Murine marauders

dougsta · « **on:** March 12, 2009, 17:22 »

Flicked the carpet top off my compost bin yesterday evening and saw the largest mouse I've ever seen
Very fat and healthy - scuttled away before I could 'question' him
Now all is clear with regard to the state of my overwintered broad beans. It seems that his large girth is a direct result of chewing off the tops of those beans that don't yet have a 2l Coke bottle over them.

Any suggestions how to keep them away?
I don't drink fizzy drinks so am reliant on others for my slow supply of "mini greenhouses"

Should I declare war or just try to keep the mice away from my plants?

I seem to remember my Dad talking about a few drops of paraffin around the plants to deter them.

Salmo · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2009, 18:33 »

Are you sure it is mice? Mice are only interested in digging up the seed. Once the seed is growing they are not interested.

Could be birds, pheasants or crows the most likely. Pigeons do not eat them. Are there beak like marks i.e. with straight edges and/or V shaped.

Try putting a net over and see if it stops.

DIGGER · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2009, 18:38 »

Read about parrafin recently,but cant remeber where.I'm sure it was just a small amount in pots,but cant be sure.

dougsta · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2009, 19:24 »

Thanks Salmo

Could be birds I suppose but they don't look the same as the rips I saw in my spring cabbage before I netted those (fairly sure they were pigeon)
Had a good close look for scratches and droppings but nothing obvious
Will have a closer look

Could be pheasants - there are still a few around

Netting sounds like the best option until they get a bit bigger

Faz · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2009, 20:58 »

I thought you dunked the seed in paraffin to discourage little meeces from having a nibble. I don't think tipping it on the ground would be a great idea

nobby · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2009, 17:53 »

dip the mice in the parrafin then they wont come back lol

bedifferent · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2009, 18:07 »

Or you could adopt a circle of life attitude to the whole thing and consider the possibility of coming back as a mouse (with a wide girth)

Murine marauders

dougsta

Murine marauders

Salmo

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DIGGER

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dougsta

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Faz

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nobby

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bedifferent

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