You need a counterbalance rat trap. One that will drown them or hold them so that you can dispatch them humanely. You could bait with poison but you don't want carcasses around that could be picked up by pets and wildlife.
Longer term what about domesticating some cats to your farm situation and dog family.
Sadly with rats there is often no real solution in domestic situations such as yours without culling them.

On cats & dogs: if you get a young kitten and introduce your dogs to it (under suoervision) they'll get used to each other and will be good friends. Cats have their young in early spring, so now is not the right time, because kittens born last spring will already be too adult and difficult to adapt to the dogs. They need to be very young for this to succeed, unless you could find a cat that is already used to dogs.
You can use mousetraps to catch the mice, but that's not always very successfull if there is plenty of other sources of food around. You'll have to keep all food items out of their reach.

Those figs fetch up to equivalent 1 Euro each in London…!
If you like figs, now is the time to go around the village and taste your neighbours' in the quest for the most delicious varieties (they won't mind if you ask). Make a note where those fig trees are, and after they've shed off all leaves around December, you can cut a few straight branches with aprox. 40 cm length to plant in containers. Keep in sunny sheltered spot, water, and next spring they'll root and burst into new leaves.
Leave in the containers till Dec – January when leaves have fallen, and plant in permanent place. Choose a place where you don't intend to plant any crops because their roots will take over the surrounding soil. Figs trees are good for shade, I always place mine with this in mind.
You can grow new fig trees and quince trees this way, they don't need to be grafted like other fruit trees.
In our farm I'm trying to get different varieties to ripe from early summer to late autumn.

Fig Jam & compotes: You can make different flavours like fig & cinammon, fig & alspice, fig & ginger, fig & orange peel. You can also cut the figs in 4 pieces. If you plan to use the jam soon after it's done, you don't need to boil it for a long time. Runny jam is nice with yogurt, cottage cheese or over porridge.
Enjoy!

When you insulate the roof don’t you need some kind of extract fan for ventilation on the highest points of roof ?? How will the hot air escape ? Wouldn’t you feel kinda suffocated ? Then you’ll have to probably have to put air conditioning now. Even in winters when you use a wood burner you’ll need some form of ventilation

Something like this

https://youtube.com/shorts/TgWJ4m2r59E?feature=share

I really like watching non farming persons struggling and learning everything about farms.
Laugh.

If your dogs hate cats, there is no easy solution. They need to be educated slowly in order to live with cats.

Metal containers for any pet food as it was said before.

Wow, everything is looking better and better, good job!!!!

One thing is clear is that there’s going to be some very expensive expenses involved in undertaking these projects there, 5k for a ceiling in one room, expensive cars, yard maintenance and many more to come. Better be in good financial standing before jumping in. This farm girl seems to be well prepared.

💕METAL FOOD STORAGE BINS with screw or lockable lids is the only way to stop rodents eating animal produce in sheds💕If you feed the feral cats they are less likely to chase away the rats💕But you’d still need metal food containers coz as long as rats & mice know there is easy free food they will be back & they breed like rabbits💕

Hi Christine, well done on the figs and blue cheese, my favourite!

The visit from your Dutch friends reminded me of some thing I was wondering recently, and you being a S. African gal originally might be able to answer, namely, how close are the Afrikaans and Dutch languages?

Cats will kill rats but they won't eat them.

Get in contact with council and ask them about rat problem. In Australia council getting rid of them for free. My be they will give you advice how to get rid of them as when cold days will come they will move in side . If cats not coming to this storage room, put all of the food in metal container-box-tin. clean all floor from food scraps and put rat poison granules for them. Don't mix with other food as they will eat food and skip poison. They a smart. After few visits they go somewhere else as they will know all ready that this is poison. Some of them will die but somewhere out side as after they eat they leave room. Keep doing this all the time for long time till you sure they not close by.

tres beau votre maison !!

Combien l'isolation du toit vous a couté?? svp?

Trouvez des malles anciennes en metal pour stocker les sac de croquettes !! Courage a vous !!

Vous pouvez elooigner les rats avec de l'huile essentielle de menthe poivrée , ils en ont horreur de ça !! plantez aussi de la menthe autour de chez vous !!!!

You have too little pectin I chop mine in half Lemon juice pips and skin in muslim helps 👍❤️❤️❤️🙏

Nice work on the ceiling and getting it draft-proof. I've heard that it is always better to soak the cut fruit in sugar and water overnight, to get a better depth of flavour for jams and preserves. {p.s. read in the comments that you wanted to get chickens – be aware that chicken poop also attracts rodents. I would get the rodent situation sorted first before adding the chickens. You could try some strong oils like peppermin/eucalyptus/clove oil t around your food bins, they don't usually like strong smells.}

Great insulation, maybe a waterproof membrane on the tiles on the roof, or will that membrane they put in cover the whole roof as won't the rain get through the gaps and get onto the polystyrene? I have seen most just put new panels on, if you have to change the outside you might need to reroof. Good job with the jam my favourite to make is strawberry jam, and strawberry compote, for my cheese cake, I want to try marmalade my other favourite. Fig jam is nice with cheese and crackers😉

Come rain or shine..your roof is done for the foreseeable future to keep you snug.. It's a good thing they not only isolated it but also weatherproofing it even it costed you more because of half the roof needed new tiles.. Hope you still have enough light in the house if not maybe some glass doors?

The roof system looks great. Any doubts about polystyrene think about a Styrofoam cup..two millimeters thick and protects your hand from boiling hot coffee. The figs look outrageous! Thanks again and keep on p!urging away.

The figs were smashing with your cheese board.

Nothing better than fig preserves on rye toast.Figs are so good for you/tummy. Dry any you don’t use.

Electric blanket

Sorry. This solution for the roof works for the temperature, but for the rain it doesn't work. Sorry I'm boring. But I just want to help.
Kisses

If you need to do additional insulation, consider Corck , it has a higher thermal rating, it is manufactured locally (in Portugal), and is natural.

fruits have different pectin levels, so jelling could be better by mixing fruit for jam. As you noted some greener fruit mixed in would help with pectin levels, too. I used a crockpot to stew fruit, no careful watching of boiling fruit needed, and saves energy costs. Your jam looked delicious.

Hi Christine jam and preserves look great I bet the smell was mouth watering should call the jam Christine’s figaro toasty special.

Is it rude to ask how much the whole ceiling project cost you? Just for an idea. Thanks.

You may have to get farm kittens , they won't kill a rat but will chase them off , the dogs won't attack kittens and will be used to them by the time they grow and start killing rats

Just a suggestion/ thought for fig jam making. Is it possible to cut the figs into half or smaller so that they get cooked faster (save gas)?. 😀
Farm is looking good. Awesome job 👏

it is difficult to fix a roof from below

Wow! As you said…what a difference the ceiling has made and happy to hear that the insulation is already making a big difference.
The fig jam and preserve looking so yummy! Sure your guests enjoyed the home-made treat. You could also add some ginger to the figs for something different.
Happy that some of your YouTube friends made a turn…very kind of them and to bring you unusual treats to enjoy.
Let's keep fingers crossed that the cats will soon find their way back to the farm to do some rat control 🙂
The metal dustbins or bins with clip-down handles could be a good solution for storage.
Good going!!

You are the only person I hear who has been cold, in this great global heat wave.

So glad you managed to get contractors to support …looking good.. and well done a the jam:-)

Such a huge improvement with membrane, insulation and dry wall! Fig jam and preserves are yummy! Now it looks very comfortable! Rodent control is so important! Containers that close securely and a place to store them is very important!

So happy for you to have a ceiling!!!

Woh, you got it all insulated in "just" 7 days, I think that's pretty good, compared to some of the stories you hear.
A little sugestion,, when you have YouTubers visiting,, do a bit of filming with them 2-5 min showing them around and ask them to also film something (little collaboration) But you want them to be in your video,,, that will give their audiences a reason to go to your video and see what they did 🙂

Well, that is a good job done! It must be cooler and more comfortable in the house. I wonder if you can get 5 gallon pails with screw top lids at the hardware store. The should be mouse proof. 🙂👍👍

The roof looks a lot better, hope the insulation works

Sorry to say and contrary to most people's beliefs and especially in your building situation the roof insulation will not affect the indoor temp. In the summer months, It will take a little longer for the heat to penetrate your room and because of the insulation on a cooler night or after sunset, it will take a little longer time to reject the heat from your room. But you have a nice covered ceiling.

For your bird seed and cat food. You need a strong metal bin handles with lid with a handle. So you can tie down the lid to the bin Something like the old house dustbins that the Council collected the household rubbish.

Get some big plastic containers to put the cat and dog food in or any food.

Hi Christine. Love the roof,you will notice a difference soon. They are doing a good job. Your jam looks yummy, it's amazing what you can do with a little knowledge. Glad you met some new friends, and they brought goodies too. Mice/ rats are a problem…a cat would help. Storage In metal bins or tubs helps. Any how, tick items off your list. Stay safe and hydrate lots.

Exciting Christine,….roof is a triumph…Fig Preserves looked delicious!!!!! Well Done 👍👍👍👍👌👌

Wow!!!what a Change! Now IT Looks really Like a House! Very nice Progress! Thank you for sharing Bon Courage👍🌹

You can add lemon juice to release the pectin for the jam, balancing the sugar.Kwep up the great work.

👏👍🌟🍀💐

Hi Christine, what a great job they have done on the ceiling, glad to hear you are sleeping better now it’s done, nothing worse than broken sleep. The jam looks delicious. Tony x

Exciting