Please recommend your rodent-proof composter

[Anonymous]

I had to shut down the compost bin after discovering that it attracts rats . We don't have much control over the rodent population: too many woodpiles and bird feeders in the neighboring yards. We (and most of the neighbors) have pets so I am reluctant to use rat poison. I was using a trash can with holes drilled for a compost bin, but they managed to chew through the bottom.
The Envirocycle composter looks promising (though expensive), but I would appreciate some suggestions about what folks are using.
Thank you!

[Anonymous]

What did you put in it?

[Anonymous]

Vegetable and fruit scraps, eggshells.

[Anonymous]

We have one of the small canister composted that spin. No rodents, but we also never really got much compost. That may be more to do with us than the composter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vegetable and fruit scraps, eggshells.

I thought egg shells were a no-no. No animal products whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

I put eggshells and raw veggie and fruit scraps and have never had a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vegetable and fruit scraps, eggshells.

To avoid rodents, I'd avoid any food scraps whatsoever. Leaves, grass cuttings are a better alternative.

[Anonymous]

http://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Dual-Batch-Compost-Tumbler/dp/B007XIXGWG/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1398042722&sr=8-9&keywords=composter+tumbler

Got this when raccoons found the scraps in our enclosure. Bought this composter last spring and no animal problems since. I like the double tumbler too - at the end of last season, moved to the new bin and let the other stuff bake through fall and winter. Great dirt for this years garden and no separating dirt from new scraps.

I don't add dairy or meat. I compost a combo of fruit and veg scraps, coffee grounds, grass and leaves. I do compost eggshells but (1) they do take longer to break down and (2) you need to make sure your compost gets hot enough to kill any germs. Our compost actually steams in the summer (we compost the grass and leaves next to the tumbler and then add some to each side of the tumbler to mix with the scraps to help it along) so I think it gets hot enough. If you are not sure or are more cautious, you can wash them in warm water before you put them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.amazon.com/Gardeners-Supply-Dual-Batch-Compost-Tumbler/dp/B007XIXGWG/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1398042722&sr=8-9&keywords=composter+tumbler

Got this when raccoons found the scraps in our enclosure. Bought this composter last spring and no animal problems since. I like the double tumbler too - at the end of last season, moved to the new bin and let the other stuff bake through fall and winter. Great dirt for this years garden and no separating dirt from new scraps.

I don't add dairy or meat. I compost a combo of fruit and veg scraps, coffee grounds, grass and leaves. I do compost eggshells but (1) they do take longer to break down and (2) you need to make sure your compost gets hot enough to kill any germs. Our compost actually steams in the summer (we compost the grass and leaves next to the tumbler and then add some to each side of the tumbler to mix with the scraps to help it along) so I think it gets hot enough. If you are not sure or are more cautious, you can wash them in warm water before you put them out.

OP here. Thanks! This looks like the right thing for us. We eat a lot of produce, and make a ton of coffee, so it should work fine.

[Anonymous]

Ours is similar to what pp posted but much larger. It is made with two pickle barrels. There is a guy who sells the barrels on craigslist. If you are handy, this is a great way to DIY a really big and functional option.

Here is one set of instructions but there are lots of others on the web:http://boyslife.org/hobbies-projects/projects/6184/make-a-compost-tumbler/

[Anonymous]

We also need to keep out rodents/wildlife, so bought a single-barrel tumbler. FWIW, our local animal control unit recommends keeping all food scraps (to include fruits & veggies) out of open or partially contained compost piles because they attract rodents. I haven't been a huge fan of the tumbler. It's been hard to keep the green/brown ratio right, it doesn't seem to get enough air (it has side vents), and it stays too wet. But I haven't found a better alternative.