Feeding birds and rats

[CheeseDreamsTonight]

Gutted that I am going to have to take a break from feeding the birds as we have rats milling about. I assume when the reliable food and water source is disrupted they will lose interest.

I'm just so sad about it. Some of these birds were born last year and have never been without my food supply.

Please reassure me they will adapt.

May I ask, how, what and where are you feeding them?

Our biggest problem at the moment is cats and gulls.

I have a feeder in the tree and a table. I only feed wild bird seed with aniseed in. They seem to love it. I only fill up the feeder in the morning and add a cup of feed to the table at the same time.

I don't feed fat balls etc as the squirrels run
off with them which is funny but a waste.

The rats mill about underneath both and dart in and out of the various bushes. The population has grown recently despite the best efforts of my cat, so I need to break the cycle.

Hm, we occasionally get a rat. I've only seen 2 in 8 years. Our resident rodents are wee mice, they love bird seed. We don't really mind them. Never see more than 2 at a time so it's not a plague type scenario. And we have a lot of foxes which i presume keeps them in check. Like you we would struggle to not feed the birds, it gives us so much pleasure. How many rats have you seen?

Latest count seen today is 7 and the cat has already caught 3. It's all out the front of the house, bold as brass out in the daytime and I worry the neighbours will think I've caused an infestation.

I do wonder if I could just stick to the table and massively reduce the amount for a bit

I had this dilemma too OP. Feed birds, get rats.

I've started putting bird food in the park nearby

Had this exact issue last year snd had to get the rat catcher in despite having a cat and a yorkie!!!!

Rat catcher sorted snd we now use bird feeders at the extreme end of our very long garden

Won’t the rats just climb onto the bird table?
could you feed fat balls in a squirrel proof feeder?

@BMW6 I think it's just inevitable isn't it?

No table, fat balls in tree but the t he birds are fighting with the squirrels

@smileladiesplease I'm just not sure it will work at all as we don't have a big garden, are in a dead end road and it's all enclosed with lots of places for them to hide. Perfect for them.

@BungleandGeorge yes but I was going to get a baffle. Should stop them

That's a shame, but that is a lot of rats and i can see why you're thinking of stopping. i would also worry that your cat might bring them in, and the save is true for any of your neighbours with cats.

@dudsville that's a good point. I am thinking of starting just the table up in about a month and fitting a baffle, and using food that doesn't flick everywhere like suet blocks and coconut shells.