The current round of rat poisons is very very deadly to anything that preys on dead rodents, much more deadly than previous poisons. Whatever you do, research that.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
Move any feeders which can be reached from fences or trees. Put feeders somewhere that it is easy to clean up the dropped seeds. Clean up on a daily basis. If you are certain the rats are coming from the neighbouring property, contact your local council.
I think that's the best route -ie the council. The rats are coming in from next door, so you have ever right to do something about that if the neighbours don't care. They have specific methods of properly dealing with them.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Our neighbours proudly told us they had mice under their decking,had to stop using nearest green house, tried those humane traps this year, didn't catch one. Rats count as serious public health issue. I know,we had chicken in our last House, got visit from very rude abusive health inspector,curtisy of our neighbour,they have right of entry. I didn't want poison because of my animals and toddler. Was told matter was now public health and I had no say.
I'm not sure if all councils now provide this service ( although they should do) If you input your postcode into the following link @xamyvalox you should be able to get some more information. https://www.gov.uk/report-pest-problem I know it can be intimidating when your neighbours are involved, but as others have said, this is a public health issue, and it's their property that's apparently the source.
It's been my experience ( Somerset ) that many councils are now off loading this problem on to the householder ie their advice is usually to contact a Pest Control company - they can suggest decent ones in your area. Many years ago when I contacted the council re a rat in the garden, the advice was to stop feeding the birds for several weeks. Once you were pretty sure that Rat had moved to pastures new, you could resume feeding the birds. Not so simple in your case @xamyvalox as your neighbours don't appear willing to even accept the problem never mind attempting to deal with it. A call to your council setting out the problem may at least give you some hope. Perhaps if you were to suggest that you feel it amounts to a form of anti social behaviour on your neighbours part, it may produce some action/results. Best of luck
Unfortunately, I had the same problems with rats climbing up bird feeder pole. Tried everything but nothing worked. OH got angry when Ratty and baby were pootling along boundary wall !!! Had to stop feeding birds completely and sell pole and feeders. We live much too close to empty field/undeveloped hillside. Good luck with the council.
Thanks for your comments and advice. I called the Council, who came out yesterday and set down 2 bait boxes. He actually saw one of the rats whilst he was here and commented that it was only a young one, so that it is highly likely the nest is nextdoor.
I asked if he was able to do anything about nextdoor, but apparently they have to call themselves and get the council's pest control to come out. I will therefore be telling them that the council have pretty much confirmed the problem is in their garden and i would like them to do something.
I have removed my feeders for the moment, but my garden doesn't have anywhere else for me to put the feeders, other than the fences. As I say, it's a new build property and so I don't have any lovely old trees that I can nestle things. Council guy said to leave the trap for 2 weeks and just monitor the situation. I can't access this trap so not sure how I will know if the poison has been eaten other than not seeing the rats I guess, but then if there is no food for them I won't know which has worked - the poison or lack of food!
Will it take me ages for the birds to come back to the garden? I feel like stopping feeding them will just make them ignore my house again
My MIL has a rat in her garden from time to time. I don't know what sort of distance they travel, she is surrounded by gardens on all sides and some of them have sheds.
My OH takes down the bird feeders and sweeps up any fallen food and no food is put out for around 2 to 3 weeks. If no sign of Ratty then food is put out again and the birds seem to come back straight away, but certainly within a day or two. If a rat returns then this is repeated.
I hope your neighbours take notice of what the council guy said.
Hi I’ve just come across your post and I had exactly the same problem. I love feeding the birds but saw a few rats in my garden which I definitely didn’t want. They would feed on the food that had fallen down from the feeders so my husband made hanging trays for underneath each feeder. This has completely solved the problem and the rats haven’t been seen since and the added benefit to the trays is ground feeding birds like robins, chaffinchs and dunnocks fly into the trays and eat the fallen food. I’ve attached a photo and hope I helps. Sorry the photos are sideways!!
Posts
They have specific methods of properly dealing with them.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If you input your postcode into the following link @xamyvalox you should be able to get some more information.
https://www.gov.uk/report-pest-problem
I know it can be intimidating when your neighbours are involved, but as others have said, this is a public health issue, and it's their property that's apparently the source.
Many years ago when I contacted the council re a rat in the garden, the advice was to stop feeding the birds for several weeks. Once you were pretty sure that Rat had moved to pastures new, you could resume feeding the birds.
Not so simple in your case @xamyvalox as your neighbours don't appear willing to even accept the problem never mind attempting to deal with it.
A call to your council setting out the problem may at least give you some hope. Perhaps if you were to suggest that you feel it amounts to a form of anti social behaviour on your neighbours part, it may produce some action/results.
Best of luck
Thanks for your comments and advice. I called the Council, who came out yesterday and set down 2 bait boxes. He actually saw one of the rats whilst he was here and commented that it was only a young one, so that it is highly likely the nest is nextdoor.
I asked if he was able to do anything about nextdoor, but apparently they have to call themselves and get the council's pest control to come out. I will therefore be telling them that the council have pretty much confirmed the problem is in their garden and i would like them to do something.
I have removed my feeders for the moment, but my garden doesn't have anywhere else for me to put the feeders, other than the fences. As I say, it's a new build property and so I don't have any lovely old trees that I can nestle things. Council guy said to leave the trap for 2 weeks and just monitor the situation. I can't access this trap so not sure how I will know if the poison has been eaten other than not seeing the rats I guess, but then if there is no food for them I won't know which has worked - the poison or lack of food!
Will it take me ages for the birds to come back to the garden? I feel like stopping feeding them will just make them ignore my house again
My OH takes down the bird feeders and sweeps up any fallen food and no food is put out for around 2 to 3 weeks. If no sign of Ratty then food is put out again and the birds seem to come back straight away, but certainly within a day or two.
If a rat returns then this is repeated.
I hope your neighbours take notice of what the council guy said.
I’ve just come across your post and I had exactly the same problem. I love feeding the birds but saw a few rats in my garden which I definitely didn’t want. They would feed on the food that had fallen down from the feeders so my husband made hanging trays for underneath each feeder. This has completely solved the problem and the rats haven’t been seen since and the added benefit to the trays is ground feeding birds like robins, chaffinchs and dunnocks fly into the trays and eat the fallen food. I’ve attached a photo and hope I helps. Sorry the photos are sideways!!