Compost and varmits?

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soive2000 Austin, TX Nov 13, 2007

I am thinking of making a compost pile. A question that came up that I had not thought about.
Do Compost piles attracts mice and rats?
If so , what can I do about that?
Thank you,
Anita

Post #4188561
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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Nov 13, 2007

A properly made compost pile shouldn't attract anything. I'm not an expert on composting, but I think if you stay away from putting meat scraps and things like that in the pile you'll minimize the chances of things taking an interest in the pile. There may be other things you need to do as well, hopefully someone who does more with composting will come along and help you, all I know is that if you do them right you won't have problems.

Post #4188621
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jazzzy704 Fenton, MI(Zone 5b) Nov 13, 2007

I have been composting for 20 or more years. No mice, no nothing. First of all if it is made correctly it is very hot on the inside. My pile often smokes in the fall and early winter and again in spring.
It is as I call it "COOKING" all of the carbon/nitrogen with veg, matter, coffee grounds and some soil from the yard thrown in and around to start the bacterial decomposition. If I turn it a couple times
every several days and then make sure it is moist it will start a heat that many/most things
would find uncomfortable!!

Post #4188890
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doccat5 Fredericksburg, VA(Zone 7b) Nov 16, 2007

You can add almost anything to a compost pile, except meat and dairy products. Those do seem to attract the critters. Check out the composting threads under soil and composting for lots of good information on this subject.

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Nov 17, 2007

You will only attract vermin, mice, rats ect, IF you add any cooked food scraps, raw meat or as someone else said, dairy products, anything goes into the compost so long as it is not man made like plastic, etc, all your weeds can be added but make sure there are no perennial roots and seeds as these will just love the warm heap to germinate and then as you add your lovely new rich compost to your garden, you will be adding the weeds, coffee grounds, tea, egg shells, peelings from fruit and veg, shredded newspaper if added in between layers of kitchen/garden waste, as said above, there is a forum for new composters to learn all about it, so it is the best thing you can do both for you, the environment and your garden, but it does become addictive ha ha ha. good luck. WeeNel.

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