Mouse proof storage ideas

[OrangeAndLemon]

I currently use a large plastic (322L) garden trunk to store my stuff at the yard. There's no food in the trunk, it's just horse first aid kit, grooming kit, wask kit, spare nets, headcollers, lead ropes, lunge lines, whip, and the usual stuff.

Last week I opened the trunk to that familiar smell of mouse. There were 11 of them in there and they had destroyed a neoprene tail wrap and eaten some cotton wool from an emergency bandage kit. It seems the mice have been getting in under the lid because there are no holes in the box.

What do you all do to keep the mice at bay? Do you use metal storage trunks? is there anything else I can do to keep them out?

 

[SEL]

Has it got wheels? We found the tiny hole by the wheels was letting them in. Blocked up and they didn't come back.

 

[WestCoast]

Probably a galvanised trunk is going to be your best bet. Mice are very good at chewing though plastic.

 

[Surbie]

I put up shelves and I keep a 2ft clearance around them. Like SEL I've blocked the holes by the wheels on the plastic storage container I have, and I keep that on a half pallet with thick rubber mat offcuts underneath. There is no food out anywhere in my bit (tbh who would class cotton wool as food tho?!) and I think there are just richer pickings elsewhere. I know the mice run across the top of the container because they leave 'presents' but so far they haven't been in.

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

I use a variety of large plastic barrels , plastic dustbins and large , stackable plastic storage boxes . The common factor being that they all have tight fitting lockable lids ! I also have an old chest freezer ( locks removed for safety ) which is brilliant .
Wheely bins make good storage , particularly if you put something heavy on the lid to hold it down tightly .

 

[PurBee]

Put a weight on the lid if its not weighted down. Mice can slip through the slimmest gaps. If your trunk has handle holes, tape over them. Check underneath that they havent chewed through the plastic to get in underneath - rats usually chew anything, mice not so much of thick plastic.
Sometimes those plastic trunks can bend/warp and cause a slim gap at the seams so check its all together. Maybe consider using silicone sealant as gap filler along the seams to fully seal it.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Has it got wheels? We found the tiny hole by the wheels was letting them in. Blocked up and they didn't come back.

No, I took the one with wheels home because of that problem! Thanks.

I think it's the gap where the lid shuts.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I use a variety of large plastic barrels , plastic dustbins and large , stackable plastic storage boxes . The common factor being that they all have tight fitting lockable lids ! I also have an old chest freezer ( locks removed for safety ) which is brilliant .
Wheely bins make good storage , particularly if you put something heavy on the lid to hold it down tightly .

Old chest freezer is a brilliant idea!

 

[meleeka]

I have an old chest freezer too. You should be able to pick up one free easy enough as you can’t dispose of them that easily.

Nobody has chewed into mine and it’s about 25 years old now.

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

Old chest freezer is a brilliant idea!

I've got a small one you can have for free if you want ( or anyone else if they're interested ! PM me if interested ) but would have to collect .
It's approx 22" x22"x 33"high so very neat and would fit in most cars . Was used for horse feed but now surplus to requirements .
We're in NW , south of Preston .

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I've got a small one you can have for free if you want ( or anyone else if they're interested ! ) but would have to collect .
It's approx 22" x22"x 33"high so very neat and would fit in most cars . Was used for horse feed but now surplus to requirements .
We're in NW , south of Preston .

That is very tempting and you're not far from me but I fear that would be a little small for my needs (I have black bins with clasped lids for feed).

Thank you so much for the offer.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I currently use a large plastic (322L) garden trunk to store my stuff at the yard. There's no food in the trunk, it's just horse first aid kit, grooming kit, wask kit, spare nets, headcollers, lead ropes, lunge lines, whip, and the usual stuff.

Last week I opened the trunk to that familiar smell of mouse. There were 11 of them in there and they had destroyed a neoprene tail wrap and eaten some cotton wool from an emergency bandage kit. It seems the mice have been getting in under the lid because there are no holes in the box.

What do you all do to keep the mice at bay? Do you use metal storage trunks? is there anything else I can do to keep them out?

chest freezer we use totally mouse and rat proof. every one of my liveries has one for their use

 

[canteron]

I use human grade storage bins - great because you can easily wheel them out and clean behind them. Expensive - but great investment. This size takes 1 bag of feed.

Wheeled Feed Bin Small

This Wheeled Feed Bin Small is the horse food storage truck ideal for nuts and hard feeds. The Wheeled Feed Bin Small in size

www.jsw4jumps.co.uk

 

[Dasher66]

I used an old metal feed bin for rugs and stuff, and metal, galvanised dustbins for feed.

 

[SantaVera]

I use metal feed bins and keep things in there

 

[JBM]

Invest in a nice cat?

 

[MiLeTa]

I use the 'really useful' plastic stackable boxes- they have snug-fitting lids that clip closed, but I do have to make sure not to over fill them as then the lids don't sit properly. So far, so good and no unwanted visitors (including spiders, which terrify me more than mice )

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Invest in a nice cat?

Would absolutely love to rehome a feral, we even know charities who have just what we're looking for but it's complicated with yard owner / yard manager set up.

 

[Snow Falcon]

We have a collection of old freezers, 6 in total! Fabulous for feed storage etc. All free too, just had to pick them up.

 

[asmp]

Old chest freezer is a brilliant idea!

Another for old freezers

 

[KJ94]

For feed bins with lids I got a £15 garden bin from Argos fits a whole bag of chaff in it and it’s the only one at the yard the rats haven’t burst into, no clue if it’s the bin or they just don’t want my welshes low sugar low everything chaff when there’s better in the others

 

[FFAQ]

Moth balls! I had a problem with mice getting in and my mum suggested putting a couple of mothballs in my shed. Worked like a charm!

 

[toppedoff]

A cat!

 

[toppedoff]

Jokes aside, very useful thread

 

[forever broke]

I use an old metal filing cabinet I got when the office I worked at closed down. One drawer holds a bag of feed and keeps rats and mice out. And it's lockable (although the key is long gone!)

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Moth balls! I had a problem with mice getting in and my mum suggested putting a couple of mothballs in my shed. Worked like a charm!

Now that is a quick easy solution!

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

A cat!

Absolutely the best answer but it's complicated with farm owner against it.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Have to admit, the person in the stable next to me also has a plastic storage box similar to mine but she gets no mice.

She says it's because when some mice did get in she killed them in there and the stench of death keeps the other mice from going in. They had eaten her white dressage boots / bandages.