6 Ways to Keep Your Farm's Shed Rodent-Free Without Using Chemicals

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Mice and rats can be a real pain when they get into your farm's shed. They can pose risks to animals, consume food, cause structural damage, and even start fires if they bite through wires or knock over something flammable. However, many owners would prefer not to use chemicals in order to get rid of them. Luckily, there are a number of chemical-free control methods.

Here are just six.  

1. Know When to Prepare

Rats and mice often appear in the autumn when food starts to become scarce, travelling from fields to forage around buildings instead. Even though you should regularly check for signs of rodents, the end of summer is when you need to be extra vigilant. Additionally, make sure you don't leave out water when it has been hot and dry.

2. Keep a Cat

Cats are the oldest rodent deterrents around, and they're still some of the best. After all, if they worked for Ancient Egyptians they'll sure work for you, and, unlike other solutions, they will keep working in the long-term. Best of all, most shelters will have a few semi-feral cats that are hard to rehome anywhere but a farm, so you'll be giving one a good home.

3. Use Multi-Catch Traps

Traps are an obvious solution to rodent issues – just make sure you get the right ones. Urban homes will usually be fine with single-catch traps, but they might not be enough to keep your shed safe. Instead, use traps that can catch several rodents at once. These multi-catch traps, or 'colony traps', don't need to be checked as frequently, usually don't use poison, and can catch the lion's share of your problem rodents.

4. Check Below

Mice can fit into the tiniest of holes, so go around the edge of your building to make sure there aren't any. If you see any small gaps, stick in some steel wool. Larger ones will need to be covered completely. Both rats and mice like dense piles of vegetation and trash, so clear the area around your shed of anything that could harbour them, remembering to also keep grass and weeds well-trimmed.  

5. Use a Repellent

Even if you're not going to use poison, you can still use a repellent. These are often made using the urine of a predator, and won't cause any harm to other animals. However, it will tell mice and rats to keep their distance. Just remember to reapply on a regular basis.

6. Store Feed and Remove Water

Rodents aren't just looking for shelter – they're clearly interested in your food. If you haven't done so already, make sure all feed is in covered metal containers. Rodents will not be able to gain access, and will often leave to find a more promising supply of food. Containers should be well-covered as rats and mice and capable climbers.

Using these methods lets you defeat your rodent problem without resorting to dangerous chemicals, so you should now have plenty of ways of keeping your shed free of mice and rats.

29 March 2016