Birdfeeders and rats

bugslet

Has anyone solved the problem of how to keep rats away from the birdfeeders?


Obviously they are picking up bits off the floor, but the little devils can shin up the bird feeder pole and perform acrobatics to get to the feeders.

At the moment I've stopped feeding the birds, but I do miss their cheerful chirping!:o

tori.k

You need a roamwild pest off feeder or equivalent https://homgar.com/products/pestoff-squirrel-proof-bird-feeder
but does mean excluding ground feeders like blackbirds and chaffinches

madjackslam

Interesting. Have you tried it with rats? Does it prevent food falling on the floor? They're endemic with us, and if they couldn't clamber over the feeders, they'd still hoover up the remnants on the ground. I've been looking for a (moneysaving) version of this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gardman-A01158-Universal-Squirrel-Baffle/dp/B001E1DTGQ but flipped the other way up so that it woulc catch the food heading for the ground.

bugslet

Hi Tori, I have that at the minute and whilst they can't eat from the feeder, as madjack says, it doesn't stop seed falling to the floor.

That is expensive madjack, but I see what you mean.

bugslet

madjack, what do you think of this


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcaj0bU5ABk

Working_Mum

I used a big fat plastic pop bottle - I cut it in half and strung it from my feeder to deter the squirrels clambering up the pole - it looks similar to the Gardman on the amazon link but is def MSE!!

Grenage

I used an air rifle; it was kinder than the neighbour's poison.


I don't mind rats here and there, but the neighbours (and my other half) go mental at their appearance.

shortcrust

I moved feeders to where rats couldn't get them or replaced them with these which I highly recommend:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jacobi-Jayne-Squirrel-Proof-Feeder/dp/B00BXLF3WU/ref=sr_1_2?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1539197317&sr=1-2&keywords=squirrel+proof+bird+feeders

You have to put them somewhere where the only way they can get to the feeder is from the top such as far enough out on a tree branch.

I also minimise spillage by fixing tray type things to the bottom of some of my feeders.

I had the occasion rat passing through even before I fed the birds so I don't worry too much. Now I have a team of badgers who come round every evening to hoover up all the left overs.

bugslet

Working_Mum wrote: »

I used a big fat plastic pop bottle - I cut it in half and strung it from my feeder to deter the squirrels clambering up the pole - it looks similar to the Gardman on the amazon link but is def MSE!!

What a good idea, thank you.

Grenage wrote: »

I used an air rifle; it was kinder than the neighbour's poison.


I don't mind rats here and there, but the neighbours (and my other half) go mental at their appearance.

shortcrust wrote: »

I moved feeders to where rats couldn't get them or replaced them with these which I highly recommend:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jacobi-Jayne-Squirrel-Proof-Feeder/dp/B00BXLF3WU/ref=sr_1_2?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1539197317&sr=1-2&keywords=squirrel+proof+bird+feeders

You have to put them somewhere where the only way they can get to the feeder is from the top such as far enough out on a tree branch.

I also minimise spillage by fixing tray type things to the bottom of some of my feeders.

I had the occasion rat passing through even before I fed the birds so I don't worry too much. Now I have a team of badgers who come round every evening to hoover up all the left overs.

Personally I'm not overly fussed about the odd rat, but we have extended families setting up home.

If you can pass the badgers my address:)

madjackslam

bugslet wrote: »

madjack, what do you think of this


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcaj0bU5ABk

Thank you bugslet, that's another option worth considering, although I think the sieve needs to be bigger. On the video, when he shakes the feeder at the end (and not vigorously) you can still see seed falling onto the table.

I used an air rifle; it was kinder than the neighbour's poison.

Coincidentally I have a neighbour who likes practising with an air rifle in his back garden. So maybe some live targets would appeal.

oldtractor

have you tried not having the food out 24/7. try feeding enough to last the birds 2 or 3 hours only each day that way there will be noting for the rats to eat.