Ways to deter vermin from combines during winter storage?

[Pilatus]

As above. I blew down the combine I use as thoroughly as I could, but the guy that does the annual overhaul told me rats had made a nest behind the seat in the cab (Claas Lexion 760). Do modern day moth balls REALLY deter vermin??? Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[nick...]

Unless there is food for vermin I never know where they come from.all corn has left here by end of October and I’ve not seen a rat for years.even few grains in grainstore that were not swept up after last load were still there when I swept out before harvest.maybe we are lucky.
Nick...

 

[fred.950]

I spray diesel in the elevator and a little over the sieves being careful not to get it on any rubber. I think the smell helps to keep them away. I also spread a bag of hydrated lime on the floor around the tracks and tyres because I was once told that mice won’t walk over it and it has worked so far! I appreciate you wouldn’t want either in your cab though

 

[Sandy]

You need the old mothballs naphthalene, newer ones are useless

 

[davidroberts30]

BAIT THE RATS!!!

 

[Matt L]

Put the machine on grease boards. The vermin won’t like to cross them to get to the tracks and tyres to climb up.

 

[GeorgeK]

Put the machine on grease boards. The vermin won’t like to cross them to get to the tracks and tyres to climb up.

That's a good idea. I have also seen these 'vehicle rodent skirts' and thought some shiny plastic round the wheels might work

 

[Brisel]

 

[Brisel]

Old style moth balls. You can get the naphthalene ones online if you look around eBay. Of course you'll have blown it down well enough that there is no food left for the mice & rats, vacuumed out the grain tank etc.

Electrified sheep netting helps too. I'd keep quiet about spraying oil or fuel inside a machine designed to handle food crops, however effective that might be

 

[Steevo]

Old style moth balls. You can get the naphthalene ones online if you look around eBay. Of course you'll have blown it down well enough that there is no food left for the mice & rats, vacuumed out the grain tank etc.

Electrified sheep netting helps too. I'd keep quiet about spraying oil or fuel inside a machine designed to handle food crops, however effective that might be

Only food grade oil!

 

[Steevo]

That's a good idea. I have also seen these 'vehicle rodent skirts' and thought some shiny plastic round the wheels might work

It's amazing what a rat/mouse can climb if they try!

 

[Timbo]

Napthalene moth balls liberally scattered in and around the binder having compressed air blasted the loose off it. Open all the panels and hatches let in as much light as you can.

 

[GeorgeK]

It's amazing what a rat/mouse can climb if they try!

Rats are incredible. Their claws are sharp like hypodermic needles and can grip anything that's not smooth and hard as glass, any weak spot they can chew through they always find it, they never give up and they're virtually indestructible. I don't understand what all the fuss is about things like giant pandas when rats are clearly the most amazing animals on the planet

 

[Zippy768]

Keep the drill, Baler and any left seed in it as well.
Despite this still had mice in cab! 250 acres harvested and the little b#stards are still living in it.

Do people just blow down or hose down before storage? Combine is still outside in yard at mo so it wont blow down very well. Find hose gets it more food free.

 

[Brisel]

If you wash it down, you've got to ensure it is really grain free and dry it out afterwards. If doing that I pack every bearing with grease to keep the water out so it's not sat in the bearings all winter.

 

[holywell farmer]

Keep the drill, Baler and any left seed in it as well.
Despite this still had mice in cab! 250 acres harvested and the little b#stards are still living in it.

Do people just blow down or hose down before storage? Combine is still outside in yard at mo so it wont blow down very well. Find hose gets it more food free.

Good idea there

 

[snarling bee]

Never wash a combine before June. Always blow and suck.
An earlier generation used to cover a straw bale in old oil and diesel and put it through.

 

[Andrew]

Good idea there

Not really if it doesn’t work.....

All our kit gets blown down so no crop left in. Wash the panelwork and any oil etc off. Run the machine for 5 mins.

Cover all shiny surfaces in a good layer of waxoil. Grease all the points.
Leave them in an open shed so the cats can get round.

 

[A1an]

Get rid of their food supply and kill them.

 

[capfits]

Get rid of their food supply and kill them.

And give a run once a month with everything open in case you have missed anything.