As autumn sets in, many people will start feeding garden birds but are concerned about attracting rats
Keep feeding your garden birds this autumn(Image: Arterra, Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Autumn is in full swing, bringing wet weather, falling leaves, and colder evenings. Despite these changes, many people remain committed to feeding garden birds. However, concerns about attracting rats often discourage some from continuing this routine.
The truth is, it’s possible to feed birds without luring rodents into your garden, and expert Lucy Taylor from Vine House Farm Bird Foods has shared some straightforward steps to achieve this.
“Brown rats – or Common rats as they’re also known – are never a welcome sight in the garden,” Lucy acknowledged.
“It’s easy to see why: this non-native species, accidentally introduced to the UK around 1730 on ships from Asia, can cause significant damage, spread disease, and breed at an alarming rate.”
The good news is there are simple steps to prevent them from settling in your garden, starting with the most important one – removing their main food source, and in this case that means bird food. Love dreamy Welsh homes? Sign up to our newsletter here
However, Lucy suggests three key steps to deter rats while continuing to feed garden birds:
Never put out cheap bird food seed mixes
It may not be immediately apparent, but inexpensive bird food seed mixes can be a significant attractant for rats in gardens (while also being a waste of money from the birds’ perspective).
“This is because bird food mixes containing cheap fillers like wheat and pulses are often ignored by most birds,” Lucy points out. “Instead, they’re discarded from feeders and fall to the ground as birds such as Blue tits and Greenfinches sift through the mix for the occasional edible bit.”
Although some species like Wood pigeon and Jackdaw might consume some of it, there’s a good chance it will remain on the ground, making it accessible to nocturnal rats.
Therefore, it’s better to purchase high-quality seed mixes or straight foods like sunflower hearts, which will reduce the amount of food falling to the ground.
Consider using a metal feeder pole or feeding station
“Although rats can climb and would probably have little trouble reaching a feeder hung from a fence post or tree branch, they will struggle to get up a smooth metal feeder pole or that on a metal feeding station,” Lucy says.
As an additional precaution, it is advised to attach a plastic baffle to the steel pole below any feeders. This, according to Lucy, is often sold to deter Grey squirrels from accessing the food – but they work just as well for stopping rats.
Remember to bring in ground trays at night
For species like the blackbird and robin, the ideal situation is a ground tray or dish to feed from (as ground feeding species they struggle with hanging feeders).
However, leaving this type of feeder out overnight could be an invitation for rats. The best solution, Lucy says, is to simply remember to store it in the evening.
She shared: “By bringing it in and storing it in a garage or other safe place overnight, then putting it back in your garden the next morning, the risk is removed.”
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