![]() Rodents aren’t usually a fan of thistle seed. A large cone baffle may be enough to keep rodents from getting around, while a torpedo baffle should also work and will help with other animals as well, such as squirrels. Using a metal pole instead of a wooden one will help a bit, as the smooth metal will be harder for them to gain footing on and climb.Ī baffle is also a must. So between jumping and climbing, you want to protect your feeders from below. Rats can jump three feet in the air and mice as much as a foot. (Photo credit: lovecatz/flickr/CC BY SA 2.0) 4. Hanging deck poles like these are easy to climb and too close to surfaces they can jump from. Just remember, this won’t work if they can jump to the feeder under the dome, so placement is key. This large size smooth plastic dome, especially paired with a slender tube feeder, will make it hard for mice and rats to gain a foothold on the dome and reach the feeder. If you must hang your feeder from a tree, try and install a baffle ABOVE your feeders. Your best bet is to position your feeder pole away from trees and overhangs so the rodents cannot walk across branches and drop down, or climb close-by tall objects like deck posts, trellises, pergolas or the side of your house and leap over to the feeder. ![]() So if you think hanging your feeder from a tree to keep it off the ground will keep mice and rats away, think again. They can leap out a few feet horizontally, and fall from two stories high or more without being hurt. Even other rough surfaces such as stone and brick can be fairly easy for them to maneuver. Wood poles and trees are no problem for them. This will likely not work for mice however, as mice are small enough to have a similar weight to song birds. Weight-sensitive feeders such as the Squirrel Buster can also be a good choice for rats, who are a similar weight to squirrels. Feeders made to be squirrel proof are often good choices as they tend to be made out of stronger metal and are harder to chew through. Increase the difficulty by choosing a tube or hopper style feeder. If you’re just tossing seed on the ground, or using any kind of platform feeder, you might as well just put out a dinner plate for the rodents. You can also get trays that fit under your feeders, right on the feeder pole, or that attach to your feeders and hang underneath. Seed catching trays: For many of the nicer mid-priced tube feeders you may be able to purchase an attachable seed tray that snaps right onto the bottom of the feeder.Or if you want to stick with just feeding sunflower, you can try hulled sunflower chips. Lyric, Wild Delight, Wagner’s, and Kaytee all make waste-free mixes. A higher percentage of seed gets eaten at the feeder, and what little falls to the ground is usually quickly snatched up by doves and other ground feeding birds. No Waste Mixes: These mixes use seeds with shells removed and sometimes fruit and nut pieces.You can periodically sweep up the excess. Keeping this under-feeder area clean is key. Collections of shells and spilt seeds can look like a buffet to rodents. I’m sure you’ve seen them rummaging through your seed selection, tossing seeds aside, looking for the ones they like the most. Mice and rats most often will be initially attracted to the area by coming across spilt seeds underneath your feeder. How to Keep Rats Away From Bird Feeders 1. Let’s look at methods you can use to cut down the probability of mice and rats making your bird feeders their personal kitchen. The opening to get in was only as wide as your finger. Mommy mouse with babies and piles of nesting material that I pulled out of our in-ground sprinkler system control box. Mice can fit through holes the size of a dime and rats the size of a quarter (approximately), so it can be very tricky to find and seal every nook and cranny. Your garden shed, garage, A/C unit, basement and home will all be targets. When looking for shelter, warmth and good places to nest and have young, mice and rats will look for any opportunity. They can attract feral cats and hawks to your yard, which can also be bad for your songbirdsĭid I mention they will try and get into your house?.They can get into your birdhouses, and rats will potentially eat bird eggs.If they think your yard is a great food source, they will want to stay close by and will try and get into your house.Why are mice and rats bad to have at your bird feeders? Let’s take a look at how to keep rats away from bird feeders, as well as mice, and the problems they cause at feeders. These furry little critters are excellent at chewing, can squeeze through very tiny holes, and reproduce like wildfire. We’ve talked about deer, bears, raccoons and squirrels, so who else might be problematic? I’ll give you a hint. Leaving out food for our backyard birds can also attract a bevy of other hungry wildlife to the yard.
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