Grow Your Own Magazine

I'm about to put up my new shed
and there'll be a rat-size gap between the floor and the slabs it sits on. Last time I had a gap of a few inches, it became rat heaven.

Ideally I would put the floor onto higher 'stilts', but I don't have any breeze blocks or similar, and no money to buy any.

Instead, I reckon I'll smash up a few wine bottles (I got plenty of those ) and sprinkle them under the floor. That's got to put the rats off, non?

Or does it just sound daft?

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Got any old chicken wire you could use to close it off with perhaps?

No advice re the rats but just wondered if this would make you Three Sheds?

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Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

I'm not sure that this would put off the rats, and then you have the problem of clearing smashed glass from under your - by now - rat-infested under-shed.

I'd go with the chicken wire if you can't wait for breezeblocks from freecycle or general skip surfing.

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!.....

If you can get hold of some chicken wire - try using a double layer with a staggered overlap - it worked for me.

Failing that, you will have to push a stake or broom handle under there from time to time in case mice find the sheltered area ideal for a nest too.

Forget trying to keep the rats out, just get a couple of large cats or I can send HRH Guinness ( in the avatar) down to sort them out.

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http://www.weltaf.co.uk/
Why keep a dog when you can bark yourself !

HRH looks as though he/she would dispatch them very quickly. Lovely breed of dog - always liked them.

Don't bother with getting the large cats to deal with this, because:

a) they will bring home the rats to play with in the comfort of your new house.
b) I suspect that they will pick up the flea eggs from the carpets in said house thus perpetuating problem

I speak as one who has served much successful time as mouse/bird/occasional frog/small rat goalkeeper/rescuer - suggest HRH Guinness is a better bet than the cat/Hazel combo.

Good as a keep fit regime, tho'.

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!.....

Glass + hedgehogs =

Ok, thank you.
I knew you lot would know what was best.
Chicken wire it is then (hadn't even considered that - brilliant)

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

We put weed control fabric under the shed bigger than the area then put on the blocks shed up and pulled fabric up to bottom of shed and nailed planks of wood along the edges nothing can get under shed now.

I like to keep a gap under the shed for hedgehogs but have been fortunate enough not to suffer with rats.

__________________

Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

We've got a rat problem on our site, but I've never seen them under/anywhere near my shed. Perhaps I've just been lucky up to now, or maybe the smell of the dog puts them off?

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Sarah

“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

No, I never saw mine. Didn't know they were there. But when I took down the shed, there were tunnels (rat runs) underneath it, and chewed sweetcorn cobs.

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Just had a brain wave - something stronger than chicken wire - what the builders use a lot of - expanded metal lathing. The rats will never chew or get through that baby.

B&Q / Wickes or even a friendly local builder will have what you need.

I've just seen yards of it dumped in a skip and thought of your rats - it's even the right size and width to use right away.

Worth a try I think. Good luck

I still think it might be worth 'emptying' a few wine bottles to have on stand by - just in case..............................

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Tx

Ugh Might start chucking water under there then.... My tank is full, so a bucket full every day will soon be replaced in this weather. Sure they won't appreciate a good soaking, if there are any under there.

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Sarah

“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”