Preventing Rats/Mice from causing havoc with stored combines / self propelled forage harvesters etc

[snarling bee]

As well as some of the above, I remove the grain pan sections on the Lexion and leave the sieves at max open.

Moth balls work well apparently, especially in the cab as it deters all the wanabbe drivers next season. I don't mind the smell, most can't stand it.

 

[ollie989898]

Yep definitely helps giving them a run up now and then

Should be doing this at least fortnightly during the winter anyway to run the air con and heater so that it stays functional.

 

[tw15]

Should be doing this at least fortnightly during the winter anyway to run the air con and heater so that it stays functional.

Also a good idea is drive them around the yard then you don't get damaged sidewalls were they could be sat on the same spot for up to 8 months .

 

[Rob Holmes]

Grow some beans!
Never had a rat in the combine when it’s finished harvest on beans, they won’t even touch the heap of beans in the store even when there’s nothing else to eat.
Also, store the combine in an open sided Dutch barn, so air can circulate and cats/dogs can access

 

[Norfolk Olly]

Should be doing this at least fortnightly during the winter anyway to run the air con and heater so that it stays functional.

Think it helps the and blue system too

 

[ollie989898]

Think it helps the and blue system too

Ah yes, didn't think of that. If you don't run the air-con or heater etc they can get pretty stinky pretty quickly.

 

[collywol]

A few small trays of fenugreek seeds close to the machine usually works, they don’t like the smell!

 

[Englishman]

Moth balls we always used and never had a problem

 

[Ploughmaster]

It's amazing how much difference a few cats make. Leave the big doors open a pinch so cats can freely roam in and out of sheds and do their thing.

Like - crap in the grain

You're right about cats though, especially a tom. Smell of a tom cat seems to put rats off coming anywhere near. Seen the effect myself in a farmyard that was overrun with rats for years; introduced four cats (one of them a tom) and we hardly ever saw a rat again.

 

[Martin Holden]

Hoover all the grain out, then strip guards off, leave panels open. Also run it up every couple of weeks

Yea, I’ve heard this - remove all guards so they have no place to hide in the warm

 

[e3120]

I suggest you do the safest way of eradicating rats and mice, which is contacting professional pest controllers. Rats and mice are a real threat for your land and causes a lot of trouble like chewing machine wires and a bunch of stuffs.

Do you not find it a little cumbersome travelling from Sydney for each job?

 

[manhill]

if the shed floor is level, stiff plastic or grp sheets about 1m high could protect the whole shed in one go. leaning them a bit on water filled containers wouldn't need much support. They couldn't climb the smooth surface. You could watch out for suitable sheets in auctions.

 

[pdagriservices]

Have used those high frequency noise things that rodents don t like look basically like clay pigeons use AA batteries every grain is removed from the combine pre storage and leave one on the sieves one inside the feeder house and one in the tank maybe one in the cab.

 

[dunkie]

I didn't read the replies, moth balls, tumbler drier sheets, cheap and clean.

 

[Bob lincs]

This is a sticky moat , sticky board on a roll . Works really well .