Using grain as fertiliser

**Scarlet** · 21-08-2019, 01:47 PM

I think rats may get at it even if buried...or something could dig it up? I would put it in your compost bin if you are sure it won't attract vermin.

**ESBkevin** · 21-08-2019, 02:00 PM

Yes as Scalet says, tumbler with a lot of other material. If there isn't much other stuff, feed it in little and often.

Anything organic will break down in time. As it breaks down the insects, microbes, fungi and bacteria consume it, the poop they produce is the food for the plants.

**ameno** · 21-08-2019, 02:37 PM

Originally posted by Scarlet View Post

I think rats may get at it even if buried...or something could dig it up? I would put it in your compost bin if you are sure it won't attract vermin.

Well, it definitely won't attract rats. They'd never be able to get in. Mice could theoretically still get in, but they'd need to be pretty acrobatic to climb the metal legs then clamber down the side of the bin to reach the little holes in the side. Plus the tumbling would likely deter them.

I have to wonder how much it really would attract rodents, though. It's not exactly fresh. We had mice in our conservatory (where it was kept) this spring, yet they didn't touch the stuff. They ate all the bird seed, as well as a lot of my veg seedlings, but none of the oats.
And the bag has just been sat out on the patio since May, and yet nothing has gotten into it. I don't think anything wants it, considering how lousy with grain bugs it is.

**Scarlet** · 21-08-2019, 03:56 PM

I think you are under estimating rats...they can climb anything and so can mice! I've had mice in a carrier bag hanging from a beam
in my workshop - eating bulbs.
Rats can jump and scale metal. Pic of an obelisk that the rats easily scaled to get at the bird feed in my garden. The pic doesn't quite get the size...it was being taken in at night so they came in the day! We then put a pole across the top of the obelisk with the feeders positioned about a foot an a half away from the metal frame - the rats climbed up and then jumped onto the feeder and hung on to eat instead.
Rats will eat anything including candle wax. They will obviously go for the best stuff first...in summer food is plentiful. Winter is a little different.

**ameno** · 21-08-2019, 06:24 PM

Oh, I don't doubt rats could climb the tumbling compost bin. But unlike mice, rats would never fit in the holes to get inside, and the plastic is far too hard and thick to chew through.

**Logunner** · 21-08-2019, 07:59 PM

Originally posted by ameno View Post

Oh, I don't doubt rats could climb the tumbling compost bin. But unlike mice, rats would never fit in the holes to get inside, and the plastic is far too hard and thick to chew through.

They chewed through mine in 1 day

**ameno** · 21-08-2019, 08:13 PM

It's about four times thicker than the plastic your usual dalek compost bin is made from, and rock hard, too. They probably could get through, if they were determined enough, but I feel like they'd probably think it not worth the effort.

**Scarlet** · 21-08-2019, 08:25 PM

Rats will fit through a 20-25mm hole - smaller than an inch.

**ameno** · 31-10-2019, 03:19 PM

Update on this:
Despite advice, I tried burying some under some new permanent planting at my allotment. Not a great idea, as badgers ended up digging holes to get to it, and also a surprising amount germinated, despite them supposedly being crushed.

I also found three mice in the grain pile (it used to be a bag, but the bag has long since disintegrated) a couple weeks ago. No rats, though.

Today, I put the rest of it in my tumbling compost bin. In doing so, I discovered that the bottom inch or so is already pretty much compost. It's dark brown, mostly rotted, and full of hundreds of worms, despite being on my patio, some way from any open soil. I guess it just confirms my belief that worms will find their way into anything if there is food for them there.

**Vegi potager** · 31-10-2019, 03:35 PM

Buy some lard and make some bird feed for the winter... I am sure the birds would appreciate the added protein from the bugs

**Vegi potager** · 31-10-2019, 03:36 PM

Originally posted by Vegi potager View Post

Buy some lard and make some bird feed for the winter... I am sure the birds would appreciate the added protein from the bugs

Ooopps, should have read the update before adding my hapenny worth!

**ameno** · 31-10-2019, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by Vegi potager View Post

Buy some lard and make some bird feed for the winter... I am sure the birds would appreciate the added protein from the bugs

I doubt they'd have appreciated the bug poo, though. The pile was full of it. And plenty of mould, too.

**rary** · 31-10-2019, 04:33 PM

Originally posted by ameno View Post

Update on this:
Despite advice, I tried burying some under some new permanent planting at my allotment. Not a great idea, as badgers ended up digging holes to get to it, and also a surprising amount germinated, despite them supposedly being crushed

ameno how deep was it buried, if I bury anything uncomposted I then cover it with layers of cardboard or newspaper, I try to get at least 12inches of soil on top of that as though the level drops as the vegetation rots the soil also settles down a good bit

**ameno** · 31-10-2019, 04:42 PM

Originally posted by rary View Post

ameno how deep was it buried, if I bury anything uncomposted I then cover it with layers of cardboard or newspaper, I try to get at least 12inches of soil on top of that as though the level drops as the vegetation rots the soil also settles down a good bit

Not overly deep. About 8 inches. Also, because it's small, loose material, some of it ended up nearer the surface, anyway.

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