[chrismahon]

i agree that egg shells do seem to attract rats, so we put ours in the general rubbish bin.


At the moment we have 'moving' compost heaps, which are used to kill weed patches prior to re-seeding with grass, so a new position every year and after two years the compost is lifted. No sign of rats at all- not sure wether it's the addition of chicken poo or potash? I'd bet on the potash.

[SallyintNorth]

"the stuff with small squares not chicken wire"

Called aviary wire. Agree really good for keeping rats out: I've used it for my chicken coop including under the floor and no rat has ever got through!

Ah, I thought he meant weldmesh.  1" weldmesh does keep rats out, I used to use it under my chicken houses. 

[Fleecewife]

"the stuff with small squares not chicken wire"

Called aviary wire. Agree really good for keeping rats out: I've used it for my chicken coop including under the floor and no rat has ever got through!

Ah, I thought he meant weldmesh.  1" weldmesh does keep rats out, I used to use it under my chicken houses.

Nice and strong but young rats can get through 1" mesh apparently.

[NickRJ]

The wire I meant was the type that has 1/4" size squares. I am using it because there was a very decent sized roll of it in the barn when I moved into the place and Having stapled it fairly closely to the wooden structure of my pallet bins I have never had a problem with the times of the fork catching it. I accept that my compost bins have only been in situ five or six months and I have turned a couple of them in sequence there are no signs of any uninvited wildlife having entered and no problems with the fork on the wire.