Rats on feeders (1 Viewer)

[Vectis Birder]

I have got bird feeders up in a tree in the garden, as the birds seem to prefer feeding. Unfortunately I also get little animals that are even less welcome than squirrels (I'd prefer the squirrels, actually) on the feeders - rats. The eat all the food, make a mess and presumably spread disease.
Is there any effective way of keeping these little sods off the feeders? Ok, I am going to have to resort to getting the rat poison out again as there's so many of them it's beyond a joke, but I can't do that for a few days as I'm at work until Sunday and Monday. Any suggestions?

Ta,
VB

 

[busyb]

I used to get the same problem, the solution was a bit drastic though, I found the blighters were nesting under an old shed that was built on bearers. I knocked the old shed down and built a metal shed on a concrete base-no more rats.

You could try finding where they a nesting and blocking it off somehow.

P.S. at least your squirrels would be the right colour.

 

[Katy Penland]

Please please please don't use rat poison as any dead varmints could be eaten by other animals -- such as raptors -- who will also die.

As already suggested, finding where the rats are nesting will go a long way toward controlling them. But you also might consider hanging your feeders from free-standing poles where rats can't climb.

 

[Doug Greenberg]

We used to see rats on our feeders at night. The solution involved several steps. We had a "consultant" come and look at our house to see where rats might be entering and exiting. He filled up the entry holes with a fiberglass-like material. It's almost impossible to completely rat-seal a home, however. The second step was to trim back some of the nearby vegetation that made it easier for the little rodents to create safe "highways" to the feeders. The final step was to bring the feeders in each night. We still do this. It's a bit of trouble, but it has really discouraged the rats. We're pretty much rat-free now.

I also agree that putting out "rat poison" is kind of dangerous. If you can figure out where the rats are actually spending the day you can consider trapping them indoors, but putting rat poison out in the environment will end up killing more than the rats.

 

[Vectis Birder]

I hate rat poison and don't want to use it, so all these alternatives are very welcome. I think the rats are using old mole holes to get in and around the garden, we keep blocking them up, but the ratties always find a way back.

 

[Gerry Hooper]

Hi VB, we have the same problem with rats here.
Try mixing some chillis (crushed or powder) with the bird food, the birds don't taste it but the rats do.

 

[Bish]

There are some more poison free alternatives on this site www.pestcontrolshop.co.uk

Regards Bish. :t:

 

[Flemingo]

remove the food source and they'll go elsewhere. Poles with collars on and clean up the ground every evening. Latter will help prevent disease spread between birds too.

Or get a terrier (cats tend to eat the birds too!)

 

[Doug Greenberg]

Well, removing the food source would probably work, but it would also be an admission of defeat, e.g., one would no longer be feeding the birds. The suggestion of getting a dog that is a "ratter" is also reasonable, but the truth is that rats tend toward the nocturnal and most of us keep our dogs indoors at night.

Actually, my own regimen of bringing in the bird feeders at night has worked well for the most part, but not completely. A couple of days ago I went to put some household vegetative waste in our compost bin and three young rats bolted helter-skelter in all directions. I have a feeling that denying the rats the bird feeders "convinced" them to seek other food sources, including whatever they can mine from the compost. Now we'll have to dig up the compost and place mesh all around it. No wonder rats are such successful creatures all over the world.

 

[do re meep meep]

...Now we'll have to dig up the compost and place mesh all around it...

All troublesome rodents are troublesome exactly because they are omnivorous and eat literally anything. I often read a worrisome suggestion in the forums, which is to feed squirrels at special feeders to divert them from the bird feeders. The worry is that these special squirrel feeders are especially attractive to other rodents such as mice and rats, welcoming them to your garden and house!

 

[kingwolf]

We had a similar issue - in fact they were nesting in our garden we got the local council in - their guy identified the rats routes and holes placed poison in there so the rats died underground. He had to put down the poison a couple of times - first time we had to be there but second time he came and did it without us there as all he needed was access to the garden. This service was free as covered by UK council tax.

 

[Bish]

The rats over the last few weeks had become a major problem under my feeders & I counted 11 one day so decided to deal with them myself

I won't use poison as it kills everything that comes into contact with it & is not a humane way of pest control IMO

The option I am using is an air rifle with sound moderator & telescopic sight which I carefully set up using targets first at the desired range

I have dispatched 8 rats instantly & humanely this week & haven't seen any others since so far

Not a pleasant task but the large number of Goldfinch's & Greenfinch's that visit the feeders seem to appreciate it as they were easily flushed every time a rat ran out

Regards Bish. :t:

 

[edrick owl]

Hi all

I've replied to similar threads as this, and I will give the same answer, namely find a chap who has ferrets, and let them have a run round the your garden. The rats are absolutely terrified of them, and once they pick up the ferret scent, they will be off!!

You can use working ferrets or polecats, or even "domesticated" ones on a lead. You could not ask for a more eco-friendly, humane, green way to rid them. Just don't forget to let them come back for a run-around every couple of weeks.

Regards,

 

[Pluvius]

Air rifle very effective

 

[Nina P]

I really wished that were true Katy

Please please please don't use rat poison as any dead varmints could be eaten by other animals -- such as raptors -- who will also die.

As already suggested, finding where the rats are nesting will go a long way toward controlling them. But you also might consider hanging your feeders from free-standing poles where rats can't climb.

Sadly the rats here can climb even the hanging poles of steel! ( I even Greased them) I had the same problem here last two years, I ended up stopping feeding at the lower end of the garden until I had finally made the pole stand in the open, (no plants to hide in) and shot the pesky vermin! I thought my neighbours had done the same as I found a dead rat in the open last autumn, with a very neat hole in it's side, just like it had been shot, so congratulatetd the neighbours for such fine marksmanship, turned out they didn't shoot it either! I guess it was one up to either Buzzard or Kestrel, unless Sparrowhawks are ratters too! I just wish they had managed to feed on the blighter!

I must admit I don't like poison, too much to harm in the environment, I prefer a crack shot to do the deed! I used to be a good shot, but my husband is equal to my ability so let him do it! (Now aren't I the lazy one!)

 

[do re meep meep]

Sadly the rats here can climb even the hanging poles of steel! ( I even Greased them)

Did you try using baffles, stovepipe guards, etc.? This is of concern for polemounted nestboxes too!