Rats that keep coming back are likely to be after vegetable scraps. You might need to stop placing these into the heap until you’ve solved the problem by redesigning the compost or getting rid of the rats through other means. (This means only adding yard waste, not household food scraps. )
The ideal moisture of a compost heap is about the same as a wrung out dish sponge. Seek a good balance between green and brown materials in the compost to maintain a decent level of moisture. Add water if the heap becomes too dry. Materials high in carbon (e. g. , dry leaves or dead plants) placed at the bottom of the compost pile and lining the walls of the bin can improve airflow, control odour, and help with drainage. [5] X Research source Just be sure to keep this “brown” material moist.
A hot compost method is more likely to deter rodents than a cold compost method. [8] X Research source Apparently rats and mice dislike bokashi,[9] X Research source so you might like to consider changing to this method if you’ve tried to fix your compost heap to no avail.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to bury the scraps every time, keep a scoop next to the bin and add a layer of leaves, soil, or finished compost over the food scraps each time they’re added. [11] X Research source These cover up the food odour and microorganisms in soil help to speed up the composting.
The benefit of the mesh wire over other sorts of stands is that it allows worms free access and having worms in your compost is very desirable, as well as also providing drainage.
