To carry on feeding the birds even though rats have appeared in our garden?

[ahe2]

Not sure what to do about this.

We love feeding the birds. My DC have learned the names of so many birds because of this and while I don’t exactly believe robins are the souls of our loved ones … well … maybe I want to think it’s something to do with being watched over.

The problem is we now have rats. I’ve seen a baby one and an adult so I think there’s probably a nest.

Part of me thinks rats are everywhere. We live cruelly, it’s a big garden with a large hedge leading into open meadows and woodland so there will be rats. We had rabbits a couple of years ago which I loved and we have a squirrel which I’ve no problem with. So …

On the other hand the thought of rats on my children’s play equipment and possibly spreading disease is unpleasant.

What would you do? Is there any way we can continue feeding the birds but discourage the rats?

Stop feeding them for the summer. If you have a good garden there will be plenty of food for them and with that the rats will leave for a better location

Ewww no. Rats running around my garden would certainly make me stop putting food out.

The birds don’t need feeding this time of year

Then you lose the joy of seeing them come to the bird table.
I would definitely carry on feeding OP. We do.
The rats tend to disappear out to the fields during the summer months.

I had to give up feeding the brids because of the mice and rats. We were gutted but they started trying to get into the house so a big no from me.

Well of course u should stop! Do you want the rats finding a way in to ur house?

Don't use ground feeders and use mess free feeders where you can. Don't put out excess food, top up a small amount daily.

Of course you should stop.

Also, it's highly unlikely your child will catch anything from a rat. Having been on the play stuff.

Of course you need to stop feeding them if you're encouraging rats.

Get a bird bath instead.

I did. And I refuse to use poison or other inhumane methods.

Peppermint oil, disrupting their burrows and keeping bird feed off the ground has minimized the problem.

My BIL in the US uses a humane rat contraceptive that is non toxic and won’t kill onward predators; he says rats gobble it up and it’s really made a difference. He’s an avid bird feeder.

I hope it’s available here soon.

Keep feeding. There's rats everywhere. And they are lovely once you get to know them

Where we live people turn out literal whole pans of rice, loaves of bread, piles of cereal onto the grass near the houses. It’s fucking nuts.

Next door throw rice into their backyard. We see rats out the back all the time.

I guess it’s likely a cultural thing?

Anyway, I would look at hanging bird feeders perhaps OP?

You need to keep your property free from rats and mice.

If your neighbours complain then the council can compel you to to take action or take action on your behalf and recover the money under the Prevention of Pests Act 1949.

You need to clean the areas regularly, consider food that doesn't spill etc.

Whether they “need” it or not, it’s a fun hobby.

We had this problem last year. We've been here a long time and it was the first time we had this. We stopped putting seed out for three weeks until they moved off. It was a shame, in a weird way I enjoy observing all things, but I knew our neighbour's wouldn't be keen, and also they were growing in number. They seemed to move off after the 1st week, but we didn't put seed out for 3 weeks

This year we're feeding differently. Instead of keeping the sites stocked, we just put seed out in the morning. We have a couple of very small mice, but we have always had that and it's been easy to keep on top of.

Cab you stop long enough for the rats to move off and then be more strategic in feeding the birds? I must say, it doesn't matter if you only use high up feeders as birds drop bits.

I wouldn't worry about there being rats in the garden sometimes, or on your children's play equipment.

For the most part, squirrels and other rodents carry the same diseases as rats and mice, and nobody panics when you see a squirrel in the garden. I actually like seeing rats in the wild, and pet rats, too. Lovely little creatures in the right context.

The wrong context, though, is when wild rats or mice get into your home (squirrels sometimes get into the roof, but seldom into food prep areas).

I'd cut back on feeding for the summer months, or perhaps investigate some alternative types of feeder. No need to panic, though (i wouldn't get pest control or anything like that) you just want to prevent the situation from escalating, with sensible preventative steps.

I'd stop feeding them, no need at this time. Get a birdbath instead?

Same thing happened to us, I tried putting things down to get rid of the rats but it didn't work so I just stopped putting out the bird feed.

Thanks. I could try putting food out on bird feeders for now. I’d be really sad to stop feeding the birds, as we have certain ones - a crow, a robin, blackbird and blue tit ‘couple’ and a magpie.

We don’t have any neighbours @SaladSandwichesForTea , we live rurally (not cruelly as I mistakenly typed in my OP!)

I agree rats are lovely, but you want to avoid a situation which sees wild ones from getting into your home. That usually has to end with pest control or snap traps, which isnt a good outcome for anyone.

I'd be very happy to see some ratties in a park, not so much wild ones around my house (unless I had good reason to think they were just passing through- but that's probably not the case if you're providing them with a food source).

I had this exact issue too. I love seeing the birds in the garden but DH was adamant we had to stop to deter the rat (family). We stopped for about a month and now I’ve started using the bird feeders again. No sign of ratty yet but I’m sure he’s not far away!

This is a thing in the park near me too, bread and nuts and sometimes even fat balls smashed into the grass. It just gets eaten by dogs (mostly my dog, annoyingly) and foxes.

Apparently it is a cultural/religious thing. Possibly in Islam, might be remembering that wrong though

Ideally I’d want natural predators to deter / eat them. We do have hawks and we have owls and I’m sure we have foxes and badgers although I don’t really see them, I know they are around. I also saw a stoat once.

Then i really would not worry about it. Predators will keep them in check.

Rats are very sweet and as intelligent as dogs. I hate to imagine how they suffer being poisoned. Those who think it’s ok to do that should read about how it works. Shameful.