Any way to feed birds without attracting RATS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Birds are sky vermin.
Native birds are essential for our ecosystem.

Stop feeding them.
I agree we should just plant things that benefit them instead.

Or, get some outdoor cats.
Cats kill native and migratory birds.

[Anonymous]

Could you get one of those fake owls? Do those work on rats?

[Anonymous]

You don't get to pick and choose which animals you are feeding outside. Anytime you are putting our seeds, you are feeding whatever eats seeds, including rodents.

We also have a bird feeder we loved that attached to our window. But once the mice moved in, it was time to take it down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. Will look into hot pepper feed.
We are in Arlington. Arlington has rats. We hadn't seen any for a few years though.

Ewww.

Do you have rats in your houses too?

We don't have that issue in the burbs.

This made me LOL. You definitely have rats nearby! They are never far away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Put in plants that will provide food for birds year-round.

This is the best option.

[Anonymous]

You can put out peanuts (unsalted, crush up the shell a little so it is easier to get the nut out). Just put out one or two when the cardinals usually eat. Cardinals love peanuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can put out peanuts (unsalted, crush up the shell a little so it is easier to get the nut out). Just put out one or two when the cardinals usually eat. Cardinals love peanuts.

Yes that's how we started. That was in the front yard. Squirrels and cardinals. OP

[Anonymous]

Rats will eat peanuts too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Are you in the city? We are in the suburbs. We have bird feeders and have never seen a rat or evidence of rats in our yard. Squirrels, yes. But we don’t mind if they snack on the spilled feed


They are there.

+1 We had a bird feeder and a rat showed up. In Burke, VA.

[Anonymous]

Rats are not just inner city slum vermin, lol. They thrive anywhere. If bears can get to Westover rats can get to the burbs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Birds are sky vermin.
Native birds are essential for our ecosystem.

Stop feeding them.
I agree we should just plant things that benefit them instead.

Or, get some outdoor cats.
Cats kill native and migratory birds.

Cats belong outside.

We used to have tons of native wild cats in north America. Pet and feral cats outside are no big deal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Birds are sky vermin.
Native birds are essential for our ecosystem.

Stop feeding them.
I agree we should just plant things that benefit them instead.

Or, get some outdoor cats.
Cats kill native and migratory birds.

Cats belong outside.

We used to have tons of native wild cats in north America. Pet and feral cats outside are no big deal

House cats belong inside. It's even in their name.
Cats that are loose are feral and will be shot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Birds are sky vermin.
Native birds are essential for our ecosystem.

Stop feeding them.
I agree we should just plant things that benefit them instead.

Or, get some outdoor cats.
Cats kill native and migratory birds.

Cats belong outside.

We used to have tons of native wild cats in north America. Pet and feral cats outside are no big deal

Domestic cats and wildcats are an invasive species and not native to the Americas.

[Anonymous]

Spray a rat and mice repellent on your patio and surrounding area. I got mine at Home Depot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only serve HOT PEPPER SUET for my birds. All mammals stay away from it. The birds love it. Especially in winters. You can even feed the ground feeders like doves and juncos with it. Just put it on tray feeders slightly above ground so that they don't get wet. You will also attract all your regular birds and a variety of wood peckers. They are the best.

Wear disposable gloves when handling it.