AIBU to stop feeding the birds - rats about.

[Prelapsarianhag]

We have rats. We can hear them in the walls and found a couple of rat turds in the pantry. I saw one in the garden yesterday ferrying berries to her nest. We feed the birds with sunflower hearts in the front and back gardens. My DH (75) loves feeding and watching the birds and does not want to stop.

We are waiting for the council rat control to get in touch but they seem to be busy. I have bought some rat repellent plug ins and all food is safely stored (except for the fucking bird food on the bird tables). We have a dog who would love to become a rat catcher but have been warned by a vet that dogs can get a nasty illness from a rat.

Should DH stop feeding the birds?

It’s a shame but that does normally solve the problem. Maybe he can start again once the rats have moved on. Alternatively you need a big base under the bird feeder to stop the food hitting the floor.

Yes they stay where there is food and water, your DH is just encouraging them. Rats can chew through anything and everything - we had house mice, not even rats and they chewed a hole through our kitchen ceiling so they could get in there. They'll chew wires as well so you need to watch out for that if they're in your walls. Rats are also great climbers and jumpers - they can jump over a metre - so if there's anything they can climb and jump from like a tree or bush to get to a high metal pole bird feeder they will.

We found the council to be really helpful when we had mice.

Leaving any kind of food out will encourage them, so I would just stop. Except in winter when everything is covered in snow and ice, birds aren't dependent on humans giving them food.

We had a rat problem when DH was feeding the birds. They moved out nearly immediately after he stopped. We still put fat balls out in the winter very high up in a tree and that doesn't seem to attract them.

The council rat control will just tell you to stop feeding the birds anyway. But it might be easier for your husband to accept it from them rather than you telling him.