I'm feeling pretty frustrated right now. My two council dalek bins have been wonderful for composting, but it seems the local rats have discovered them. I found tunnels right underneath and some droppings around. They've even started dragging out bits of my veggies. I really want to avoid using poison and don't want to give up on composting entirely. I'm looking for any tips that have worked for you all.
Has anyone tried putting chicken wire or mesh under their bins? What size holes work best to keep rats out, and do they rust away after a while? I've heard about using bokashi for kitchen scraps before adding them to the compost—does that actually work, or is it just extra hassle? And what about hot composting in a dalek bin? Is it worth the effort to get the mix just right? How much green material is needed?
Would freezing scraps make a difference? Or maybe I should put the bins on paving slabs instead of directly on the ground? Also, what's your strategy for winter composting? Do you keep adding kitchen waste, or do you leave it until spring? I'm also curious if anyone has found clever ways to secure the lids so foxes can't easily flip them off, without making it a pain to open every time I want to add stuff.
I'm really keen on making good compost, not running a rat hotel. Any practical advice or photos of your setups would be super helpful. Thanks!
9 Answers
Honestly, I've kept adding to my compost all winter, and I don't overly stress about the rats. We do have some under our decking, but I don't see them in the compost itself. To me, they’re just extra help turning my pile! If you’re not actively attracting them, you might have more luck than you think.
I put my compost bins on concrete slabs to prevent digging. If you've got a dalek with holes at the bottom, consider reinforcing them with welded mesh—anything less than 2mm won't keep them out. Also, I stopped adding scraps like cooked bones, and that really cut down on the rat activity.
For smaller gaps, some coated chicken wire under the bins can be effective. I cover food scraps with garden waste and keep it moist—but not soggy. That helps create an uncomfortable environment for rats.
I had a similar problem and eventually set up a spring trap in my compost bin to take care of it. Quick and effective solution!
Don’t stress too much about barriers—they’ll find a way if they're determined. The key is to regularly turn your compost, as they tend to avoid nests that get disturbed. Plus, stick to uncooked veggie scraps; that way, they have less reason to hang around. If they aren’t nesting, they’re less likely to stick around!
You might also consider just using garden waste in your bins until you get the rat issue handled. Bokashi or vermicomposting could be great alternatives for kitchen scraps—keeping those inside means not drawing in any unwanted critters. Large piles of dried leaves and straw work well to deter rats since they can’t get to the food easily.
I use a spinning composter initially because it's sealed and off the ground, which makes it safer from pests. Once it’s done breaking down, I move it to the dalek bin for further composting. Just make sure whatever you put in is covered well with garden waste!
Thanks for starting this thread! It’s been super interesting to read through everyone’s solutions!
You might get better tips by checking out some gardening forums! But seriously, I recommend trying chicken wire around your bins—it’s better than using slabs since you want the worms to do their thing. Also, rats dislike disturbance, so turn your compost regularly. I jab mine with a garden fork a couple of times a week, and it keeps things interesting for them!
Compost rule #1: if you're not willing to take drastic measures, you might not want your compost to thrive!
Exactly! Had the same issues and finally moved my dalek to slabs after all my previous methods failed. Be careful with what you add; meat waste is a definite no!