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ARGH - A rat!

susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
in Problem solving
Newbie gardener again - and I'm sure there is no solution bar trapping or poisoning (neither of which I want to do) but, a year after moving here, today I saw a huge rat sitting under the bird feeder eating the scattered grain. I've had a family of field mice living under hedge, which is great, but this thing is massive and I don't know what to do. I don't want to stop feeding the birds, especially during nesting times, and I've designed the garden as a wildlife (hah!) area. Can anyone give me any advice on any other ways to deter it? (I don't have much hope...) 
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  • susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
    @pansyface As said, I don't want to stop feeding the birds as it's nesting season.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    edited May 2022
    The trouble is you are providing the rat with exactly what it wants - food !
    If you don't want to stop feeding the birds you could try what are described as "rat proof" feeders (although l have no experience in how successful they are), also "no mess" seed, or seed that has been treated with chilli oil if memory serves me right. The birds can't taste it but the rats don't like it.
    Having no personal experience of rats in the garden (thankfully),  this might be of help
    https://birdslife.co.uk/how-to-stop-attracting-rats-to-bird-feeders/
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You can't 'deter it' if there's an easy food source. If you don't want to remove the food source, you have to remove the rats. 
    Plenty of rat poison and suitable cages for putting it in are available in DIY stores and online. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    Rats are everywhere. You could kill them, but more will move in. If you don't feed them then you are less likely to see them but they will still be there.
    I spent a lot of money on a squirrel proof (and rat proof) bird feeder which has been very effective.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I think if there is any season to stop feeding it would be now. There is plenty of food around.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I've got a this feeder. It wouldn't stop a determined rat, but larger birds can't get into it and bits don't fall on the floor for opportunists.

     Rats have sharp claws for good attachment and can hang upside down. If I had signs of rats I would stop feeding.


  • susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
    @pansyface Your garden looks lovely! I have two feeders with domes over them, but the main grain-feeder doesn't and the birds scatter the seed everywhere. Will look into feeders with a platform. I've also moved the cat scarer to face the hedge where I saw the rat. I know it's all wildlife, but, y'know..
  • susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
    @AnniD Thanks so much for the useful tips and info - will look into it! :)
  • susiebowersusiebower Posts: 138
    @Fire I have two domed feeders but that one looks good with the bigger tray. Will look into it, thanks! :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I doubt if that would work on rats @susiebower - the cat scarer. 
    I have purpose built cages for feeding, which only the small birds can access. It's vital here for the parent birds because it saves them struggling to feed themselves when they also have young to feed. It can be harsh just when they have youngsters fledging, and they can lose their entire nest due to bad weather. The great, blue and coal tits, robins, sparrows and dunnocks are in and out constantly, and it saves a lot of energy if they have easy food available. Sunflower hearts mainly, so very little waste anyway.
    The rats can't get in the cages, and the bases are fairly solid, so very little gets ejected. The messier goldfinches, chaffinches, bullfiches etc don't come in at this time of year because there's so much food available nearby in hedgerows etc.
    We had a rat earlier in the year - probably from across the road as there was a lot of work going on in one of the properties, and it probably got displaced. It was quickly dispatched by the poison.  

    I don't ground feed past April. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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