Rats and Compost bins

Three-sided Pallet bins offer no protection against rats, and it is a case of making a compost mix that does not attract too many visitors and regular turning of the contents to put them off. 

Over  wintered bins where the contents have not been disturbed for a couple of months are likely to containing evidence of visitors such as the burrows shown in the photos.  I knew we had rats round the plot and had seen the occasional visitor in the  three-sided pallet bins before, but this is the first time I have found burrows in the bin. The compost was moved  to the maturation bin and  no evidence of nesting  was found so it was just a visitor . More information is given on my Rats etc in compost page.  http://www.carryoncomposting.com/416920198