Rat Free Composting?

I have seen first-hand a small-height, continuous breeze-block  brick wall around the compost heap work well. Rats and mice tend to scurry along walls and so traps were set there also.

Certainly difficult as rats will happily climb up and dig down through the top of a heap if they want to. 

I found a very sharp, long pronged and long handled fork worked wonders when emptying the compost heap. Most of all you need to avoid putting any cooked food waste in the heap but even then they'll eat almost anything and love the warmth especially if it's dry-ish inside. 

Turning and visiting the heap frequently can make them feel unsettled and less likely to take up residence.

Personally I detest the things.

We resorted to buying hotbins, not a cheap option but has solved the problem and the compost matures quicker than in our other bins.

I never compost rats!😏

we've had 2 rats already this autumn

bait caused their demise pretty sharply  I use slaymor - its always effective )

we live rural so its inevitable we get them coming in from the fields this time of year

I didn't realise there was a party conference in your area, WhiteRabbit! 

For the first time ever, I've seen rats on my allotment this year! I've seen evidence of them,they ate my sweetcorn in the greenhouse two seasons ago, but up until now I haven't actually seen them. I don't know if it's been the mild weather or what, but everybody on our site seems to have had rat problems this year. They managed to ruin all my beetroot by chewing round the top of every one! I must admit, I can't bring myself to use poisons on any living thing, so I'm doing my best to discourage them. I cleared out the manure heap, found a nest but no young 'uns, and I'm going to net as much as I can next year. I don't suppose I'll ever be rid of them but hopefully they'll not be so blatant.