Rat at bird feeder

dinjo99

Hi folks
Sorry if this has been asked before. Have two peanut birdfeeders in back garden all winter. Loads of birds but unwanted visitor since snow arrived. I have a large brown rat on the deck. He was climbing up the trellis and feeding on the nuts.
I have moved the feeders to the clothes line so he can’t get to them now. However he is still prowling around the deck and trellis.
I haven’t the heart to take in feeders until snow goes but will do so soon. I then intend to set a trap for the rat but am terrified a bird would be caught in it.
Can anyone offer any advice?

corks finest

dinjo99 wrote: »

Hi folks
Sorry if this has been asked before. Have two peanut birdfeeders in back garden all winter. Loads of birds but unwanted visitor since snow arrived. I have a large brown rat on the deck. He was climbing up the trellis and feeding on the nuts.
I have moved the feeders to the clothes line so he can’t get to them now. However he is still prowling around the deck and trellis.
I haven’t the heart to take in feeders until snow goes but will do so soon. I then intend to set a trap for the rat but am terrified a bird would be caught in it.
Can anyone offer any advice?

Same problem(mice)had to remove feeders,as I live in a built up area,and could have been overrun, inside house etc

taylor3

dinjo99 wrote: »

Hi folks
Sorry if this has been asked before. Have two peanut birdfeeders in back garden all winter. Loads of birds but unwanted visitor since snow arrived. I have a large brown rat on the deck. He was climbing up the trellis and feeding on the nuts.
I have moved the feeders to the clothes line so he can’t get to them now. However he is still prowling around the deck and trellis.
I haven’t the heart to take in feeders until snow goes but will do so soon. I then intend to set a trap for the rat but am terrified a bird would be caught in it.
Can anyone offer any advice?

I heard Rats won't go near Chilli Seeds. Maybe try getting some (use gloves) and throw them around where you saw the Rat lurking around. Might get rid of him them.

Half-cocked

Rat trap situated where birds and cats/dogs/foxes etc can't get at it. I wouldn't set rat traps if you have hedgehogs though (but hardly an issue this time of the year). If your rat is a regular visitor, you'll be surprized how quickly it gets trapped. Last time I shoved a trap under the deck I heard it snap before I'd gone back inside. problem solved!

OpenYourEyes

The main thing is to make sure that the trap is covered - ideally under the decking or otherwise under a long tunnel of pipe or made from boards etc. Birds will come and investigate any food placed on it if it's visible, and they will get trapped in it.

Rosahane

You can get a cage type rat trap that won't harm anything else that might get trapped in it. McCarthys in Prosperous have them and I'm sure other places will also.

Alun

Same thing here, two very large, well fed brown rats that have managed to jump from the ivy covering our back wall onto the feeders. Have placed a rat trap in a makeshift cover made from an old seed tray cover with an entrance hole cut in it down near the base of the feeders but no luck so far as I think they're not actually going there. I'm hoping when the snow clears they'll be tempted down to where all the seed is and I'll get them.

Half-cocked

Alun wrote: »

Same thing here, two very large, well fed brown rats that have managed to jump from the ivy covering our back wall onto the feeders. Have placed a rat trap in a makeshift cover made from an old seed tray cover with an entrance hole cut in it down near the base of the feeders but no luck so far as I think they're not actually going there. I'm hoping when the snow clears they'll be tempted down to where all the seed is and I'll get them.

Use something nice and smelly for bait - bit of bacon or peanut butter covered bread. Rats have excellent sense of smell and will sniff out the goodies.

Half-cocked

Rosahane wrote: »

You can get a cage type rat trap that won't harm anything else that might get trapped in it. McCarthys in Prosperous have them and I'm sure other places will also.

Ideal during the warmer months if you have hedgehogs, they will get into anywhere a rat can. I've had a few over the years gorged on the bait then waddled off happily when released. If you do use live traps, check twice daily.

Alun

Half-cocked wrote: »

Use something nice and smelly for bait - bit of bacon or peanut butter covered bread. Rats have excellent sense of smell and will sniff out the goodies.

Have peanut butter in there at the moment. Once I can physically get to it when the snow has melted I'll refresh it.

Eddie B

If you see a rat or two around your feeders, don't dwell on it too long. Get it sorted, because rats multiply very quickly. Even Bill Oddie found himself with a major rat problem at his house, and had to get in pest controllers to sort it.

recedite

Half-cocked wrote: »

If your rat is a regular visitor, you'll be surprized how quickly it gets trapped. Last time I shoved a trap under the deck I heard it snap before I'd gone back inside. problem solved!

You'll often catch the first one easily enough, but the others can get wise when they see what happened to their buddy.

ED E

Grab one of these https://www.automatictrap.com/

24 kills per charge, birds wont get at it. No need to reset. Foxes will clean up the carcasses for you.

Eddie B

ED E wrote: »

Grab one of these https://www.automatictrap.com/

24 kills per charge, birds wont get at it. No need to reset. Foxes will clean up the carcasses for you.

So far, these traps have failed to impress in the UK, where rats simply ignore the traps. Two much easily available food sources compared to New Zealand and Australia where these traps are used mainly in the bush. With I high price tag on them, you'd be better off going for a cheaper alternative.