Happy to say we have hedgehogs in our garden... I built a little house for over-wintering and they pass through the neighbour's garden also. But, I have been putting out food and have attracted multiple rats. Is there a way of feeding the hogs, and deterring the rats?
It's so exciting when you catch them on camera isn't it @purplerallim ? They are such characters. @BaW rats can be a real problem and luckily it's not one l have had. I think @purplerallim had trouble with rats ? I use a plastic box with a tunnel entrance (can't post a photo at the moment), which keeps cats and foxes out, but l suspect if the entrance is big enough for a hedgehog, it's big enough for a rat unfortunately. Have a look at these links, they may be of some help
I know this may upset some folk , but yes we had problems with rats and the only way we got rid of them was a bait box. We were very careful to ensure the ends were so small only rats and mice could get in ( and yes I sat and watched to make sure, hogs did try but were unable to reach the bait) it has worked well and we have been able to put food out without any problem since.
Luckily we don't have a rat problem. We have been putting out food for the hogs for 2 - 3 years now. We use a small shallow dish for the hog food. We are lucky to have glass French windows/doors in our lounge where we sit at night and we can watch the hogs eating. If anything else (cat) comes to eat the food we can see it and act accordingly. I bring the food in when we turn in for the night. The hogs know our routine and feed between 8 - 11 p.m. (our bedtime) - if they did come after 11 p.m. the food won't be there for them - they soon learn our routine. Even if you don't have glass doors bringing the food in when you turn in will soon be picked up by the hogs and they will adjust their feeding routine to fit in with you @BaW.
We regularly have 2 or 3 hogs and have seen up to 5 at one time last year.
I have always put my food out at dusk, and even though at first they came early , as the season progresses it gets to 2am ish . Mine would never get any if I took it in.🙂 Hubby brings in the food at 5am so the birds don't eat it all.🙂
They are fairly intelligent creatures and soon adjust to new regimes @purplerallim. Now is a good time to try changing feeding times if you want them to eat earlier - whilst the weather is reasonably favourable and they can cope with lack of offered food for a few days. It takes a fair bit of willpower to change anything, but I am sure it would be of benefit. The bowl of food we put out at 8 ish is usually empty by the time I retrieve it at bedtime. Good Luck.
Have tried @Guernsey Donkey2 ,but I think my visitors come a bit of a distance to feed, the only early diner was a new hog that only came once. The rest never got fed as it came in untouched for a few weeks until it was left overnight.
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But, I have been putting out food and have attracted multiple rats. Is there a way of feeding the hogs, and deterring the rats?
@BaW rats can be a real problem and luckily it's not one l have had. I think @purplerallim had trouble with rats ?
I use a plastic box with a tunnel entrance (can't post a photo at the moment), which keeps cats and foxes out, but l suspect if the entrance is big enough for a hedgehog, it's big enough for a rat unfortunately. Have a look at these links, they may be of some help
https://thehedgehog.co.uk/feeding-hedgehogs/how-to-stop-cats-dogs-and-foxes-stealing-the-hedgehogs-food/
https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/forums/topic/hedgehogs-and-rats/