Bust bale's

[Man_in_black]

Sorting through last year's small straw bales & a hell of a lot (70+%) the strings are 'cut'. I can only think rats?? Would they chew the strings? Bloody nuisance whatever!

 

[yellowbelly]

Yes.
Could be either rats or mice.

In the bad old days when 'idiot bricks' were the only option the sisal band was available with rodent repellant on it.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Yep, it can be a big problem in straw with a lot of grain left in, an ideal home for vermin

 

[Man_in_black]

Yes.
Could be either rats or mice.

In the bad old days when 'idiot bricks' were the only option the sisal band was available with rodent repellant on it.

We only have them to sell in shop but now just left with loads of loose straw full of string!!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Put diesel on the string spool in the baler

 

[Man_in_black]

with rodent repellant on it.

Trouble is by then they've chewed through the bugģer so have a pile of loose straw, full of string AND rotting rats!!

 

[yellowbelly]

Trouble is by then they've chewed through the bugģer so have a pile of loose straw, full of string AND rotting rats!!

Don't think it killed them , just supposed to discourage them from chewing it.

IIRC, it had a quite nice smell to it

 

[Mc115reed]

We always used too stack our bottom 2 rows of little bales on there sides too stop rats chewing the strings out of them seemed too work back in the day

 

[robs1]

We put bait bags among the straw which helps by killing them,

 

[Shavings man]

We put bait bags among the straw which helps by killing them,

Hi rob wot bait do you use if you dont mind me asking ? Thanks .richard.

 

[robs1]

Hi rob wot bait do you use if you dont mind me asking ? Thanks .richard.

Just mole valley own brand, they make two different ones in bags, we alternate them use one one year and different the next, seems to work ok, cant remember which active is each, round the yard we use their bait blocks which is a one meal killer, they dont like it but I always add some jam or peanut butter on them and they then love it.

 

[FG.]

I chuck bait bags on my big and small bales, every few layers all the way to the top.

 

[Shavings man]

Just mole valley own brand, they make two different ones in bags, we alternate them use one one year and different the next, seems to work ok, cant remember which active is each, round the yard we use their bait blocks which is a one meal killer, they dont like it but I always add some jam or peanut butter on them and they then love it.

Thanks for for that rob will pop in when I am next passing by and get some I have put some live traps down but nothing yet I used corned beef but will try peanut butter have hered that before thanks again take care r

 

[Matt77]

Had this a few years back but with round bales, net was buggered by time got to the back of the shed, baited thinking rats, turned out to be squirrels, set traps every year now

 

[neilo]

Sorting through last year's small straw bales & a hell of a lot (70+%) the strings are 'cut'. I can only think rats?? Would they chew the strings? Bloody nuisance whatever!

Did you make that rookie mistake of stacking it with the knots underneath? If you make sure the knots are on the top then the rats can't get at them to undo them.

 

[Bury the Trash]

went belt baler with net wrapping (at least 2.5 turns) and that problem has never bothered us since

 

[neilo]

Had this a few years back but with round bales, net was buggered by time got to the back of the shed, baited thinking rats, turned out to be squirrels, set traps every year now

I have been using a stack of net wrapped round bales of barley straw for the last 2 years. Squirrels have trashed the netting up between the columns of bales to such an extent that I've had to get each bale (or 80% of each one) out with the Soft hands grab.

I think I need to get a bigger squirrel trap, mine only catches one at a time.

 

[Matt77]

I have been using a stack of net wrapped round bales of barley straw for the last 2 years. Squirrels have trashed the netting up between the columns of bales to such an extent that I've had to get each bale (or 80% of each one) out with the Soft hands grab.

I think I need to get a bigger squirrel trap, mine only catches one at a time.

We went 3 wraps for stuff that going to be at back of shed, it's helped but they still a pain, first year we found the problem was a complete nightmare, muck grab job. Fortunately the game keeper is helping us out with the traps, good dozen about the place

 

[robs1]

Never heard of squirrels getting among bales, learn something everyday

 

[steveR]

I have been using a stack of net wrapped round bales of barley straw for the last 2 years. Squirrels have trashed the netting up between the columns of bales to such an extent that I've had to get each bale (or 80% of each one) out with the Soft hands grab.

I think I need to get a bigger squirrel trap, mine only catches one at a time.

Sounds VERY familiar...

Had a larger than wanted pile of broken round bales last winter... Squizzels sound like the guilty party...