Rodent Incursion

[Slid]

This morning, just before leaving for work (5:00 am) my suspicion is confirmed. The bottom corner of the grain bag in the garage has not been kicked loose and open, it has been chewed.

We have had little field mice or whatever in the garage before, but this is the first time since I have had a grain bag in the garage.

Frantic 10 mins shovelling the grain into Tupperware-type containers and the like and even a brush up of the loose grain.

Quick eye-ball check on the grain as it gets transferred, via a JD Sports mug, for rodent droppings.

Of all the additives to beer over the last n thousand years, perhaps mouse **** is the least appreciated.

 

[Slid]

Nice asterisks from the automated profanity screener. It removes none of the sentiment, whilst ensuring that younger members learn none of their elders' vocabulary deficiencies. :hat:

 

[Clint]

I've opted to store my grain in the kitchen for this very reason! In the big brown box it came in. Mrs Clint doesn't seem to mind so there it stays!
Look out for a used mango chutney barrel off eBay ..

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi!
A couple of years ago I had a rat invasion in my brew shed. They chewed into bags of LME, meaning that all these bags had to be chucked, they chewed into a box of red grape juice which flowed everywhere, but they absolutely loved the carbonation drops - they were gone altogether, leaving only empty packets.
We trapped a couple, the cat got two, and we saw them no more.

 

[Slid]

Hi!
A couple of years ago I had a rat invasion in my brew shed. They chewed into bags of LME, meaning that all these bags had to be chucked, they chewed into a box of red grape juice which flowed everywhere, but they absolutely loved the carbonation drops - they were gone altogether, leaving only empty packets.
We trapped a couple, the cat got two, and we saw them no more.

What did they taste like?

LOL - this is my idea of humour, I'm afraid.

I'm thinking of perhaps having a bit of a tidy up in the garage with a view to making it less attractive - no obvious source of food etc, for our distant mammalian relatives.

 

[Slid]

I've opted to store my grain in the kitchen for this very reason! In the big brown box it came in. Mrs Clint doesn't seem to mind so there it stays!
Look out for a used mango chutney barrel off eBay ..

A grain barrel that once held mango chutney sounds like a good idea, Clint. I like that.

 

[Bigcol49]

no obvious source of food etc,

Hi!
Yes - all LME etc etc went into storage boxes in the house.

PS Rat tart was 'orrible.

 

[Dutto]

Luckily, I store my grain in plastic boxes and (so far) have had no trouble from rodents here in Skegness.

However, in Iran we ALWAYS soaked our rice for at least an hour in cold salty water before boiling it.

This was to ensure that the grains of "brown rice" that were actually rodent droppings fell to pieces.

Old habits die hard and I still like to soak brown rice on a "just in case" basis!

 

[MmmBeer]

I bought one of these recently, you can fit a whole unopened sack of grain in it.

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-modular-storage-box-lid-90l/p/0449326

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi @MmmBeer
Great idea! I might move on to that form of storage.
Thanks for the tip.

 

[Slid]

I bought one of these recently, you can fit a whole unopened sack of grain in it.

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-modular-storage-box-lid-90l/p/0449326

I like that too, will try to pick one up before my next order.

 

[Ciaran12s]

If you Google 60L barrel, a blue 60 litre barrel from eBay will come up. It's about 15 quid delivered. (I can't share a link as it opens in app and I can't share it from there to here) I've got one and it holds around 30kg grain. That's 25kg poured in from the sack and then smaller bags of crystals and what not stuffed in on top. It's good quality, heavy grade plastic. Will last forever and the handles can comfortably support that 30kgs.

 

[BarnBrian]

If you Google 60L barrel, a blue 60 litre barrel from eBay will come up. It's about 15 quid delivered. (I can't share a link as it opens in app and I can't share it from there to here) I've got one and it holds around 30kg grain. That's 25kg poured in from the sack and then smaller bags of crystals and what not stuffed in on top. It's good quality, heavy grade plastic. Will last forever and the handles can comfortably support that 30kgs.

I have exactly the same, works a treat.

 

[Slid]

I went with the blue barrel from Germany and it arrived about a week ago. When my base malt arrived, I put the rest of the 25kg in it after taking just over 4kg for today's brew. The barrel is great - the neck is wide enough to fit the top of a grain sack, so no spillage.

 

[Portreath]

I've had to move all of my grains, adjuncts, bit and bobs in to my 170 liter Igloo chill box since I've found mouse nuggets around my brew space. OK while the weather is cold, but I'm going to need a replacement come the warmer months. As an aside, I was thinking of turning the Igloo into a mash tun, but I think the wife might have something to say about that idea
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0001DI46I/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[Druncan]

Every year from October we get a field mice invasion. Because It's getting colder, food sources become limited. So, I have about 10-15 plastic traps set with catering dark chocolate drops. I however only caught two this year. My grain lives in polybins with locked lids.
However, we also have two *stard (;oP) wicked cats that are business pest control employees. Pippin is a Coll tamed wildcat, a pensioner with wicked claws and attitude to match. Her hated new resident is Scragg our new Tiree wild cat stray mouser. He fookin decimates the bird , hare and rodent population also terrifying the dog and me,,, we have scars to prove it,,,, WTF,,,, Pol says he's gorgeous. I just treat him like the skanky dangerous wildcat he still is, But rodents don't stand a chance. I would offer to loan him out but I dont have a steel cage strong egnough,,,,

 

[Slid]

Every year from October we get a field mice invasion. Because It's getting colder, food sources become limited. So, I have about 10-15 plastic traps set with catering dark chocolate drops. I however only caught two this year. My grain lives in polybins with locked lids.
However, we also have two *stard (;oP) wicked cats that are business pest control employees. Pippin is a Coll tamed wildcat, a pensioner with wicked claws and attitude to match. Her hated new resident is Scragg our new Tiree wild cat stray mouser. He fookin decimates the bird , hare and rodent population also terrifying the dog and me,,, we have scars to prove it,,,, WTF,,,, Pol says he's gorgeous. I just treat him like the skanky dangerous wildcat he still is, But rodents don't stand a chance. I would offer to loan him out but I dont have a steel cage strong egnough,,,,

We have only had Tigger, a cat so brave she never went outside at the front of the house and only went as far as the back fence to the rear. She did once catch a young bird, but not so well that the poor thing had expired. SWMBO roused me from sleep (5am July) to despatch the said bird. Not a great moment for any of those involved. Other than that, Tigger did once proudly come home with an elastic band used only by the Post Office. Great kill Tiggs!

 

[Clint]

One of our 5 cats is on form....Mrs Clint had a mild bout of hysteria the other morning as one had left a great big dead rat in our extension...

 

[foxbat]

One of our 5 cats is on form....Mrs Clint had a mild bout of hysteria the other morning as one had left a great big dead rat in our extension...

Pop it into your bag of adjuncts for your next stout. Nobody'll notice...

 

[Clint]

Yes! A great idea....but I'd be worried incase it stuck at 1020.....