Love your balanced, thoughtful, and caring approach. It's a lot to manage and I feel you do it all very well. Especially the reflections. Thank you for all you are doing and sharing.
@@REDGardens howdy, if you ever need to get their numbers down more in a way that does not hurt predators you can mix oatmeal with plaster of paris in a container that rats can easily get in and out of but other animals/weather can't (for various reasons), it will kill the rats quite quickly but not anything that eats the dead ones. also, adding nuts and berries can help make it more attractive too.
@@FroggyTWrite I had tried aversion of that while ago, though at the time I wasn't so sure of the effectiveness. I was wondering if they were not really interested intthe bait in this context as there is so much other food around. I should try it again some time, placing the bait in the runs they dig into the compost piles.
@@conservativemacro80 Oh dear. The video showed a large degree of humanity and sensible countryside practice. This is just gratuitous. Whilst we may prefer not to recognise it, the rats are doing nothing wrong and do not deserve our malevolence.
@@sharonstuart5262 Moreover we should find a way to use them to the mutual benefit of both of our species. I am sure somewhere deep in the grand mind of Logos crafting this world to manifest, there exists a potential for a workable dynamic to enable this kind of mutualistic symbiotic relationship.
You present your thoughts well. I watched a video once on a poor family in India whose job was trapping rats. They did it by smoking them out of their tunnel system. At the end of the day, the family would roast and eat them. I recall the Dad especially twisting off the little roasted paws like they were especially tasty. They had a school aged child who looked like she was becoming increasingly ashamed of the situation. May the Lord have mercy on us who live so comfortably and still find abundant reasons to complain!
Hope they didn't boil them alive like the sadistic and depraved Asians do. I have an extreme hatred for animal cruelty. I read how different parts of India are cruel to animals as well. I hate cruel people of any race.
Over the past nine months, I have watched this video no less than three times. Each time, I notice something that I missed. In any case, your method for dealing with the rat population reflects your analytical approach to your gardening.
I like the way you treaded lightly on this subject, taking the way people feel about rats into consideration. Something you don’t see in other channels.
@@REDGardens I appreciate it too, since I rescued rats before and they were my angels, my family. I know what empathetic and wonderful individuals they are. and they really are all individuals. Wild or domestic.
Thanks for making these videos. I don't have a garden, but I find your work refreshing, interesting, helpful, informative. I especially appreciate your approach of respect for different points of view, personal experiments trying new ideas and your search for balanced yet simple solutions. You show more than gardening in the strict sense. Thank you.
You bring a refreshing unification of scientific and philosophical perspectives to gardening. I appreciate you taking the time to record your inquiries, experiments, and all the work you do to find answers and solutions.
I have an opossum that comes every now and then at night, to forage through our pile and aerate it! I think he does most of the work. I still get great compost.
My Grand father used to grow peppermint herbs. He said rodents hate the smell. In the Fall, he sickled the mint and sprinkled it in the basement and root cellar. He never had a major problem with rodents including rabbits. Great VIDEO
I killed them. I killed them all. They're dead, every single one of them. And not just the men, but the women and the children, too. ~Anakin Skywalker~
I'm so glad I stumbled over this clip. Instead of placing toxins everywhere and risking them leaching into my precious soil which also makes me feel like I'm fighting a losing battle against the rats, I will now embrace them and follow some of the things you have done.
I always look forward to your videos - informational, educational, well thought out and entertaining. The subtle humor and the brilliant scientific approach make these videos the top of my list for favorites. Best wishes from Australia.
Thanks Frank. Glad you enjoy them even though you are in a different season and likely in a radically different climate. Also glad a bit of the humour comes through - I struggle with being too serious in front of the camera!
I must say your channel is so full of great tips, thoughts and advice, thank you! We need less showmen and more people with balanced opinion and scientific approach not just here on YT, but in general.
Who puts cats in bags anyways?! Cats dont even like bags! Im glad all of those beautiful summer fields hypnotized us into undertaking the second coolest skillset after slaying goblins.
Why are you worried about people's opinions? You are giving free, helpful advice and knowledge. Those who want it can watch. Those who dont like it can go somewhere else and miss out on your experiences. Thanks for all that you have shared. I know it takes a lot of time and am very grateful that you have shared it. Keep up the good work
Good question. I think part of it is my response to understanding that on this issue there is a huge split of strong opinions, from rats are cute (so don't kill them), to rats are disgusting (why are you attracting them in the first place), and a lot in-between. I was hoping with this video to find a way where people who disagree with my approach would still be able to understand its merits - to introduce new ideas to those who may not want to know.
Excellent video and advice. I raise chickens and lately some small rats have been boldly munching away at the chicken feed in broad daylight acting like they're part of the family.
It can be hard to get rid of those rats among the chickens - can't set the typical traps without possibly hurting the chickens, and poison would be an issue.
Thanks. I think that most people really appreciate that i am willing to do the job, and have the skills to do it well. Others are still convinced that the only reason the rats are there in the first place is that I put inappropriate material in the compost.
Miniature Schnauzers and/or Jack Russels. Then, you get the added benefit of them deterring other invaders, such as postal workers, neighbor kids, and people who ride bicycles. Also, they're adorable.
They are only good for getting into the nooks where big dogs can't get to and have a poor acceleration rate in the animals that I have seen but sight hounds/sight crosses are faster, have more stamina, stronger bite force (kill the rodents quickly) and wade through deeper puddles. Look up Jimmy Carter the Mink man. He hunts with both sight hounds, Belgian Malinois and a couple terrier.
I handled malinois' in the military. FIERCE dogs, but their cuteness can't match that of a little schnauzer boy, excited to see you home. I really was looking for a reason to say that schnauzers are cute.
The other day I fell down a youtube hole of watching 'ratting with terriers' videos. It was kind of gruesome to watch, but also really fascinating to watch dogs bred for a job doing that job efficiently and thoroughly. If you can find a couple of local terrier owners who would like to exercise that aspect of their dogs' breeding, it might be worthwhile to invite them by on compost turning day. The dogs really seem to enjoy it, and the rats seem to be dispatched rapidly and without much suffering.
I think using dogs, especially terriers, is the best way to get rid of a nest of rats. They can be so quick and efficient, it is quite amazing to watch - but as you say, gruesome. I have one dog in mind that I might need to train up, but could definitely be worth it.
I've a pug/rat terrier mix that routinely catches jackrabbits in our backyard and even once cornered an opossum. Rats would be far to slow and as such don't risk making appearances. At the same time he's never harmed one of our free-range chickens. It's amazing how quickly dogs learn to modify behaviors to please their owners.
@@jlcon99 Dogs don't generally (almost never) operate with the goal of pleasing people. They respond as their genetics or training dictate and when the results happen to fall inline with the wishes of a person, people mistake that to be a sign of the dog actually trying to please them. Far more likely, the dog has become accustomed to the ongoing presence of the chickens. They have become background noise. Technically, it's habituation. The dog may have initially tried to chase them but was either discouraged by a person or the chickens didn't run and therefore didn't encourage the chasing behaviour. The predatory behaviour towards chickens didn't yield any reward for the dog, there was no reason for the dog to continue it. On the other hand, wild prey animals when chased, run, encouraging the dog's desire to chase them. They sneak and hide and mysteriously appear out of no where only to disappear again. This only works to entice the dog's predatory instincts and the behaviours of stalking and chasing these animals become highly self rewarding even if the dog never catches one. If the dog actually succeeds once at catching that animal, that's the ultimate gambler's jackpot ensuring the dog will keep trying to engage in this behaviour with those animals. Dogs are highly contextual learners which for good and bad means they can behave differently based on context and not necessarily the provocation itself.
Thank you Bruce - I really appreciate your considered and scientific approach to gardening yet your ability to retain and ethical baseline, all without running off the rails. My hats really off to you. And probably most so - you're videos are just really well edited and presented. I'm new to gardening and loving binging your videos while I can't stand about 95% of other gardening related videos. Just really wanna say thanks!
I had thousands of rats underground that were eating my chicken's feed. I switched from 24 hour chicken feed available to 5 minutes a day, and all the rats left for the neighbor's chicken coops. My hens still laid.
@@fikuni5260 rats were eating my chicken feed at night. I cut off the food supply and the rats left. The rats went to the neighbor's chicken coops where they shot at them every night in the coop.
We had the same issue with our hens. With the last batch I had I only fed them by hand once a day, and no more than they would gobble up while I was standing there. It defiantly helped with the rat issues.
I am hooked on your straight shooting way of speaking; you are not cold in the matter-of-fact way you speak. You remind me of a more mature and refined version of my 5yo autistic son ❤ Keep up the great work! And thanks for the awesome information and excellent videos.
Yes, the dead rats go back into the compost, no doubt adding to the quality of the compost! I think the rats also help the compost when alive, by burrowing in and scratching around they aerate it - a bit - and probably help decompose some of the material.
Just found your site. I love how thoughtful and balanced your approach is. I think I will be listening to many of your videos as I plug away in my own garden this spring. Stay safe, stay healthy!
When a person hates or is disgusted by a certain species of animal, it shows ignorance on their part. Nature is a broad interconnected web where each node is important and all animals should be considered to have intrinsic value. The other fallacy with many humans is the thinking that they must get 100% return for their labour and need not be any benefit to the broader ecosystem. I usually lose some of my produce to bugs and small mammals. My thinking is that mother nature did most of the work so if she feels fit to take a share, who am I to complain? That being said, I do need to net a certain benefit from my labours, so when populations are high enough that damage becomes significant, I either find a way to draw them away from my garden, discourage/prevent them from entering my garden, or cull their numbers.
You make valid points, but that fist statement is simply not true in all cases. It's not always ignorance. Sometimes ppl know plenty about the species and it's role in the ecosystem, but still don't like them. They aren't ignorant, it's a personal preference. Also, a lot of species waste is harmful to humans, especially rodents, so to be disgusted by the potential of being exposed to something nasty is not ignorance, it's just human nature. Lol. Idc how much ppl love animals, I'll bet most of them would be very unhappy if mice or rats infested their homes. Doesn't make them ignorant, it's just not fun or sanitary to live with a bunch of rodents chewing up the place and leaving their disgusting urine and feces behind.
Considering some people lived all their lives in an urban jungle far away from any natural cycle or influence it's no wonder some people have fear of natural things... like killing pest animals or irrational fear of certain animals. Those rats would eat you alive in your sleep if they had no other choice. Same as chickens would.
EcoCentric Homestead I mean it’s not really the, being ignorant. There can be many reasons to why people hate them. I have a phobia of spiders so I hate spiders.
How do you feel about using the compost that has been "contaminated" by the rats' urine and faeces? Is there any risk? Great video and very informative.
I don’t have a problem with the rats in the compost. I’d be more worried about their urine and faeces within the garden itself (though still not worried - just aware). In the compost there is such intensive biological activity, and I think that any pathogen that wasn’t killed by biology would die off over the 8-10 months that the compost matures. But I take precautions in the garden in general (i.e wash hands after working with compost or soil.). But I can only speak for myself, as I don’t know what risks there are in other parts of the world,
My compost pile often has too much carbon to heat up and its hard to get greens to add during the winter to heat it up. Maybe you can do a video on adding urine as a nitrogen source? Whats your opinion on that?
I often have the opposite problem of too much nitrogen, but on rough compost piles I occasionally have added urine as a nitrogen source. I can't say how much of an effect this has had, but I should do some more exploration on it all and make a video about it. My basic opinion is that it couldn't hurt to add using, except perhaps when the compost is already too wet/rich.
Urine works well as an activator. I don't have an issue with greens throu out winter as we have all of our veg peelings etc and also fresh horse manure.
darrenbetts2987 I love horse manure. It's normally "free" here to pick up from horse farms but the guy I know charges $20 to load your trailer with his tractor. So if you can pick up at least 2-3 yards it's well worth it. If I could pick up 5-10 yards in a big trailer then I would definitely think that's a good deal and worth the time saving to use a machine then breaking your back.
I always watch your vids to the end. Sometimes i have been known to watch them many times each. As always your thoughtful and methodical advice is second to none! Every aspect of your experiment seems purposeful and complete. I appreciate every minute of your content. I have followed your advice and will continue to follow your series wherever it may take you. Many thanks
this video made me subscribe. its only the second video of yours that i have watched, but i deal with a constant influx of mice due to my raising quail and them being extremely messy eaters. i always add the mice into my compost heap as well as dead quail and bad eggs from them. It is nice to know that other people are not always leave the poor creature alone till the population is so terrific that disease takes over. great video and will keep watching and hope for more. Extremely well thought out, very clear and to the point. great job.
Hey! Thank you for very useful video! I also watched your previous one, no-rules composting :) which was super cool. Regarding with rat issue, how about setting up composting bins on the mesh net? I am working on composting project in university campus (in Cambodia) and need some advice!
Mix well 1 part FRESH baking SODA with 1 part flour or cornmeal, add a bit of sugar if you want, place pans with generous portions of this mix around your farm, it is harmless to pets and other animals, but it is LETHAL for rats and mice (and roaches). Rats and mice can't burp or fart, so the baking soda expands in their stomach and intestines and ruptures them, killing them. The baking soda should be fresh, not a box that has been opened and sitting in a cabinet for months.
That Sir is the best Rat video I have viewed and congratulate you on its production and content. As a retired surveyor, I have worked on many construction sites and surveyed properties in London close to the docks and river and now retired have an allotment and yes we have rats. Thanks for sharing Mike
We had many, now so far none. First we were catching them in the killing traps, put treat in there and they went to get it and most of time they got hit behind the neck. But once it was a masaker lots of blood splashing, I was sorry for the poor rat, all she wanted was to eat! Once we got one in trap alive with leg trapped and damaged, she screamed with pain, needed to be helped to end suffering in bucket of water. Then my online friend told me not to kill them, they are needed in nature and she said they sell Catch and release traps on Amazon ! So we got those and it was a pleasure to keep catching them alive and release them one by one in same area with no homes around, seeing them running happily away when we opened door of the trap. Much better catch them that way, so happy my friend told me about it. After all, they all want to live just like we do!
@@libuseleman3049 That's really sad.. thanks for having compassion for the rats. I used to rescue domestic rats and they were the best friends I ever had. I miss them every day. Sometimes now there are wild rats around my apartment. I just keep my space very clean and that works. When I make my own place someday it will be an aircrete or hempcrete dome home and it will be impermeable to rats and other little animals.
A wild rat is not a pet rat. I love pet rats. They're super sweet little critters. Curious and smart. You need to control their population or they 10000000000% will explode. You're fine dude.
Good video. Glad you brought up this issue. Haven't seen another video yet addressing the cons on of compost bins inviting vermin. I'll just rethink my compost structure and make solid walls and add a base when building today. Thanks again!
Some people, myself included, don't mind rats being around (and are willing to deal with them) but if you do, then it definitely makes sense to try to build a rat resistant enclosure, at least to try to slow them down.
Yes they're cute. But they need to be controlled. When I notice voles or moles in my front yard, I open the gate and my 3 dogs "help" me out in just a few minutes. Great informative,yet necessary video.
_Moles_ are great animals that air your underground, eat worms and insects, NOT the roots or plants they are not the vegetarians that go after your harvest ;). Moles might by mistake _sometimes_ upend some seedlings, but nobody is perfect and that is a small price to pay for their valuable services. And if you have damage to roots or produce (being chewed or partially eaten !) it is _voles_ they are vegetarians and the bane of gardeners - and most definitely not _moles_ If a mole upends a seedling it is an accident, side effect of their diligent activities, they never aim to eat your plants, bulbs of flowers, or roots. Moles also provide finely sifted soil (great for your nursery for growing seedlings) and they eat worms, insects in general, larvae, insect eggs, probably also of slugs. Now plenty of useful earthworms too but you should have plenty of earthworms so that a mole can make a living, and by chasing them the moles dig even larger tunnels thus improving conditions for soil life, more air and losening the soil. Being chased by moles (especially when it gets colder) might encourage worms to go deeper and work your soil at the deeper levels. Temperature in the soil is fairly stable but there are some differences. The moles must eat a LOT and even a few degrees more down there help them to save energy. So once there are some path they will try to stay in the warmer area. So they have a reason to dig around there. The tunnels the mole dig are larger, they are more like a highway, the worms make the many small paths. Voles on the other hand are damaging, period. (O.K. they also dig tunnels and provide air but the cost for that is just too high, they attack your crops, which moles never do). So if your dogs are good in getting them by all means. However, I suspect it is easier to catch a mole than a vole they might be slow, so your dogs might eliminate an extremely useful animal. With voles a multilayered strategy seems to work. Noise, smells, disturbance, cages and nets can help, and traps. The mounds and tunnels they dig look different and voles can be caught with traps - whereas moles avoid going in there. So that would be a way to get rid of the voles w/o harming the moles. If you have a lawn - harvesting the mounds of finely sifted growing soil before you mow the lawn is a very small effort compared to what they perform all day, every day. They also work in winter, likely they and worms go deeper to have it warmer and therefore they dig up some minerals and mix the layers.
as always a well presented argument and an excellent video yours is the first channel I have ever supported on patrion the first day I discovered it. and yet again you should be a teacher. but keep making videos, I swear after bing watching all your videos I now care about your red garden and black plot as much as I do my own garden at home.
Intriguing - thank you for educating me on some alternatives. You've followed a logical, scientific approach: measure, change something, measure, reason, iterate. That makes what you've done replicable and credible.
Experience is the only human achievement capable of displacing proffered knowledge. Well said, well done, well researched, and abundant experience you have Bruce. Thank you for an excellent pearl of wisdom on pests in general and rat-bastards specifically. Liked, now a subscriber and bell rung. Cheers from the great state of Oregon, USA! -Brian
Hii , you are good in what it should be done. rat are not pet.. some civilize ppl are so silly they think killing rat and baby rat are cruel.. so stupid. yes, rat are everywhere.. even if the community didn't see them, because they are munching way in the park with the oak nuts.. when some rat went into compost bin, they complain and make a big deal out of it.. accusing you bring the mouse here.. should not do compost.. ban composting.. only can compost leaves.. but they are stupid. because rat do make leaves compost pile as their nest.. some ppl are really naive and ignorant. as long as you control the rat number you are good. those hinder you will be idiots. it is better that you lure the rat to your compost and eliminated by you then let the rat roaming around into ppl's house and nobody control their number.. right ? ! andrew germany
It seems that many people have a very extreme attitudes towards rats - for a range of different reasons. The fear based one is hard to engage with, I find, as anything that could even remotely encourage or enable rats is seen as bad. On the other side is the view that they are wonderful creatures and killing them is seriously problematic. I'm stuck in the middle of this extremes.
here in germany there is even yellow jacket protection law.. how stupid is that ? those ppl who made up such laws are usually those ppl who don't do farming.. they just sit around and too much free time and made up laws stupid laws as they like.
Wenn Sie eine Wespe grundlos töten, kostet das 5000 Euro Strafe ...www.focus.de/.../bundesnaturschutzgesetz-greift-kein-witz-w... - Translate this pageWenn die Tage wärmer werden, sind wieder Wespen auf dem Vormarsch. Ein Stich der lästigen ... Bundesnaturschutzgesetz greift: Kein Witz! Wenn Sie eine ... rp-online.de/nrw/panorama/wespen-toeten-verboten-in-nrw-bis-zu-50000-euro-strafe-moeglich_aid-20160135 the title says for killing a wespe (yellow jacket ) for no reason can be fine up to 50,000 euro.. how stupid are those eat and poo law makers ? !
Wow!! You truly are a wealth of knowledge and I do value your videos. Thank you for offering your insights. I'm considering starting my own small compost and I've been researching with articles, books and UA-cam videos when I came across your videos. I love your approach and I think I will adapt that as opposed to the ones I've researched so far. Thank you again!
RED Gardens I think you'll need a bigger bucket LOL No seriously though, a good strong steel drum without a lid dug into the ground should do it. Added bonus would be to invite the moaners round & give em a small fishing rod for the fresh catch. haha. I used an empty sealant gun tube for the spinning thing on my bucket, I'm fed up with the mice getting up into the loft (3rd floor) and playing above my bed. Pesky varmits!
saw my first rat this evening...how timely your video. I am going to try the compost in a covered ditch method....you do videos well my braniac Irish friend!
So far I am really enjoying your videos, your information seems very accurate and you speak with a serious intent. The mild humor is blended in perfectly as well. Looking forward to more, cheers.
Logical and reasonable. You are not being vicious. That implies unwarranted action. I myself have the compost too close to the house to tolerate any rats. Meat and bones go to the dog or city composting. There is more than enough types of compostable material given away for free to make up for any losses to my garden.
I love your mentality and share your opinion on predators. Sadly I am no longer in the country. I garden in a small village that has recently become overrun with rats. I avoid putting food scraps into the compost . Anything remotely edible goes into a tumbler first. We have many gardeners who are at their wits end. I just caught my first one. My garden is strictly organic and I don’t want to be part of a municipal compost system that might be full of poisons!
Educational, respectful, and well said. I really appreciate what and how you said it. And this out of the box concept of using the compost as bait instead of forbidden fruit was really helpful for me to determine composting methods that work for my area in the future.
Thanks for commenting! Really good to know that you find my videos and approach useful. I like how you phrased the use of 'compost as bait instead of forbidden fruit'!
My Grandfather (an old farmer from WW2) had the same approach with the netting in and single entry/exit method back in the 80's, it is by far the most effective way of dealing with the situation, sometimes good that old habits don't go to waste and good that you take responsibility with a balanced ideology.
The main attractant is the smell. Eliminate the smell from the compost bin and rats will other place to move over. Also make the compost rat proof by making the bin out of welded wire mesh/cloth, they won't be able to chew it. Rats have growing teeth and need to chew in stuff to keep it under control. Hope this will also help.
My chickens loved baby mice, and rats. It was quite the treat for them. When I would find them in my own "no rules" compost heap, after throwing the pinkies, to my laying hens, I found they ate less grain that day, and the resulting eggs, were quite spectacular. Thank you.
I live in a semi-rural area of South Louisiana. There are mild winters here, and rats are a BIG problem. Last year, snakes started showing up in my yard. I know my snakes, and these were good, non-poisonous snakes. I don't bother them, and they eat the rats. King snakes are particularly good for this, as they also eat other snakes, often poisonous ones, and they are so gentle that you can pick them up and they won't bite. And they are a Beautiful addition to the landscape.
Great advice and well put together. Just doing what nature does and not glorying in it. It beats poison. I dispatched about 10 last year with traps and poison, not my preferred method. I think walling them in and going in for the kill with hounds is a good option as others have suggested. Don’t take any flak from fairy types who don’t see the value in controlling a nuisance pest. It’s got to be done, but you’ve shown a great humane way of doing it, great videos from a garden newbie 👍🏻
“I decided to do my own research on it” this is my mindset too for everything. I like videos like this where people tell me their experiences so I have a starting point for research points.
Watching your videos are incredibly informative and after watching this one, something occurred to me. Those rats you showed looked exceptionally healthy and that should be no surprise given the abundant food and warmth they have access to throughout the year. And here is the aha I had, like plants, a healthy population is more resistant to disease. In fact, if a population of rats is harboring leptospirosis it could be indicative of stresses on the rat population.
Timely serendipitous viewing. I went out the other day to turn the small compost and I was pleased to see it had rotted down nicely and was stirring it about with a garden spade when a Rat popped out. I poked about some more and it managed to jump out of the bin and i have been wondering about the effect it has had. It was moving around a little to quick for me to brutalise it and vowed to do some research. Thanks for this video, I am need to view it again I think.
A useful and thoughtful vid - thank you. I found rat nests under an old shed I demolished in the garden. I'm hoping that a deepish bed of gravel and a smattering of carbosote will keep them away there as I erect the new shed. I've also decided to go for a series of compost daleks with chicken wire under the base. I hope it works. Best wishes - wish I could support you but am at the stage of capital-intensive initial works myself. - Paul
Thanks. Sounds like a decent strategy, hope it works for you. Keep a eye out for holes in the plastic, as rats have a tendency to chew through. A friend mentioned that he uses 2 or 3 layers of chicken wire underneath his compost and turns it up at the side. Seems to work for him, but haven’t tried it myself.
Theres a shifty stray cat garding my compost heap and occasionally there's a buzard fly over( altough the residential jackdaw and magpie family's will not stand for those arial incursions)
No rat problem for me so far but just wanted to say hello from a few kms away from that community garden compost sign in West Broadway, Winnipeg! I very much appreciate the rat instructional despite not having encountered the problem yet. It's not the type of topic many gardeners dare to tackle in depth.
I am using the mix in equal parts of sugar flour and baking soda near the composter with blender. I keep it dry in a 6-liter bottle of water with 2 holes for entry and exit. They eat and die
@@REDGardens CopyPaste:Baking soda is actually sodiumbicarbonate and will readily decompose to produce carbon dioxide gas under acidic conditions. So, the rateats baking soda which then comes into contact with acids in the ratsstomach. The baking soda turns into a bunch of gas that the rat can't expel which somehow then kills that rat.
Northern Irish/Canadian or cali? I've watched a few of your videos now. Thank you for the the tips and presentation of your videos, keep up the good work my friend, you've given me a good few tips now for a beginner, thanks🙏🏼❤️
@@REDGardens Lol.... yet I was confused. No wonder a Canadian in Ireland. Good mix anyhow. I have lots of family living in Ontario and Vancouver. Rick from Holland*
There is a way to tap them in your compost pile so they can't get out while you're not there. Make a cone of fence that the holes are too small for the rats to get through like rabbit wire. Snip the cone at the tip so that the wires going long ways are still intact but the wires going around it are open so the rats can push thru to get in but can't get out. Shallom you are loved
I do like your approach. You have an interesting take on the issue. I found the video informative and thought-provoking. I have created a compost bin in my backyard. We are in the City and I am trying to eliminate access. I have use 1/2 inch steel mesh to incase the entire box. We shall see how this works. We have raccoons, squirrel, crows, skunks, rats, and mice. They are all city adapted and extremely smart and adaptive. I would love to have a neighbor cat again that was allowed outside, but even that was a struggle when she got a poisoned rat twice and it almost killed her. So I am hoping that by eliminating access they will lose interest.
Yeah, if I was in an urban context, with that range possible critters (especially the racoons!!!) I would probably go with trying to eliminate access. Hope it works for you.
I operate a "no rules" compost operation too. I've only had one rat nesting in three years and several mice. They each fled when I turned the pile, and we DO have a healthy population of buzzards and other predators here, so they are not a huge problem.
Mix well 1 part FRESH baking SODA with 1 part flour or cornmeal, add a bit of sugar if you want, place pans with generous portions of this mix around your farm, it is harmless to pets and other animals, but it is LETHAL for rats and mice. Rats and mice can't burp or fart, so the baking soda expands in their stomach and intestines and ruptures them, killing them. The baking soda should be fresh, not a box that has been opened and sitting in a cabinet for months.
Love your balanced, thoughtful, and caring approach. It's a lot to manage and I feel you do it all very well. Especially the reflections. Thank you for all you are doing and sharing.
Hey, thanks for the very encouraging and thoughtful comment. It means a lot!
@@REDGardens howdy, if you ever need to get their numbers down more in a way that does not hurt predators you can mix oatmeal with plaster of paris in a container that rats can easily get in and out of but other animals/weather can't (for various reasons), it will kill the rats quite quickly but not anything that eats the dead ones. also, adding nuts and berries can help make it more attractive too.
@@FroggyTWrite I had tried aversion of that while ago, though at the time I wasn't so sure of the effectiveness. I was wondering if they were not really interested intthe bait in this context as there is so much other food around. I should try it again some time, placing the bait in the runs they dig into the compost piles.
Exactly, He is wonderful.
I respect how you deal with rats effectively while still retaining some humanity and forethought towards the issue.
Thanks for that.
When you step on baby mice they make a Crunch and turn to strawberry jelly.
@@conservativemacro80 Oh dear. The video showed a large degree of humanity and sensible countryside practice. This is just gratuitous. Whilst we may prefer not to recognise it, the rats are doing nothing wrong and do not deserve our malevolence.
@@sharonstuart5262 Moreover we should find a way to use them to the mutual benefit of both of our species.
I am sure somewhere deep in the grand mind of Logos crafting this world to manifest, there exists a potential for a workable dynamic to enable this kind of mutualistic symbiotic relationship.
@@conservativemacro80hopefully someday the same thing happens to you. You're just pure a evil dirtbag.
You present your thoughts well. I watched a video once on a poor family in India whose job was trapping rats. They did it by smoking them out of their tunnel system. At the end of the day, the family would roast and eat them. I recall the Dad especially twisting off the little roasted paws like they were especially tasty. They had a school aged child who looked like she was becoming increasingly ashamed of the situation. May the Lord have mercy on us who live so comfortably and still find abundant reasons to complain!
Hope they didn't boil them alive like the sadistic and depraved Asians do. I have an extreme hatred for animal cruelty. I read how different parts of India are cruel to animals as well. I hate cruel people of any race.
The Problem (rat attracting compost) is the solution (compost bin as rat trap). Your take on the rats as pest is cleverly inventive. Thanks.
Interesting way of putting it - the problem is the solution!
@@REDGardens Its a sentence frequently used in Permaculture problem solving.
I 2nd that!
The problem is the solution!
Over the past nine months, I have watched this video no less than three times. Each time, I notice something that I missed. In any case, your method for dealing with the rat population reflects your analytical approach to your gardening.
Wow. Glad you are getting a lot out of my video(s).
I like the way you treaded lightly on this subject, taking the way people feel about rats into consideration. Something you don’t see in other channels.
Glad you appreciated how I approached this.
@@REDGardens I appreciate it too, since I rescued rats before and they were my angels, my family. I know what empathetic and wonderful individuals they are. and they really are all individuals. Wild or domestic.
Thanks for making these videos. I don't have a garden, but I find your work refreshing, interesting, helpful, informative. I especially appreciate your approach of respect for different points of view, personal experiments trying new ideas and your search for balanced yet simple solutions. You show more than gardening in the strict sense. Thank you.
Wow, thanks for the comment. It means a lot , especially coming from someone who doesn’t have a garden.
hard subject thoroughly considered. subscribed
Thanks.
RED Gardens
Just wondering what you do with all the dead bodies?
Would recommend leaving them out somewhere for that buzzard!
Fair point... me too.
@@domsquaaa4323 I wonder if a predator such as a buzzard would easily adopt scavenging behaviour. Something to think about.
@@PulseCodeMusic buzzards
Well the buzzards we get in the U.K. the main part of their diet is carrion
As always your pragmatic and intelligent approach is refreshing.
Thanks!!
You bring a refreshing unification of scientific and philosophical perspectives to gardening. I appreciate you taking the time to record your inquiries, experiments, and all the work you do to find answers and solutions.
Thanks for the supportive comment. It made my morning!
I used to have rats in my compost bin but my newest cat dispatched all 6 of them within a week, they all went back in the compost bin.
Oh, believe me, you still have rats visiting.
dust to dust, compost to compost.
That must be a big, tough cat. Most rats are too big for most cats to handle.
@@calamityjean1525 that's why you get a feral cat
@@solemasta2036 I don't think feral cats are any bigger or toughter than any other cats.
I have an opossum that comes every now and then at night, to forage through our pile and aerate it! I think he does most of the work. I still get great compost.
Sometimes I think the rats do a more of the turning and aeration work than I do.
It's amazing how many uses the humble compost can have!
Indeed!
My Grand father used to grow peppermint herbs. He said rodents hate the smell. In the Fall, he sickled the mint and sprinkled it in the basement and root cellar. He never had a major problem with rodents including rabbits. Great VIDEO
I have heard that some herbs will deter rodents, I will have to start growing some peppermint.
I killed them. I killed them all. They're dead, every single one of them. And not just the men, but the women and the children, too.
~Anakin Skywalker~
Lol
StormP666 Anakin is a true hero
Vader...
....and what relevance does that have with anything?......other than you are a composting Star Wars nerd?🤔
@@allandriver2066 I bet you're fun at parties 🙄
I'm so glad I stumbled over this clip. Instead of placing toxins everywhere and risking them leaching into my precious soil which also makes me feel like I'm fighting a losing battle against the rats, I will now embrace them and follow some of the things you have done.
I hope you have success with this approach, but remindful of the fact that their numbers can get quite high quite quickly!
I valued what you said and found it balanced and carefully thought out. I'm also very glad I don't have a rat issue. Mice are bad enough!
Thanks for your comment. Rats can be a real pain.
Excellent very informative I said this to my m8 got rid of chickens and other animals and they keep comming it's the compo bins
I always look forward to your videos - informational, educational, well thought out and entertaining. The subtle humor and the brilliant scientific approach make these videos the top of my list for favorites.
Best wishes from Australia.
Thanks Frank. Glad you enjoy them even though you are in a different season and likely in a radically different climate. Also glad a bit of the humour comes through - I struggle with being too serious in front of the camera!
.
Second that reply! Margaret Karr, also from 'Down Under'
Expressed my thoughts exactly. Great videos, love the considerate but honest approach, plus science, plus the Irish humor. Regards from Greece.
I must say your channel is so full of great tips, thoughts and advice, thank you! We need less showmen and more people with balanced opinion and scientific approach not just here on YT, but in general.
Brilliant! Your attitudes on rats, and your seeing the necessity of culling their numbers despite your reluctance mirrors my own feelings..
Glad to hear that there are others out there with similar feelings about this issue.
Rats?
They've got fighters guild members killing rats?
Now this is a comment worth commenting
Hmm, I guessing an anime reference, fairy tail, perhaps?
@Dongs I'll kalicrack the findoo.
Gal bursten it!
Mountain lions????!!!! By the nine!
Who puts cats in bags anyways?! Cats dont even like bags!
Im glad all of those beautiful summer fields hypnotized us into undertaking the second coolest skillset after slaying goblins.
Why are you worried about people's opinions? You are giving free, helpful advice and knowledge. Those who want it can watch. Those who dont like it can go somewhere else and miss out on your experiences. Thanks for all that you have shared. I know it takes a lot of time and am very grateful that you have shared it. Keep up the good work
Good question. I think part of it is my response to understanding that on this issue there is a huge split of strong opinions, from rats are cute (so don't kill them), to rats are disgusting (why are you attracting them in the first place), and a lot in-between. I was hoping with this video to find a way where people who disagree with my approach would still be able to understand its merits - to introduce new ideas to those who may not want to know.
Excellent video and advice. I raise chickens and lately some small rats have been boldly munching away at the chicken feed in broad daylight acting like they're part of the family.
It can be hard to get rid of those rats among the chickens - can't set the typical traps without possibly hurting the chickens, and poison would be an issue.
I hope your community values the work you do and how well you manage the compost area. Vermin control. A great skill to have. Great videos.
Thanks. I think that most people really appreciate that i am willing to do the job, and have the skills to do it well. Others are still convinced that the only reason the rats are there in the first place is that I put inappropriate material in the compost.
Miniature Schnauzers and/or Jack Russels. Then, you get the added benefit of them deterring other invaders, such as postal workers, neighbor kids, and people who ride bicycles. Also, they're adorable.
They are only good for getting into the nooks where big dogs can't get to and have a poor acceleration rate in the animals that I have seen but sight hounds/sight crosses are faster, have more stamina, stronger bite force (kill the rodents quickly) and wade through deeper puddles. Look up Jimmy Carter the Mink man. He hunts with both sight hounds, Belgian Malinois and a couple terrier.
I handled malinois' in the military. FIERCE dogs, but their cuteness can't match that of a little schnauzer boy, excited to see you home. I really was looking for a reason to say that schnauzers are cute.
Incidentally, one of my schnauzers' name was Jimmy. He and his little brother, Andy, were great prairie-dog and muskrat killers.
You're funny.
As far as dogs go, I find something to love in every breed I am exposed to.
I used to hunt with my neighbour's mongrel dog, and he was amazing to watch.
I really love your transparent, even-toned retelling of your experiences, methods, and opinions. This is uncommon and valuable.
The other day I fell down a youtube hole of watching 'ratting with terriers' videos. It was kind of gruesome to watch, but also really fascinating to watch dogs bred for a job doing that job efficiently and thoroughly. If you can find a couple of local terrier owners who would like to exercise that aspect of their dogs' breeding, it might be worthwhile to invite them by on compost turning day. The dogs really seem to enjoy it, and the rats seem to be dispatched rapidly and without much suffering.
I think using dogs, especially terriers, is the best way to get rid of a nest of rats. They can be so quick and efficient, it is quite amazing to watch - but as you say, gruesome. I have one dog in mind that I might need to train up, but could definitely be worth it.
I've a pug/rat terrier mix that routinely catches jackrabbits in our backyard and even once cornered an opossum. Rats would be far to slow and as such don't risk making appearances. At the same time he's never harmed one of our free-range chickens. It's amazing how quickly dogs learn to modify behaviors to please their owners.
@@jlcon99 Dogs don't generally (almost never) operate with the goal of pleasing people. They respond as their genetics or training dictate and when the results happen to fall inline with the wishes of a person, people mistake that to be a sign of the dog actually trying to please them. Far more likely, the dog has become accustomed to the ongoing presence of the chickens. They have become background noise. Technically, it's habituation. The dog may have initially tried to chase them but was either discouraged by a person or the chickens didn't run and therefore didn't encourage the chasing behaviour. The predatory behaviour towards chickens didn't yield any reward for the dog, there was no reason for the dog to continue it. On the other hand, wild prey animals when chased, run, encouraging the dog's desire to chase them. They sneak and hide and mysteriously appear out of no where only to disappear again. This only works to entice the dog's predatory instincts and the behaviours of stalking and chasing these animals become highly self rewarding even if the dog never catches one. If the dog actually succeeds once at catching that animal, that's the ultimate gambler's jackpot ensuring the dog will keep trying to engage in this behaviour with those animals. Dogs are highly contextual learners which for good and bad means they can behave differently based on context and not necessarily the provocation itself.
Thank you Bruce - I really appreciate your considered and scientific approach to gardening yet your ability to retain and ethical baseline, all without running off the rails. My hats really off to you. And probably most so - you're videos are just really well edited and presented. I'm new to gardening and loving binging your videos while I can't stand about 95% of other gardening related videos. Just really wanna say thanks!
I had thousands of rats underground that were eating my chicken's feed. I switched from 24 hour chicken feed available to 5 minutes a day, and all the rats left for the neighbor's chicken coops. My hens still laid.
i do not understand. could you please explain further?
@@fikuni5260 rats were eating my chicken feed at night. I cut off the food supply and the rats left. The rats went to the neighbor's chicken coops where they shot at them every night in the coop.
We had the same issue with our hens. With the last batch I had I only fed them by hand once a day, and no more than they would gobble up while I was standing there. It defiantly helped with the rat issues.
That's animal cruelty, hens need to be able to peck food all day long. Encase your chicken coop with chicken wire, that's what it's for.
I have had the cats...with rat abundance, cat didn't really touch the eggs, even of they love them.
I am hooked on your straight shooting way of speaking; you are not cold in the matter-of-fact way you speak. You remind me of a more mature and refined version of my 5yo autistic son ❤
Keep up the great work!
And thanks for the awesome information and excellent videos.
Thanks! Glad you appreciate my efforts and approach to these videos.
Do you compost the rats after? do the rats help decompose materials (as bones) in the bin?
Yes, the dead rats go back into the compost, no doubt adding to the quality of the compost!
I think the rats also help the compost when alive, by burrowing in and scratching around they aerate it - a bit - and probably help decompose some of the material.
@@REDGardens and the soil they dig out is perfectly sifted and moist, only if we had a giant rat to sift all the compost pile. 😂😂
@@raa6504 Yes, the soil they dig out is really fine.
@@REDGardens I too think rats areate the compost heap.
Why waste good blood and none fertiliser.
Just found your site. I love how thoughtful and balanced your approach is. I think I will be listening to many of your videos as I plug away in my own garden this spring. Stay safe, stay healthy!
When a person hates or is disgusted by a certain species of animal, it shows ignorance on their part.
Nature is a broad interconnected web where each node is important and all animals should be considered to have intrinsic value.
The other fallacy with many humans is the thinking that they must get 100% return for their labour and need not be any benefit to the broader ecosystem. I usually lose some of my produce to bugs and small mammals. My thinking is that mother nature did most of the work so if she feels fit to take a share, who am I to complain?
That being said, I do need to net a certain benefit from my labours, so when populations are high enough that damage becomes significant, I either find a way to draw them away from my garden, discourage/prevent them from entering my garden, or cull their numbers.
Very well put. Thanks for commenting.
I disagree. I think it’s epigenetic. I have a huge huge irrational fear of spiders that I did not learn as none of my family are afraid of them.
You make valid points, but that fist statement is simply not true in all cases. It's not always ignorance. Sometimes ppl know plenty about the species and it's role in the ecosystem, but still don't like them. They aren't ignorant, it's a personal preference. Also, a lot of species waste is harmful to humans, especially rodents, so to be disgusted by the potential of being exposed to something nasty is not ignorance, it's just human nature. Lol. Idc how much ppl love animals, I'll bet most of them would be very unhappy if mice or rats infested their homes. Doesn't make them ignorant, it's just not fun or sanitary to live with a bunch of rodents chewing up the place and leaving their disgusting urine and feces behind.
Considering some people lived all their lives in an urban jungle far away from any natural cycle or influence it's no wonder some people have fear of natural things... like killing pest animals or irrational fear of certain animals. Those rats would eat you alive in your sleep if they had no other choice. Same as chickens would.
EcoCentric Homestead I mean it’s not really the, being ignorant. There can be many reasons to why people hate them. I have a phobia of spiders so I hate spiders.
I commend your no nonsense clarity and honesty. Love your videos.
How do you feel about using the compost that has been "contaminated" by the rats' urine and faeces? Is there any risk? Great video and very informative.
I don’t have a problem with the rats in the compost. I’d be more worried about their urine and faeces within the garden itself (though still not worried - just aware). In the compost there is such intensive biological activity, and I think that any pathogen that wasn’t killed by biology would die off over the 8-10 months that the compost matures. But I take precautions in the garden in general (i.e wash hands after working with compost or soil.).
But I can only speak for myself, as I don’t know what risks there are in other parts of the world,
I think you have a good perspective and your approach is respectful and responsible.
Good to hear. I sometimes wonder if I am going off on a tangent and deluding myself, so good to get feedback!
Gotta deal with real problems. Health, production, value, these creatures detract when outside of nature. A garden is outside of nature.
I see the hard work that you put into making your compost .and appreciate your sharing your experiences with us .Thank you .
My compost pile often has too much carbon to heat up and its hard to get greens to add during the winter to heat it up. Maybe you can do a video on adding urine as a nitrogen source? Whats your opinion on that?
I often have the opposite problem of too much nitrogen, but on rough compost piles I occasionally have added urine as a nitrogen source. I can't say how much of an effect this has had, but I should do some more exploration on it all and make a video about it.
My basic opinion is that it couldn't hurt to add using, except perhaps when the compost is already too wet/rich.
RED Gardens thanks. Love your videos keep it up
Urine works well as an activator. I don't have an issue with greens throu out winter as we have all of our veg peelings etc and also fresh horse manure.
darrenbetts2987 I love horse manure. It's normally "free" here to pick up from horse farms but the guy I know charges $20 to load your trailer with his tractor. So if you can pick up at least 2-3 yards it's well worth it. If I could pick up 5-10 yards in a big trailer then I would definitely think that's a good deal and worth the time saving to use a machine then breaking your back.
StreetMachine18 we have 2 horses do a constant supply. I compost it in a windrow.
I always watch your vids to the end. Sometimes i have been known to watch them many times each.
As always your thoughtful and methodical advice is second to none! Every aspect of your experiment seems purposeful and complete.
I appreciate every minute of your content.
I have followed your advice and will continue to follow your series wherever it may take you.
Many thanks
Also... Keep a few Cats around, to go after the rats that eat the vegetables, that are growing in your garden.
: ) : ) : )
I am trying to encourage a wandering neighbourhood cat to stick around a bit more.
@@REDGardens you would have the same problems as with traps though. Cats kill EVERYTHING they can put their claws on...
this video made me subscribe. its only the second video of yours that i have watched, but i deal with a constant influx of mice due to my raising quail and them being extremely messy eaters. i always add the mice into my compost heap as well as dead quail and bad eggs from them. It is nice to know that other people are not always leave the poor creature alone till the population is so terrific that disease takes over. great video and will keep watching and hope for more. Extremely well thought out, very clear and to the point. great job.
Hey! Thank you for very useful video! I also watched your previous one, no-rules composting :) which was super cool. Regarding with rat issue, how about setting up composting bins on the mesh net? I am working on composting project in university campus (in Cambodia) and need some advice!
how did it go? did you start the composting project?
Mix well 1 part FRESH baking SODA with 1 part flour or cornmeal, add a bit of sugar if you want, place pans with generous portions of this mix around your farm, it is harmless to pets and other animals, but it is LETHAL for rats and mice (and roaches). Rats and mice can't burp or fart, so the baking soda expands in their stomach and intestines and ruptures them, killing them. The baking soda should be fresh, not a box that has been opened and sitting in a cabinet for months.
That Sir is the best Rat video I have viewed and congratulate you on its production and content. As a retired surveyor, I have worked on many construction sites and surveyed properties in London close to the docks and river and now retired have an allotment and yes we have rats. Thanks for sharing Mike
Thanks. Glad you found this video valuable.
I have rats cheerfully walking through my kitchen. I wish they'd go to the compost bin.
We had many, now so far none. First we were catching them in the killing traps, put treat in there and they went to get it and most of time they got hit behind the neck. But once it was a masaker lots of blood splashing, I was sorry for the poor rat, all she wanted was to eat! Once we got one in trap alive with leg trapped and damaged, she screamed with pain, needed to be helped to end suffering in bucket of water. Then my online friend told me not to kill them, they are needed in nature and she said they sell Catch and release traps on Amazon ! So we got those and it was a pleasure to keep catching them alive and release them one by one in same area with no homes around, seeing them running happily away when we opened door of the trap. Much better catch them that way, so happy my friend told me about it. After all, they all want to live just like we do!
@@libuseleman3049 That's really sad.. thanks for having compassion for the rats. I used to rescue domestic rats and they were the best friends I ever had. I miss them every day.
Sometimes now there are wild rats around my apartment. I just keep my space very clean and that works.
When I make my own place someday it will be an aircrete or hempcrete dome home and it will be impermeable to rats and other little animals.
Well made, well thought through and an excellent informative upload yet again! Thank you for taking the time to make such a valuable film. 👍
Thanks. Glad you appreciate my efforts!
A wild rat is not a pet rat. I love pet rats. They're super sweet little critters. Curious and smart. You need to control their population or they 10000000000% will explode. You're fine dude.
Wild rats are super empathetic, curious and smart too. Basically the same animal. Needing to control their population doesn't change this.
@@aryastark3148 all rats are rats they need to be controlled
I'm giving this a thumbs up simply because you address all the different perspectives and nuances. Great job!
Thanks.
Gets some cats my guy
Good video. Glad you brought up this issue. Haven't seen another video yet addressing the cons on of compost bins inviting vermin. I'll just rethink my compost structure and make solid walls and add a base when building today. Thanks again!
Some people, myself included, don't mind rats being around (and are willing to deal with them) but if you do, then it definitely makes sense to try to build a rat resistant enclosure, at least to try to slow them down.
Yes they're cute. But they need to be controlled. When I notice voles or moles in my front yard, I open the gate and my 3 dogs "help" me out in just a few minutes. Great informative,yet necessary video.
Thanks! Dogs can be great at the task. i think I need to train in the dog that my other neighbour has.
Storie Colopy what kind of dogs? I plan to get a couple of dogs.
_Moles_ are great animals that air your underground, eat worms and insects, NOT the roots or plants they are not the vegetarians that go after your harvest ;). Moles might by mistake _sometimes_ upend some seedlings, but nobody is perfect and that is a small price to pay for their valuable services. And if you have damage to roots or produce (being chewed or partially eaten !) it is _voles_ they are vegetarians and the bane of gardeners - and most definitely not _moles_
If a mole upends a seedling it is an accident, side effect of their diligent activities, they never aim to eat your plants, bulbs of flowers, or roots.
Moles also provide finely sifted soil (great for your nursery for growing seedlings) and they eat worms, insects in general, larvae, insect eggs, probably also of slugs.
Now plenty of useful earthworms too but you should have plenty of earthworms so that a mole can make a living, and by chasing them the moles dig even larger tunnels thus improving conditions for soil life, more air and losening the soil.
Being chased by moles (especially when it gets colder) might encourage worms to go deeper and work your soil at the deeper levels. Temperature in the soil is fairly stable but there are some differences. The moles must eat a LOT and even a few degrees more down there help them to save energy. So once there are some path they will try to stay in the warmer area. So they have a reason to dig around there.
The tunnels the mole dig are larger, they are more like a highway, the worms make the many small paths.
Voles on the other hand are damaging, period.
(O.K. they also dig tunnels and provide air but the cost for that is just too high, they attack your crops, which moles never do).
So if your dogs are good in getting them by all means. However, I suspect it is easier to catch a mole than a vole they might be slow, so your dogs might eliminate an extremely useful animal.
With voles a multilayered strategy seems to work. Noise, smells, disturbance, cages and nets can help, and traps.
The mounds and tunnels they dig look different and voles can be caught with traps - whereas moles avoid going in there. So that would be a way to get rid of the voles w/o harming the moles.
If you have a lawn - harvesting the mounds of finely sifted growing soil before you mow the lawn is a very small effort compared to what they perform all day, every day. They also work in winter, likely they and worms go deeper to have it warmer and therefore they dig up some minerals and mix the layers.
Thank you for your knowledge. I wish I had your energy, you get so much done. Yes I'm getting old, but I endeavor to persevere.
Amazing gardens!
🙂
Hi Doug Stamper.
It's nice that you no longer work for the Underwoods . A Better career choice indeed sir
Lol
as always a well presented argument and an excellent video
yours is the first channel I have ever supported on patrion the first day I discovered it.
and yet again you should be a teacher.
but keep making videos, I swear after bing watching all your videos I now care about your red garden and black plot as much as I do my own garden at home.
Ok, you got it, favourite comment of the day award!!!
Seriously, I do appreciate that kind of feedback and support. Thanks so much.
Well, we are going to throw this coat over it and... smack it with a hammer! *crosses eyes and passes out*
Intriguing - thank you for educating me on some alternatives. You've followed a logical, scientific approach: measure, change something, measure, reason, iterate. That makes what you've done replicable and credible.
Thanks.
A rat is a rat - John Gotti
Experience is the only human achievement capable of displacing proffered knowledge. Well said, well done, well researched, and abundant experience you have Bruce. Thank you for an excellent pearl of wisdom on pests in general and rat-bastards specifically. Liked, now a subscriber and bell rung. Cheers from the great state of Oregon, USA! -Brian
Buy a cat, they are the natural enemy of rats
Cats are not as effective as people seem to think..
@@dfbess only the fat cats ha
But like using a poison, cats can be so destructive to native animals.
Your narration are so simple and extremely realistic
Hii ,
you are good in what it should be done. rat are not pet.. some civilize ppl are so silly they think killing rat and baby rat are cruel.. so stupid.
yes, rat are everywhere.. even if the community didn't see them, because they are munching way in the park with the oak nuts..
when some rat went into compost bin, they complain and make a big deal out of it.. accusing you bring the mouse here.. should not do compost.. ban composting.. only can compost leaves.. but they are stupid. because rat do make leaves compost pile as their nest.. some ppl are really naive and ignorant.
as long as you control the rat number you are good. those hinder you will be idiots. it is better that you lure the rat to your compost and eliminated by you then let the rat roaming around into ppl's house and nobody control their number..
right ? !
andrew
germany
It seems that many people have a very extreme attitudes towards rats - for a range of different reasons. The fear based one is hard to engage with, I find, as anything that could even remotely encourage or enable rats is seen as bad. On the other side is the view that they are wonderful creatures and killing them is seriously problematic. I'm stuck in the middle of this extremes.
here in germany there is even yellow jacket protection law.. how stupid is that ?
those ppl who made up such laws are usually those ppl who don't do farming.. they just sit around and too much free time and made up laws stupid laws as they like.
Haven't heard of that kind of law before.
Wenn Sie eine Wespe grundlos töten, kostet das 5000 Euro Strafe ...www.focus.de/.../bundesnaturschutzgesetz-greift-kein-witz-w... - Translate this pageWenn die Tage wärmer werden, sind wieder Wespen auf dem Vormarsch. Ein Stich der lästigen ... Bundesnaturschutzgesetz greift: Kein Witz! Wenn Sie eine ...
rp-online.de/nrw/panorama/wespen-toeten-verboten-in-nrw-bis-zu-50000-euro-strafe-moeglich_aid-20160135
the title says for killing a wespe (yellow jacket ) for no reason can be fine up to 50,000 euro..
how stupid are those eat and poo law makers ? !
Wow!! You truly are a wealth of knowledge and I do value your videos. Thank you for offering your insights. I'm considering starting my own small compost and I've been researching with articles, books and UA-cam videos when I came across your videos. I love your approach and I think I will adapt that as opposed to the ones I've researched so far. Thank you again!
Thanks for your comment! Very glad that you found my videos useful, and hope you have great success with your compost!
Look for "Bucket Rat Trap" on youtube
I’ve been trying out a type of bucket trap for the past few weeks. Not great success so far, but also not a lot of rat activity.
RED Gardens I think you'll need a bigger bucket LOL
No seriously though, a good strong steel drum without a lid dug into the ground should do it. Added bonus would be to invite the moaners round & give em a small fishing rod for the fresh catch. haha.
I used an empty sealant gun tube for the spinning thing on my bucket, I'm fed up with the mice getting up into the loft (3rd floor) and playing above my bed.
Pesky varmits!
That would be cool!!
Pesky varmints indeed!
saw my first rat this evening...how timely your video. I am going to try the compost in a covered ditch method....you do videos well my braniac Irish friend!
So far I am really enjoying your videos, your information seems very accurate and you speak with a serious intent. The mild humor is blended in perfectly as well. Looking forward to more, cheers.
Glad you appreciate them, and also glad a bit of humour does come through.
Logical and reasonable.
You are not being vicious.
That implies unwarranted action.
I myself have the compost too close to the house to tolerate any rats.
Meat and bones go to the dog or city composting.
There is more than enough types of compostable
material given away for free to make up for any losses to my garden.
I love your mentality and share your opinion on predators. Sadly I am no longer in the country. I garden in a small village that has recently become overrun with rats. I avoid putting food scraps into the compost . Anything remotely edible goes into a tumbler first. We have many gardeners who are at their wits end. I just caught my first one. My garden is strictly organic and I don’t want to be part of a municipal compost system that might be full of poisons!
Refreshing style of simple taken on the problem without worry! love it!
Educational, respectful, and well said. I really appreciate what and how you said it. And this out of the box concept of using the compost as bait instead of forbidden fruit was really helpful for me to determine composting methods that work for my area in the future.
Thanks for commenting! Really good to know that you find my videos and approach useful. I like how you phrased the use of 'compost as bait instead of forbidden fruit'!
My Grandfather (an old farmer from WW2) had the same approach with the netting in and single entry/exit method back in the 80's, it is by far the most effective way of dealing with the situation, sometimes good that old habits don't go to waste and good that you take responsibility with a balanced ideology.
That is interesting to hear about the netting.
Ok, is it just me or is this guy just cool? Well I'm subscribing to his channel. Good content
Cool? Don't know about that, but thanks for subscribing!
The main attractant is the smell.
Eliminate the smell from the compost bin and rats will other place to move over.
Also make the compost rat proof by making the bin out of welded wire mesh/cloth, they won't be able to chew it.
Rats have growing teeth and need to chew in stuff to keep it under control.
Hope this will also help.
You are very creative in your solutions. Compassion also appreciated. Thank you.
My chickens loved baby mice, and rats. It was quite the treat for them. When I would find them in my own "no rules" compost heap, after throwing the pinkies, to my laying hens, I found they ate less grain that day, and the resulting eggs, were quite spectacular. Thank you.
Yeah, I’ve thrown a few babies into the hens and they go crazy for them! Interesting to hear about the quality of the eggs.
I live in a semi-rural area of South Louisiana. There are mild winters here, and rats are a BIG problem. Last year, snakes started showing up in my yard. I know my snakes, and these were good, non-poisonous snakes. I don't bother them, and they eat the rats. King snakes are particularly good for this, as they also eat other snakes, often poisonous ones, and they are so gentle that you can pick them up and they won't bite. And they are a Beautiful addition to the landscape.
I would love to have snakes around here to help out - and they are such amazing creatures. But none in Ireland unfortunately.
Great advice and well put together. Just doing what nature does and not glorying in it. It beats poison. I dispatched about 10 last year with traps and poison, not my preferred method. I think walling them in and going in for the kill with hounds is a good option as others have suggested. Don’t take any flak from fairy types who don’t see the value in controlling a nuisance pest. It’s got to be done, but you’ve shown a great humane way of doing it, great videos from a garden newbie 👍🏻
Thanks!
Once you get a small dog to understand he can trade a rat for bacon, you no longer have a problem.
Really appreciate how you start this video off ‼️‼️‼️‼️
“I decided to do my own research on it” this is my mindset too for everything. I like videos like this where people tell me their experiences so I have a starting point for research points.
Glad you find my approach to this useful 🙂
You're garden layout and amount of space you have is very impressive.
Wow this confirmed so much value for me I have been wondering about all these questions thank you mate !
Glad it was helpful!
Watching your videos are incredibly informative and after watching this one, something occurred to me. Those rats you showed looked exceptionally healthy and that should be no surprise given the abundant food and warmth they have access to throughout the year. And here is the aha I had, like plants, a healthy population is more resistant to disease. In fact, if a population of rats is harboring leptospirosis it could be indicative of stresses on the rat population.
This discussion of pests and predators is really refreshing and enlightening. Thank you!
Glad you appreciate it.
Timely serendipitous viewing. I went out the other day to turn the small compost and I was pleased to see it had rotted down nicely and was stirring it about with a garden spade when a Rat popped out. I poked about some more and it managed to jump out of the bin and i have been wondering about the effect it has had. It was moving around a little to quick for me to brutalise it and vowed to do some research. Thanks for this video, I am need to view it again I think.
A tough topic to cover but I'm glad you did this.
It was tough topic, but I am pleased that so many people appreciated that I covered it.
A useful and thoughtful vid - thank you. I found rat nests under an old shed I demolished in the garden. I'm hoping that a deepish bed of gravel and a smattering of carbosote will keep them away there as I erect the new shed. I've also decided to go for a series of compost daleks with chicken wire under the base. I hope it works. Best wishes - wish I could support you but am at the stage of capital-intensive initial works myself. - Paul
Thanks. Sounds like a decent strategy, hope it works for you. Keep a eye out for holes in the plastic, as rats have a tendency to chew through. A friend mentioned that he uses 2 or 3 layers of chicken wire underneath his compost and turns it up at the side. Seems to work for him, but haven’t tried it myself.
Theres a shifty stray cat garding my compost heap and occasionally there's a buzard fly over( altough the residential jackdaw and magpie family's will not stand for those arial incursions)
One cat is all it takes.
No rat problem for me so far but just wanted to say hello from a few kms away from that community garden compost sign in West Broadway, Winnipeg!
I very much appreciate the rat instructional despite not having encountered the problem yet. It's not the type of topic many gardeners dare to tackle in depth.
Hey there. Hello from a fellow Canadian (living in Ireland). Glad you appreciated the video.
I am using the mix in equal parts of sugar flour and baking soda near the composter
with blender.
I keep it dry in a 6-liter bottle of water with 2 holes for entry and exit. They eat and die
I hadn't heard of the baking soda trick. I assume they die of bloated digestive systems.
@@REDGardens
Soda or Plaster or Paris.
Sugar dust or blended... equal wheat flour or oats all blended or mixer...
@@REDGardens
CopyPaste:Baking soda is actually sodiumbicarbonate and will readily decompose to produce carbon dioxide gas under acidic conditions. So, the rateats baking soda which then comes into contact with acids in the ratsstomach. The baking soda turns into a bunch of gas that the rat can't expel which somehow then kills that rat.
@@REDGardens
www.ratrelief.com/does-baking-soda-kill-rats/
Northern Irish/Canadian or cali? I've watched a few of your videos now. Thank you for the the tips and presentation of your videos, keep up the good work my friend, you've given me a good few tips now for a beginner, thanks🙏🏼❤️
Canadian, Living in Ireland for a few decades. Glad you found the videos useful.
You don't sound like an Irish man lol :) Yes I had a rather tame rat in my compostbin. He made holes in the compost. He came and went again :)
Ha, nope, a Canadian living in Ireland!
@@REDGardens Lol.... yet I was confused. No wonder a Canadian in Ireland. Good mix anyhow. I have lots of family living in Ontario and Vancouver. Rick from Holland*
This is so fascinating! I wonder how I can incorporate these strategies into my tiny home garden for free/dirt cheap!
There is a way to tap them in your compost pile so they can't get out while you're not there. Make a cone of fence that the holes are too small for the rats to get through like rabbit wire. Snip the cone at the tip so that the wires going long ways are still intact but the wires going around it are open so the rats can push thru to get in but can't get out. Shallom you are loved
Sounds interesting.
Very thorough and informative, thank you so much for sharing. I've really enjoyed hearing about your composting!
Really glad you appreciate my work.
Rodents carry a large variety of zoonoses; the plague, and hantavirus come to mind immediately.
I do like your approach. You have an interesting take on the issue. I found the video informative and thought-provoking. I have created a compost bin in my backyard. We are in the City and I am trying to eliminate access. I have use 1/2 inch steel mesh to incase the entire box. We shall see how this works. We have raccoons, squirrel, crows, skunks, rats, and mice. They are all city adapted and extremely smart and adaptive. I would love to have a neighbor cat again that was allowed outside, but even that was a struggle when she got a poisoned rat twice and it almost killed her. So I am hoping that by eliminating access they will lose interest.
Yeah, if I was in an urban context, with that range possible critters (especially the racoons!!!) I would probably go with trying to eliminate access. Hope it works for you.
Love your videos. They are always so informative.
Thanks
I operate a "no rules" compost operation too. I've only had one rat nesting in three years and several mice. They each fled when I turned the pile, and we DO have a healthy population of buzzards and other predators here, so they are not a huge problem.
Cool. So much depends onto content, and if you have a lot of predators naturally around then the whole thing gets easier.
I remember watching Shawn Woods's video Where he showed us a rubber band trap that's illegal in Ireland
Mix well 1 part FRESH baking SODA with 1 part flour or cornmeal, add a bit of sugar if you want, place pans with generous portions of this mix around your farm, it is harmless to pets and other animals, but it is LETHAL for rats and mice. Rats and mice can't burp or fart, so the baking soda expands in their stomach and intestines and ruptures them, killing them. The baking soda should be fresh, not a box that has been opened and sitting in a cabinet for months.