Rodent in the greenhouse!

Having solved the problem of keeping the greenhouse frost free this winter, I was looking forward to lots of things getting a head start.
However strange things have been happening....one of the three irises in a pot disappeared, and some little bulbs look as if someone has emptied the pot and dumped them back in at random. Worst of all my much prized collection of little perennial geraniums [grown from half-price T&M seed in August] has just GONE. The weather has been so wet I don't think the ventilator has been open for birds to get in, so I had a good look round and found a large hole in one corner of the greenhouse- it looks big enough for a rat :eek:
I have heard that decking encourages rodents etc but why my geraniums :( The seeds were expensive even halfprice, and I was hoping to have some for the Garden fete in June as well as for my little woodland shade garden. Has anyone else suffered from this problem?

 

Yep I had a rat when i used to run a school gardening club. I remember I took a tray of brussel sprout plants in and put them on the ground in the greenhouse. I had used what i needed and was giving them to the kids. i literally left them for only 10 minutes while I checked the plots. On my return I found every single one decapitated and eventually found them all neatly stacked by a rat hole.
I think you need to get a rat trap, but place it under a hoop of netting cause birds like robins will take the bait - you would be amazed how they can get in.
Alternatively Environmental Health if its at home. Round here they don't charge for rats and they would put poison down.

 

I've been lucky so far - I've only had mice, and they stick to the garage, where they've demolished rather a lot of peanuts stored for the birds, but no plants.

I have a few seeds spare for Geranium Splish Splash, if you'd like some, Liz. Pm me if you would.

 

Very sad to hear of your problem Liz - I have a big prob with them here still - called the council in but, a month later and their still here(the rats that is, not the council!)Starting to get fed up with it - they have made camp under my very large shed/summerhouse :( They also like the compost bins - we are clearing them out in the next week - god knows what we'll find :eek:

 

A friend came to visit and was complaining about the mice eating a lot of crocus bulbs in his greenhouse. I sympathised and we went to look in my alpine house. There, prominently displayed, was a large, obviously cat killed, rat!.
Watch the poison if birds can get at it as said. We have it down well inside the rat holes on a permanent basis. Hens attract vermin and we get a lot of visiting field rats when they harvest or plough.

 

Rats - yes like all pussy cats I am a great ratter.

This is how to get the little *****. Watch for his run, rats always tread the same ground, and like to be squeesed into something, I have never thought about it before, but that will be why they love decking.

When you have found the run, get a long bit of old drain pipe, secure it well so it does not roll, and then bait.

Now as to the bait, I use "Drat" you buy it and make up your own bait with corn, and here is where you have to be careful, if you don't get it strong enough, the rats develop imunity to it.

When you find dead rats, continue baiting until the bait is left, this way you know you have them all.

I think it is well wort being able to do it yourself, and if you do the drainpipe method you can prevent aother animals getting it.

You can also get black rat boxes which do a similar thing, but I much prefer DIY method and living by the stream with horses, and poultry you need to be a good ratter! YUCK

 

Thanks all. Yes, they have been in the Dalek compost bin, too. I do have a cat, she can't get under the decking, but I've noticed she spends a lot of time lurking by the decks!
I never thought of this problem when I decided to leave the greenhouse floor unconcreted.
I think I'll try some netting before poison, if dying rats came out then other animals might try to eat them....
The rats can take their chances in the garden, hopefully cats will keep them down. Just no eating my plants in the greenhouse, thank you very much!

 

That is why i suggested a rat trap. it does not use poison. It is just like a bigger version of a mouse trap. Just watch your fingers when you set it, it will cause more than bruised digits if it catches you. Try cheese or chocolate as a bait, something they really have to pull off the nail. I think some people have suggested bacon.

 

I've really got the wind up now. I've got all my half hardies covered in straw and I'm nervous of looking under it in case I find a rat (or two).