Pests around the stable and house are best tackled in a fixed order: first establish exactly what is there, then close off access, then trap in a targeted way, and only as a last step use a product. This main section follows that order. You will find traps, bait stations and monitoring materials, proofing products for holes and cracks, deterrents for birds and animals, spraying equipment and insect control products that you use according to the label. For horse owners, chicken keepers, farmers and anyone with a shed or loft that has unwanted guests.
What problem do you have?
| What you see | Probably | Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Droppings, gnawing marks, chewed feed sacks | Rats or mice | Rats & mice |
| Flies in the stable, horseflies around horses, wasps by the patio | Flying insects | Flying insects |
| Ant trails, cockroaches, silverfish, bed bugs | Crawling insects | Crawling insects |
| Molehills in the field, noise or damage under the bonnet | Mole or beech marten | Moles & martens |
| Pigeons or gulls on roofs and solar panels | Bird nuisance | Bird deterrents |
| Bore holes and bore dust in beams | Wood-boring insects | Woodworm & longhorn beetle |
Proofing comes before control
A trap catches the animals that are there now; a sealed building keeps the next group out. So always first look at where animals get in: open weep joints, ventilation openings, gaps under doors and pipe entries. In proofing & screening you will find grilles, brushes, steel wool and sealing materials to close such openings. Also clear up feed residues and store feed in closed containers, so there is less to find.
Trapping, luring and monitoring
Snap traps, live traps and lockable bait stations work without poison. With non-toxic lures you make a trap more attractive, and with monitoring blocks you see where animals run. For insects, glue traps, pheromone traps and lamps do the same: they catch, but also show you how big the problem is and whether your approach is working.
Check traps that catch animals alive or with a snap regularly, so an animal is not caught for long. That is a matter of animal welfare, even with pests.
Products and equipment
Only use insecticides and other biocides according to the label, in the places for which the product is approved, and away from animals, feed and drinking water if the label says so. For applying them there are pressure sprayers, knapsack sprayers and powder dusters in spraying equipment. No product works in all circumstances; so combine it with proofing and hygiene. We do not sell professional rat poison; for a persistent infestation, call in a certified pest control professional.
More around the yard
Pest control is part of Yard & pasture. For cleaning and disinfecting the stable, which also gives pests less of a chance, see stable & yard.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I start with a mouse problem in the shed?
First find out where they get in and seal those openings. Then place snap traps or a bait station along the walls, where mice prefer to run.
Do you sell rat poison?
We do not sell professional rodenticides. Here you will find snap traps, live traps, bait stations, non-toxic lures and proofing materials.
Are insecticides safe in a stable with animals?
That depends on the product. The label states where you may use it and which precautions are needed for animals, feed and drinking water; stick to it.