weeks ago Gemma had so many flys in her house she had to stay with my sister (her Mum) My son-in-law used 2 cans of fly spray and when they went back to see how things were they had to shovel up the flys!!!!
It is a rented house and Gemma's in-law has complained to the Landlords, waiting to hear if they are going to do anything.

Complain to the RSPCA and the enviromental health.  ;)

I have complained to the env. health and they came out  and agreed but unless they let the pest control in there is not a lot that they can do and that is with me paying for it.  Sorry to be a bit dense but what will the RSPCA do.   :-[

I have a compost bin in the garden, which attracts flies.  I never put food in it apart from some stale bread which I am now regretting, so please, please I hope I don't get rats as I hate them and the compost will be burnt.

Have you spoken to the pest control at the council? They should treat rats free of charge for you.

As for the implications regarding them nesting in your neighbours garden, I would assume that they would speak to them about it.

Jo.

The RSPCA might well think that shutting animals up from 8am to 10pm on a regular basis constitutes cruelty. They have considerable powers.

My Council charges £36 to bate the rats.  So not every council is free. 

£88 is the fee here and they don't even offer an organic option. :(

G x

grawrc. My G.Daughter is a real animal lover and I am sure there have been complaints made to RSPCA, will ask what has happened when I see them.

tell your G Daughter to get some insect eating plants and put them on the window sills, they would love the flys. but remember only to water with rain water.

LesH Would this really work? Maybe I will google for name of plants. They are in Ireland at the moment for a family wedding.

I'm sure the RSCPA would do something about animals being kept in these conditons. Getting them taken away would be a good first step.

The RSPCA usually does nothing as long as the animals have access to water.

what have they put in their bins I wonder. reminds me that I heard of a bin that is partially buried that you can put bones meat cooked etc in it and it wastes away and doesn`t collect rats but you do have to use an activator in it which costs money. I think this should be free from council to reduce landfill, from what I understand you dont get compo out of it just less stuff put in the wheelie bin. so what do we gain?

Quote from: Andy H on July 28, 2008, 22:46:07
from what I understand you dont get compo out of it just less stuff put in the wheelie bin. so what do we gain?

what we gain (if it works) is that we are not putting more stuff in land fill and there fore have a more pleasent world to live in, but i cant get it to work, trust me its very nasty to empty a green cone
lbb

yeah true, I missed that train of thought. Although if councils gave them out they would collect only pachaging really but you still have to pay for the stuff that activates it.  Hope you get the rat problem sorted.

I have a Green Joanna supplied by the local authority for £25.  They are £104 at Tesco!! 
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.203-7394.aspx

It takes raw and cooked food but I don't add bones as I don't think they would rot down.  Archaeologists are still digging up bones from the remains of meals eaten by those people in the Mesolithic age! 

I don't use a compost activator as this shouldn't be needed.  The rats cannot get in it but it does have fruit flies inside the lid.  Other larger flies are not attracted to it as the lid is very tight. 

It should produce compost eventually but after one year it is still only one third full as it keeps rotting down.  We do have to add grass clippings to it.

Orelse, it sounds as though your neighbour doesn't have a very good bin.  Can you not get them to site it somewhere else in their garden? 

We have rats on a regular basis.  They come into our garden every year when the farmer cuts the corn.  We also get them because we have chickens.  We find the most effective way of getting rid of them is to put down Country Farm rat bait sachets.  They can be tucked under sheds or put out of sight down holes where children and pets cannot get to them.   

Oh so you do get compo out of it then! maybe worth getting then especially if you dont need a booster to pay for. Pauline, why do you have to add grass clippings?

I think we have a result, the Ratmans been and they NOT US,have a rat problem.  so now its over to the council to do their bit.  Thankyou to one and all for your posts.