Controlling Rats in/ around grainstores with electric fencing?

[Pilatus]

Off topic. I have purposely put this thread on cropping forum so that it will be well noticed.
I have seen on some other “Rat” threads that some farmers are using two electric fence wires close together,run along the outside of the grain store and also inside the grain store along the top of grain barriers to control rats. Does the aforementioned system work very well,as it must take quite a lot of work ,time and expense to install the system. That said anything that can be part of a rat control system ,must be time and money well spent, if it saves one having the cost of loads of grain being rejected for rat droppings etc etc

 

[Dry Rot]

Some time ago I saw a post where some enterprising chap had slit water pipe lengthways and inserted wire netting into the slit so the bottom edge of a mini fence was insulated against the ground. For some reason, the idea stuck in my mind! Would that work?

 

[Dry Rot]

Slightly off topic, but I left a length of that white electric tape lying on the ground but attached to the mains fence. Came back a few days later to find a line of dead frogs that had apparently been electrocuted! Is there a market for electric tape perhaps insulated and adhesive on one side?

 

[Clive]

there is a electric mat (clip together tiles) you can get that you lay around machines like combines

looks good but pricey !

 

[startinghandle]

There was similar question here 3weeks or so ago, I wrote what worked for me and I found it on this site ..... put beet shreds in containers to keep dry but allow rats in and put water for rats to drink and shreds will
Swell killing rats

 

[rob1]

six by one board with normal electric tape fence insulators laid on the floor and 40 mm tape

 

[4course]

six by one board with normal electric tape fence insulators laid on the floor and 40 mm tape

similar round bale stacks esp haylage could just use pegs and single strand wire though can see tape would be better and more visible with the odd strainer/corner post so long as either on hardcore or no vegetation ,oh and no kids or pets of your own, doesnt need to be on for long clever beggars rats,Would be easy to set up once grain store full post harvest, and cheap ,should have thought of that before we spend a fortune on rodent control some years.The fields round the farm mostly have electric fence on the post tops to stop damage to the fence/hedge and stock leaning over ,also seems to deter the long legged rats

 

[DrWazzock]

Shouldn’t a grain store be impervious to rats without needing a fence to keep them out? That’s my understanding of it. Obviously stacks of straw or machinery are a different matter but if I was relying on an electric fence to keep rats out of my grain store I’d probably be failing my inspection.

 

[4course]

Shouldn’t a grain store be impervious to rats without needing a fence to keep them out? That’s my understanding of it. Obviously stacks of straw or machinery are a different matter but if I was relying on an electric fence to keep rats out of my grain store I’d probably be failing my inspection.

Surely by preventing rats gaining access you have complied as no trace to be found and no poison around ,but I doubt it would be accepted as no paper trail

 

[Pilatus]

Shouldn’t a grain store be impervious to rats without needing a fence to keep them out? That’s my understanding of it. Obviously stacks of straw or machinery are a different matter but if I was relying on an electric fence to keep rats out of my grain store I’d probably be failing my inspection.

I think most farmers would like to “think”
their grainstore/s are impervious to rats, but unfortunately in reality I doubt whether many are 100% impervious to rats, or if they are, I must have been a bad farmer, as their were always the odd rat dropping in the store.
If a grain store machinery entrance door is open say 14hrs a day at harvest,I am sure the odd rat will run into the store when it gets dark,when no machinery or humans are about, rat runs up heap grain scurries to back of store, hey presto rat has entered impervious grain store.

 

[DrWazzock]

Surely by preventing rats gaining access you have complied as no trace to be found and no poison around ,but I doubt it would be accepted as no paper trail

My inspector wants the see doors that are impervious to vermin. I doubt he would accept an electric fence.

 

[DrWazzock]

I think most farmers would like to “think”
their grainstore/s are impervious to rats, but unfortunately in reality I doubt whether many are 100% impervious to rats, or if they are, I must have been a bad farmer, as their were always the odd rat dropping in the store.
If a grain store machinery entrance door is open say 14hrs a day at harvest,I am sure the odd rat will run into the store when it gets dark,when no machinery or humans are about.

People have failed inspections because the door was left open when they visited.
I know what you are saying and I agree a fence might prove useful but in the scheme of things sadly counts for little in the eyes of assurance.

 

[fieldfarmer]

Surely by preventing rats gaining access you have complied as no trace to be found and no poison around ,but I doubt it would be accepted as no paper trail

They will not except any hole bigger than what they can stick a pen in and wiggle it, so if they were to see an electric fence to keep rats out I'm sure they would be all over that store to find out why it was needed.

 

[deleted user 837354]

It can't be that difficult or expensive to make some kind of home-made electric fence/net that you could run around the perimeter of a shed to stop vermin getting in? Would stop mice as well and so protect machinery.

 

[Pigless]

there is a electric mat (clip together tiles) you can get that you lay around machines like combines

looks good but pricey !

How about a scalextric set around the combine, connected to a fence unit?? Could go and have a play on a quiet day as well

 

[teslacoils]

I think most farmers would like to “think”
their grainstore/s are impervious to rats, but unfortunately in reality I doubt whether many are 100% impervious to rats, or if they are, I must have been a bad farmer, as their were always the odd rat dropping in the store.

They always find a way in. Just do.

 

[warksfarmer]

Sticky Pads work very well apparently.

 

[MattR]

Has anyone had any success (or otherwise) with this sort of idea since this thread was active?

I was wondering about getting some rubber matting, cutting strips a few inches wide and laying wires on them around the perimeter of the store. Any reason it wouldn't work?

Surely in any sane world an inspector would be happy to see you've taken proactive measures.

 

[Dry Rot]

Has anyone had any success (or otherwise) with this sort of idea since this thread was active?

I was wondering about getting some rubber matting, cutting strips a few inches wide and laying wires on them around the perimeter of the store. Any reason it wouldn't work?

Surely in any sane world an inspector would be happy to see you've taken proactive measures.

There was a post some time ago by someone who had slit a hose pipe lengthways, then inserted the bottom edge of a roll of wire netting into the slot. The pipe acted as an insulator when the netting was electrified. I don't know whether it worked, but is seemed a neat idea!

 

[JR.]

We have had incredible success with strobe lights and loud music. All set on timers to come on and off randomly and rats hate it. They really dislike change and sudden noise/light - so you have to let it go nice and quiet and dark then fire up the rave. If you have a radio coming on and its a Friday night and you pop your head in the shed it really is like a classic 90's rave - strobes, music echoing around the barn.................brilliant