Other than the birds I've never seen anythigh else in my garden other that the odd cat passing through.
I'm not sure if the hole is too big for rats. The diameter is approx 5cm of that helps at all.
I've came onthis forum for advice as I'm really not into gardening etc and I honestly haven't a clue.
The hardware store told me to use the poison. It was my own initiative to remover the feeder but now I'm in a limbo as I don't actually know of any of this has worked... and also how will I know??
I have just spotted 4 youngish rats climbing rose bushes, fig trees and walking across my washing line, they seen to eat new leaves. Even though I have two cats, who are not interested in any livestock.
i am guilty of feeding the flocks of tits
i will after reading your your advice be getting rid of bird food
Bernie12, if you're still looking at this thread - you'll know if the rats are still in your garden if new holes appear once you've filled in the old ones. 5cm diameter sounds about right for a rat. Don't panic about them though; there are said to be as many rats in Britain as people, so most of us are living near them without much problem. Obviously you don't want them living in your house or garden because they do damage and carry disease, but now you've stopped feeding the birds, I'd expect the rats in your garden to go elsewhere.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I get them in my garden now and then. I'm in a rural location and I love to feed the birds. I have taken out the fat blocks and fat balls which is what I always saw them feeding on. I really would hate to stop feeding the birds. Luckily removing the fat seems to have stopped them.
I did shoot 4 with an air rifle over a week or two but that is only useful if you own one, have a safe area to shoot and you happen to be looking out of the window at the time they are feeding. I also tried rat traps loaded with peanut butter but unfortunately within an hour of putting them down under the large hedgerow the rats come from, I had trapped and killed three mice, which made me feel pretty awful, so removed them instantly!
My neighbour some years ago had them in her thatched roof and to this day hates the things! She believes they came from the bird feeding stations she had right next to her house. We have a neighbour who has kept chickens for many years so there is always a food source around.
Stop feeding the birds seems to be the answer but I do love to watch the huge amount of birds that feed in my garden and as I mentioned, removing the fat appears to have kept them at bay.
Unfortunately stopping feeding the birds does seem to be the only comparatively sure way to get rid of a rat problem once it starts. I spotted a rat on our patio, near the feeder, so stopped feeding and the rat has disappeared. It's not the solution I want but sadly is effective.
Hi.. not sure if anyone is still following this thread. I would appreciate if someone could give me some constructive feedback.
My son was given a bird feeder from school, it was a beef fat candle, that I joined onto the chicken wire in our back yard. This is the area close to the french doors and usually I see lots of birds in that particular spot. Much to my shock and horror I was standing at the french door this evening and noticed somerthing moving. It wasa big fat rat coming towards the direction of the chicken wire. In my panic I was banging against the glass and the rat hurried away to hide behind a bin only to run shortly afterwards across to the neighbours garden and behind their shed. I immediaty removed the bird feeder and binned it.
Do I need to raise this with the council or pest control? Or was the rat just attracted to the smell of the beef fat bird feeder? I never saw a rat in our garden before, and with a small boy who likes to play outside I'm getting worked up. Please can anyone advise!?
Don't think you should overreact here over a single rat. It's sensible though to minimise potential food sources such as food for wild birds and domestic poultry, compost scraps (especially cooked food waste) and other kinds of high quality foods e.g. food put out for cats/hedgehogs/foxes. Same applies to your neighbours obviously - might be worth asking if they've noticed any rats and checking they're not encouraging them inadvertently (tactfully).
Thanks, yes I hear you. We both don't tend to leave out any food or rubbish etc that may act as a source of attraction. My husband equally thought that I'm pressing the panic button and need to relax. He is sure that the rat was being enticed by the bird food and now that is gone there is no need for it to stick around. I have disinfected the area where the feeder was hanging, just in case it left a scent trail.
I am obviously scared and my nerves are getting the better of me because I'm even bricking it going to the loo, because I'm scared of it finding a way in or whatnot. I know it sounds like I'm losing the plot but rats are like one of my biggest fears.
Posts
Other than the birds I've never seen anythigh else in my garden other that the odd cat passing through.
I'm not sure if the hole is too big for rats. The diameter is approx 5cm of that helps at all.
I've came onthis forum for advice as I'm really not into gardening etc and I honestly haven't a clue.
The hardware store told me to use the poison. It was my own initiative to remover the feeder but now I'm in a limbo as I don't actually know of any of this has worked... and also how will I know??
I have just spotted 4 youngish rats climbing rose bushes, fig trees and walking across my washing line, they seen to eat new leaves. Even though I have two cats, who are not interested in any livestock.
i am guilty of feeding the flocks of tits
i will after reading your your advice be getting rid of bird food
Many thanks
Last edited: 27 April 2017 13:45:27
Bernie12, if you're still looking at this thread - you'll know if the rats are still in your garden if new holes appear once you've filled in the old ones. 5cm diameter sounds about right for a rat. Don't panic about them though; there are said to be as many rats in Britain as people, so most of us are living near them without much problem. Obviously you don't want them living in your house or garden because they do damage and carry disease, but now you've stopped feeding the birds, I'd expect the rats in your garden to go elsewhere.
I get them in my garden now and then. I'm in a rural location and I love to feed the birds. I have taken out the fat blocks and fat balls which is what I always saw them feeding on. I really would hate to stop feeding the birds. Luckily removing the fat seems to have stopped them.
I did shoot 4 with an air rifle over a week or two but that is only useful if you own one, have a safe area to shoot and you happen to be looking out of the window at the time they are feeding. I also tried rat traps loaded with peanut butter but unfortunately within an hour of putting them down under the large hedgerow the rats come from, I had trapped and killed three mice, which made me feel pretty awful, so removed them instantly!
My neighbour some years ago had them in her thatched roof and to this day hates the things! She believes they came from the bird feeding stations she had right next to her house. We have a neighbour who has kept chickens for many years so there is always a food source around.
Stop feeding the birds seems to be the answer but I do love to watch the huge amount of birds that feed in my garden and as I mentioned, removing the fat appears to have kept them at bay.
Last edited: 27 April 2017 17:01:53
Unfortunately stopping feeding the birds does seem to be the only comparatively sure way to get rid of a rat problem once it starts. I spotted a rat on our patio, near the feeder, so stopped feeding and the rat has disappeared. It's not the solution I want but sadly is effective.
Hi.. not sure if anyone is still following this thread. I would appreciate if someone could give me some constructive feedback.
My son was given a bird feeder from school, it was a beef fat candle, that I joined onto the chicken wire in our back yard. This is the area close to the french doors and usually I see lots of birds in that particular spot. Much to my shock and horror I was standing at the french door this evening and noticed somerthing moving. It wasa big fat rat coming towards the direction of the chicken wire. In my panic I was banging against the glass and the rat hurried away to hide behind a bin only to run shortly afterwards across to the neighbours garden and behind their shed. I immediaty removed the bird feeder and binned it.
Do I need to raise this with the council or pest control? Or was the rat just attracted to the smell of the beef fat bird feeder? I never saw a rat in our garden before, and with a small boy who likes to play outside I'm getting worked up. Please can anyone advise!?
Don't think you should overreact here over a single rat. It's sensible though to minimise potential food sources such as food for wild birds and domestic poultry, compost scraps (especially cooked food waste) and other kinds of high quality foods e.g. food put out for cats/hedgehogs/foxes. Same applies to your neighbours obviously - might be worth asking if they've noticed any rats and checking they're not encouraging them inadvertently (tactfully).
Thanks, yes I hear you. We both don't tend to leave out any food or rubbish etc that may act as a source of attraction. My husband equally thought that I'm pressing the panic button and need to relax. He is sure that the rat was being enticed by the bird food and now that is gone there is no need for it to stick around. I have disinfected the area where the feeder was hanging, just in case it left a scent trail.
I am obviously scared and my nerves are getting the better of me because I'm even bricking it going to the loo, because I'm scared of it finding a way in or whatnot. I know it sounds like I'm losing the plot but rats are like one of my biggest fears.
Thank you for your response.