four little paws
Alpha Buck
Hi,
Just thought I'd share this bit of advice I was given years ago when I kept a LOT of rabbits and guinea pigs. We lived near fields so had trouble keeping the rats and mice out of the (day) pens. Even though we used the right size wire the baby rats could get in. We tried everything.... then I met a pest control expert who told me to dig a two inch deep trench all the way round the pens, and to make it at least three inches wide all the way round and to fill it with holly leaves that have fallen from the trees (because these are pricklier than the ones on the trees). He said rats and mice hate walking over holly leaves and will avoid them. We did this and we never had any more problems with any rodents.
Carol
Just thought I'd share this bit of advice I was given years ago when I kept a LOT of rabbits and guinea pigs. We lived near fields so had trouble keeping the rats and mice out of the (day) pens. Even though we used the right size wire the baby rats could get in. We tried everything.... then I met a pest control expert who told me to dig a two inch deep trench all the way round the pens, and to make it at least three inches wide all the way round and to fill it with holly leaves that have fallen from the trees (because these are pricklier than the ones on the trees). He said rats and mice hate walking over holly leaves and will avoid them. We did this and we never had any more problems with any rodents.
Carol