Bird feeding is a fun hobby that adds colour and liveliness to your yard. Not to mention helping pure creatures like birds to have easily accessible food. However, rats can rapidly ruin the beauty of it.
These opportunistic rodents can quickly transform your peaceful bird-feeding schedule into a pest management horror show.
The good news is that you never have to stop bird-feeding to keep rats away. Simple adjustments can let you enjoy feeding your feathery friends without mistakenly attracting rats.
Understanding Why Rats Are Attracted to the Birdfeeder
Before we dive into solutions, let’s talk about why rats are drawn to your outdoor space when bird food is present. It’s quite simple.
Rats will roam anywhere they can just to find a sandwich crumb or biscuit bite. What, then, do you think happens when there’s easily accessible food right there out in the open?
Just like birds, they feast on seeds, nuts, and suet. The latter is often used in birdseed cakes and tallow balls. If food is within reach, no rodent will be picky about who it’s for.
Once they find an easy food source, it’s an open invitation, and they’ll keep returning. Therefore, limiting access to your bird feed is key to controlling this.
Choose the Right Bird Feeder
The sort of feeder you use determines whether rodents get to your bird food. You can’t go wrong with hanging feeders, particularly ones that have features to deter bigger animals like squirrels.
Look for feeders with baffles, domes or cones that stop anything non-bird from climbing up. They help keep rats and squirrels at a distance.
In addition, tube feeders outperform flat, open feeders. While they restrict access, open trays are an all-you-can-eat buffet for any animal.
This setup ensures only small birds can reach the food and reduces the amount that falls to the ground, which is prime scavenging territory for rats.
Keep the Ground Clean
One of the easiest methods to discourage rats is to keep the area surrounding your feeders spotless. Spilling seeds from even the safest bird feeders attracts rodents in particular.
Regularly sweep up any dropped seeds or use a tray under the feeder to catch the overflow. This reduces the chance of rats sniffing around for an easy meal. If daily cleaning sounds like too much, invest in a bird feeder with a built-in tray to catch falling seeds.
Pick Bird Food Rats Dislike
While birds enjoy a wide variety of seeds and nuts, some types are less appealing to rats, and that’s the ultimate goal. Thus, opt for options like nyjer seed, a tiny black seed that attracts finches but is far less enticing to rats.
Hulled sunflower seeds are another excellent choice, as they leave no messy shells on the ground. Suet or fat balls are also a smart option, so just make sure they’re placed in a caged feeder.
Suet is a high-energy food for birds, but if easily accessible, it will attract annoying critters. On a general note, a caged feeder ensures that only birds can enjoy the suet, keeping rats at bay.
Limit Feeding Times
Rather than keeping bird feeders full all day, limit feeding to specific hours. For example, you can leave food out only in the morning and early evening, when the birds are the most active. Remove any leftovers before nightfall to prevent attracting pests.
Rats are nocturnal, so ensure that no food is accessible after dark to prevent them from visiting your yard.
Position Your Feeders Strategically
Where you place your bird feeders plays a crucial role in rat control. Always keep them elevated and away from low-hanging branches, fences, or walls that offer easy access for rodents.
Ideally, hang bird feeders from narrow branches that rats can’t climb or mount them on poles with baffles. Additionally, consider using squirrel-proof feeders to minimise access further.
Suspending feeders from a wire stretched between two trees or poles also keeps them out of rat-friendly areas.
Regularly clean the feeders to remove any spilt seeds, which can attract unwanted pests. Despite their climbing skills, rodents will struggle to reach feeders if they’re properly positioned.
Store Bird Food Properly
An often neglected factor in rat control is how you store bird food. Rats possess an exceptional sense of scent and are capable of chewing through packaging to access seeds or nuts.
Therefore, don’t use cardboard cartons and plastic bags. Choose tight-fitting plastic or metal containers instead. It won’t matter if there are rats nearby because they won’t be able to access your bird snacks.
Block Potential Nesting Areas
Rats may be searching for a cosy nesting spot. Gardens with dense bushes, sheds with gaps, or piles of wood provide perfect shelters for a rat family.
As you focus on feeding birds, take a look around your garden for potential rat hideouts. Block any obvious nesting sites and seal gaps in walls or sheds using rodent-proof materials like steel wool or wire mesh.
Furthermore, clearing clutter from your garden helps, as rats love to hide in piles of rubbish, wood, or leaves. The more open and tidy your space is, the less attractive it is for rodents to set up a home.
Consider Professional Pest Control
It can be time to see a rat control professional if you have tried all these techniques and still find rats.
Experts in rodent control can evaluate your garden space and point out any areas you have overlooked. They can also offer safe approaches for eliminating rats without endangering the birds.
Many pest management companies offer rat control services, such as placing discreet traps in your yard or closing entrance spots around your home.
Although employing experts seems like a large step, it’s generally the best approach to guaranteeing a long-term solution.
Conclusion
The pleasure of feeding birds shouldn’t be eclipsed by the bother of dealing with dirty rats.
Thankfully, you can enjoy your garden’s bird life without worrying about attracting rodents by following our mentioned steps. Limiting feeding times or storing bird food properly can make the biggest difference.
Ultimately, it’s all about building a bird-friendly habitat free of the temptation to attract rats. Just keep an eye out and enjoy birding without turning your yard into a rodent refuge.
