Roamwild PestOff Rat Proof Chicken Feeder Kit - Rat Proof & Large Bird Proof Poultry Feeder - Weather Proof - 4lts / 8lbs Capacity

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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. Quite simply, then, it is imperative that we help out our feathered friends over the winter months and keep their bird feeder topped up. What are the best things to feed birds? Rats are most likely to enter through corners or places where the walls meet the floor or ceiling. Fill and cover holes Apart from the risk of diseases that rats can carry, they will gnaw holes in feed bins and poultry houses to reach food, and if they reach it, they will often contaminate it with droppings and urine. While we’re on the topic of traps, please never, ever resort to using glue traps. This is hands down the most inhumane and cruel way to get rid of a pest.

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.The run in question was perfect for the trial as there have been a number of rooks dropping in for breakfast after I had put the feeders out in the mornings. I was taking the feeders in because I had spotted mouse droppings on the ground near my feeders. Perfect timing I would say to test out a Grandpa’s Feeder! Settingup the feeder It is important you only use the amount of bird food or seed that you know (or estimate) will be eaten by birds within two or three days at most,' says Eric. Another easy way to protect your bird feeder from rats and squirrels? Add something that they really don't want to eat! This works for birdfeeders and for how to stop squirrels from digging up bulbs. Rodents are competent climbers, so they can and will scale trees and poles to access bird feeders,' says Eric. Then of course, you have the problem of handling a live rat, and finding somewhere else for it to go. Most people don’t agree with using this solution for rats because no matter where you set it free, you’re dumping the problem on someone else, or wreaking havoc on a different ecosystem. Rat Poison

Hanging your bird feeders on a sturdy branch higher up the tree will deter them to a degree, as they are less likely to climb in search of food.'

Why Grandpa's as opposed to less expensive models?

Rats don’t love raw eggs, they prefer for you to cook them first, but they will steal and eat them if they have nothing else to eat. 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: When the ground is frozen, natural food sources like worms and insects are even harder to come by, so our feathered friends depend more on bird feeders for vital calories and energy,' says Eric.

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. We also love the Goodnature automatic trap. It’s more expensive than snap traps, but because it kills the rodent with a burst of air, it’s more humane and leaves less mess for you to clean up. This trap is also nice because it re-sets itself and can kill countless mice and rats in one night. Again, this may result in rats dying in hard to reach places. But it does eliminate the possibility of your animals or wildlife getting poisoned if they find and eat the rat. Call a Professional I used to use rodenticides until I met a local birdwatcher who educated me on the dangers of poisoning our local wildlife. Common Shrews and Field Voles will eat rat poison which in turn results in birds of prey such as barn owls, buzzards, red kites and kestrels eating the poison. While these smells are unappealing to rodents, birds can’t actually taste them, so sprinkling a little cayenne pepper into your bird feeders, for example, will act as an additional deterrent.' 5. Install feeders out of reachSo, now that you know how to protect your bird feeder from rats and squirrels, it's time to get out there and feed the birds (tuppence a bag!) and help them make it through the cold winter months ahead. Rats love to travel along the edges of walls as it feels safer. This is the best place to put your traps. Making sure bird feed is stored correctly is important as it will deter unwanted vermin, as well as ensure food holds its nutritional value for birds,' says Eric. Rats can go a longer time without water than a camel can. They can survive a long time in water- they’ve been known to be able to tread water for three days and swim a quarter of a mile.