Mesh that will stop rodents - woodie tub being attacked!

[Renenet]

Hi,

I've started to have problems with something, I assume a rodent, getting into my woodie bins. I have a couple of plastic tubs full of woodies in my shed and it's all been fine - until now. I assume these mystery critters are after the pellets and vegies I give my woodies.

For ventilation, each lid has a hole covered with fly mesh that I melted into the plastic with a soldering iron. A few days ago I noticed that there was a hole in the mesh. I replaced the mesh today, but when I checked on it at around 9.30 pm, there was another hole!

I'm not quite sure exactly what kind of mesh I have, but it's metal or metal-coated stuff that I can easily cut with scissors. Is there another kind that will stop sharp little rodent teeth?

Thanks,
Ren

 

[Cuppz90]

Crimsafe or chicken wire...

 

[Renenet]

Crimsafe looks like it might be the go. Thanks. Does anyone know if you can melt it into the plastic like I did with the current stuff, or will I need to attach it some other way?

 

[bohdi13]

an air rifle , dim light and a spare night .

 

[Manda1032]

I third the crimsafe. see your local glazier for some offcuts from the bin maybe

 

[Renenet]

an air rifle , dim light and a spare night .

I was thinking about hiring someone's scrub python for a few nights.

 

[timantula]

i use the small bird avary mesh i think its 6mm squares, got it from bunnings

 

[Hindy]

Mouse and snake mesh. The squares are 6mm x 6mm. I buy it from bunnings

 

[wokka]

Just stick whatever mesh you chose on with maxibond or liquid nails.

 

[Wild~Touch]

Rodents love woodies and will chew through anything they can to get at them. Snake & Mouse wire would be your best bet. They will have a chew at the plastic tub container too.

 

[GeckoJosh]

I would also look at trapping, now they know there is a food source it will be hard to deter them

 

[Renenet]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. Snake and mouse mesh. Right, I'll look for that.

Just stick whatever mesh you chose on with maxibond or liquid nails.

Sounds so obvious when you put it like that - thanks, Wokka.

- - - Updated - - -

I would also look at trapping, now they know there is a food source it will be hard to deter them

I was afraid of that. I'm not much of a poison person, and I don't like the thought of anything that snaps on them.

Does anyone know a way to trap them humanely - and what do you do with them afterwards? I saw someone comment on this in another thread but I can't remember where.

 

[syeph8]

Humane Mouse Trap, mouse trap, mousetrap, catch mice live, no kill mousetrap, catch a mouse the humane way, how to catch a mouse, catch mice

I personally prefer the old snap trap. But you can easily find these and similar traps on ebay

 

[bohdi13]

I was thinking about hiring someone's scrub python for a few nights.

go for it !

 

[saximus]

Does anyone know a way to trap them humanely - and what do you do with them afterwards? I saw someone comment on this in another thread but I can't remember where.

Farm supply shops usually sell live traps. Depending how squeamish you are you could do like rodent breeders do and break their necks or gas them with CO2. I prefer the neck breaking personally but wear gloves if you do. They bite and who knows what diseases they have. I've caught almost 20 in my rodent shed in the last few days. Must be the season for them

 

[Renenet]

Thanks, Sax. CO2 sounds like my best option. I've heard that if you can break the neck at the right point it is more humane, but I don't know how and I'd be worried about botching it up.

What do you do with the bodies afterwards? Shame you can't feed them to the snakes, but as you say, who knows what diseases and parasites they'd be carrying.

 

[Bigchewy]

Just put snake poo it might work keep them out

 

[saximus]

Just put snake poo it might work keep them out

And if you believe that I've got a bridge to sell you .

Yeah just chuck them in the bin Rene

 

[Brock102]

Put some really small mesh on. From bunnings

 

[Bluetongue1]

I am confused. Why would you want to catch rodents alive so you can break their necks manually, instead of using a 'break-neck' trap in the first place?

With manually breaking necks, it is hard enough to be consistent in the technique required for a clean kill, when using raised rodents that do not struggle when you pick them up. They also will hang when held by the base of the tail, whereas wild rodents will 'ball up' and grab hold of whatever, in attempt to climb and escape.