In the long run, preventing rodent infestation relies on a combination of good coop management, preventative measures and feed management.

Rats will chew through plastic trash bins and fatten themselves up on your garbage every night. Either store your outdoor trash in a steel garbage can with a tight lid, in a garage or shed, or wait until garbage day to take it outside. It's always lovely to see birds hopping about on the grass, sure, but it's a surefire recipe for trouble. As such, one of the best ways to protect your bird feeder from rats and squirrels is to avoid the temptation to scatter food underneath it. If you can’t get rid of rats on your own, you need more help than I can give you. I’m a big fan of doing things myself, and if you’re reading this, you probably are too. But sometimes you have to throw in the towel and bow down to your new rat overlords.

Any veterinarian you speak to will be able to tell you about family pets that have been poisoned by eating a poisoned rat or mouse. If your coop is made of wood or has a dirt floor, you’re likely to get rats chewing or digging their way into your coop at night. If you have the option to build the coop from scratch, build it up off the ground at least a foot to make it harder for rats to hide and enter the coop. Alternately, make your coop floor out of poured cement. Buying a feeder that prevents birds from raking the feed onto the ground. A waste-reducing feeder is worth far more in the fight against rodents than a rat-proof one! Did I get that point across? Okay, now let’s investigate how you’re feeding the rats. Collect Eggs Frequently

You can also invest in a rodent-proof number, such as the popular Guardian with 4-Port Seed Feeder, which provides protection for both birds and their food. Now, if you’re like us, and your lazy good-for-nothing cat would rather play with rats than hunt them, move onto the next step. Set traps

Why Grandpa's as opposed to less expensive models?

Rats are most likely to enter through corners or places where the walls meet the floor or ceiling. Fill and cover holes Using a nutritionally balanced pelleted or crumbed feed. This will stop birds from feeding selectively on only the seeds or grains that they like, reducing waste and raking. Rats can dig several feet deep and jump up to eight feet high. They are also expert climbers and can access your coop or run from above if it’s not protected.

When we were dealing with rats we read over and over that rats only go after cooked food in the compost. This is not true, if they’re hungry, they’ll eat anything in there that’s edible. Put every bit of food scraps into the steel bins or you’ll be feeding the rats. This may be a combination of preference and necessity depending on how persistent your pest problem happens to be. It's basically any type of feeder which leaves even a small amount of grain exposed. It doesn't have to be much – rats and mice can squeeze into the tiniest of holes. First off, you’ll need to take several steps to make your property as unappealing as possible to a couple of rats looking to eat, sleep, and mate. Step 2: Take Away Their Home Rats are creatures of the night. If you’re seeing them during the day, you have a major problem. Either you’re looking at an infestation or they’re starving and so desperate for food they’ll do anything to get it.

Rat Poison

Even if you have hanging feeders and water founts, the rats can access them because they can jump and climb very easily. Three ways to protect food and water from rats: One way to prevent this problem is to put 10mm galvanized hardware cloth on the ground under your coop. If your coop has a study floor, you can cover the floor with the same hardware cloth to prevent rats from getting in by chewing through the floor. Please note that when described as Vermin-Resistant we refer to rats and mice as vermin, not squirrels, who are not (mostly) considered to be vermin. Thomas adds that you should also 'ensure you clean any feeders regularly to prevent disease' and deter nightime scavengers. FAQs Do we need to feed birds in winter?

It's good to be generous, but it doesn't do to be too generous with your bird food – especially if you want to protect your bird feeder from rats and squirrels. Landowners in England and Wales are obliged to control rodents under the terms of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act (1949). This places an obligation on owners or occupiers to control rats and mice on their property and to inform the local Council of infestations.Local Councils have powers to ensure that rodent control is carried out and may serve enforcement notices on landowners. Councils can carry out the works required directly and charge the costs to the owner. I’m going to say this right at the start: beware the use of poisons. This should be your last resort if nothing else is working. I know it seems like an easy fix to a big problem, but using poison to get rid of rodents could lead to bigger problems down the road.