I finished off clearing the last section of garden yesterday and then emptied most of the compost bin over the cleared soil. Look at these little darlings hard at work.
And now onto less pleasant matters – the rats. It’s inevitable really, you have hens and hen food and at some point you’re gonna get rats visiting. Look at the damage they’ve done to my beautful barn door
Jon’d already added the planks along the bottom and up the side of the door last time we’d been infiltrated by the little beggars and now they’ve decided to eat above that.
Grrr.
Oh, and they’d chewed their way in through the door on the other end of the barn too (see their hole just below the hinge?)
And if that’s not enough they’ve also dug a tunnel underneath the walls of the barn using the dust bath tray as cover.
I mean seriously guys, how much food have you stolen this winter? How much has it cost me to keep the Cornish rat population thriving? Huh?
According to Jon rat poison isn’t the answer, although I’d offer them some on a silver platter.
He is talking about pumping exhaust fumes down the holes to flush them out and then shooting them as they exit. He’s also talked about putting the ferrrets down there or stuffing the holes with ferret poo.
Seems to me there’s a whole lot of talking going on whilst muggins here is still keeping them in the manner to which they’ve become accustomed.
Grrr.
The Hedgecombers 
It’s a constant battle, isn’t it. We bait, trap and shoot rats on our croft, while our Border Terrier is a skilled ratter. We have our pig and poultry feed in steel bins, I even vacuum the floor in the feed shed, and still they come. They even gnaw threw cement mortared stone walls four feet thick. We’ve managed to clear them entirely several times, but then neighbouring farms clear their cattle courts or remove their old straw and we get a new infestation. Or the weather turns bitterly cold and they seek somewhere warmer. Dratted things.
Fancy a busmans holiday to Cornwall Stonehead…? ;o)
PS a Terrier is now on my birthday wishlist!
Great worms! There is nothing like turning your compost heap and seeing all those lovely worms at work. But total ugh at the rats….. *shiver*
I know! Normally Jon empties the compost bin and I was amazed at the giant nest of worms all working together. Gotta love that! xx
we used to have rats when we had hens and we were constantly waging war against them. The dh used to be a gamekeeper so knows lots of ways of catching the horrible things (I remember one in the wall level with my head knawing away at the cement trying to get out uuuuurgggghhhh).
Anyway check out Solway feeders as they have great traps (the cage ones rarely work in comparision) and make the rats a few secure runs by placing sections of wood up against their favourite runs and narrowing the entrance with upright sticks so they have to squeeze in (rats and mice like hugging the walls as they run). Put the traps inside the hollow made by the wood and wall and catch the rats on route.
That’s interesting Sharie and thank you for the info. We’ve got the metal cage type and all I’ve managed to catch was a poor little blackbird.
Are the snapping type of traps they sell the ones you mean? (I’ve never seen the rat glue trap before – I know it’s mean but I lol’d!)
Thanks again xx
ooh that’s a healthy looking compost heap. I love turning over the soil in the garden to reveal all the worms. No room for compost bin though. Shame about the chewy rats!