Is there anyway of feeding the birds without attracting rats?

[DuckyMcDuck]

Our garden isn't very big and last time we put seed etc out, we had rats which managed to get into the house (I know you're never 6 foot away...... but no food = no rats)

However, we have sparrows nesting at the end of the garden and it would be lovely to feed them. Any ideas please?

I read that they go anywhere where there is food, water and shelter. So you'd need to take the water and shelter away somehow I think

I think they sometimes gnaw into sheds to use as shelter

You need a baffle underneath - you can buy pole bird feeders with essentially a big upturned done underneath the feeding platform which catches fallen seed. You can also get enclosed clear plastic spheres with an entrance which you hang from branches, birds have to eat inside the sphere so less dropped seed.

We had rats and the pest control man that came said just stop feeding the birds/wildlife fullstop unless you have a cat adept at hunting.

But then I guess the cat might get the birds too

I'll have a look at those @ComtesseDeSpair, thanks but I have a feeling you (and your rat man!) are right @cleckheatonwanderer

I know that coating nuts and seeds in chilli powder makes them unpalatable (!) for squirrels but doesn't bother the birds at all. Might work for rats? Until it rains I guess.

Or maybe use fat balls rather than loose seed?

We’ve got a feeder that sticks to the window with suction cups, rats would struggle to get to it!

We have one of those bird feeders that deter squirrels. It's high up so rats can't get to it either

We have a hanging bird feeder with a tray fitted to catch anything that falls. No rats here