Rats!

[Don]

Here at Don Towers the missus has taken up a new hobby. That of feeding the birds. She has two feeders - one with a tray. Some seed does spill to the ground AND it attracted a rat.

So we stopped feeding. Waited two weeks and tried again. Two weeks later and we spot the rat.

He's out there now.

So obviously we're going to stop feeding again. But the wife is distraught at the thought of losing her little feathered friends. I am too a bit - but not so I'm willing to put up with our little furry feckers.

Seriously - if any of you have experience of effectively eliminating a rat problem whilst still having bird feeders up I'd appreciate your input!

I'm thinking of putting mesh all along our fenceline to try and stop external ingress.
I'll also try and eliminate access to the airspace under our shed with mesh.
Poisoning? Up for that. But I can't accept collateral damage to birdlife.
The fecker simply ignored a trap baited with peanut butter.

Any experiences?

And yes I know that three minutes with an air-rifle would solve the problem. The missus is almost persuaded...

[Timmy35]

As you say, just buy an airgum with a scope, and take advantage of the sport.

She may object if the you get bored and find yourself targeting the residents of the bird table too though......

[Silver940]

[Don]

Timmy35 said:

As you say, just buy an airgum with a scope, and take advantage of the sport.

Well. Although I'm more than 50ft from any public right of way I am right next to neighbours. I'd need their permission, I think, otherwise I could find myself in legal trouble.

Of course, what they don't know...

Timmy35 said:

She may object if the you get bored and find yourself targeting the residents of the bird table too though......

Worth my life that would be. That and I actually like 'em, too!

[Silent1]

Where are you based?
I've got a CO2 .177 air rifle you can borrow.

ETA. ah hampshire, a bit far from east anglia.

Edited by Silent1 on Wednesday 4th August 14:55

[Mark Benson]

Don said:

Poisoning? Up for that. But I can't accept collateral damage to birdlife.

If you do it properly (with proper bait containers) then no collateral damage should ensue. Plus, it eliminates any ratty relatives that may be waiting in the wings.

[okgo]

Either buy a trap or a gun, or poison, although only poison or trap if you're sure no other pets can get into the garden.

[Ledaig]

Don said:

Well. Although I'm more than 50ft from any public right of way I am right next to neighbours. I'd need their permission, I think, otherwise I could find myself in legal trouble.

Of course, what they don't know...

Might want to be careful about what you say to the neighbours, if you infer that your feeding of the birds is attracting rats then you may get a knock from environmental health.

[Timmy35]

Homemade landmines?

[Don]

Timmy35 said:

Homemade landmines?

Now we're talking. Claymores around the perimter and arrange the night into three watches. That should do it!

[Don]

Silent1 said:

Where are you based?
I've got a CO2 .177 air rifle you can borrow.

ETA. ah hampshire, a bit far from east anglia.

Thanks for the thought anyway...

[Don]

Mark Benson said:

Don said:

Poisoning? Up for that. But I can't accept collateral damage to birdlife.

If you do it properly (with proper bait containers) then no collateral damage should ensue. Plus, it eliminates any ratty relatives that may be waiting in the wings.

Well - I think I will get a proper bait-box and fill it, to begin with, with the "block" poison. I'd rather avoid grain-bait as we feed the birds grain. Absolutely no collateral damage is acceptable. I can always move up to grain in the bait box if necessary.

I tried a trap. Rattie ignored it.

I also think I'll try and construct a high level table Rattie cannot climb (big lip) and hang the feeders over that. If I can arrange than nothing falls to the ground with any luck there will be no attraction for the furry little fecker...

[Silent1]

if you can't get a small amount of bait, i've got 50kg or so here so i could post you some
ETA it's proper solid blocks, the same as what the commercial companies use

Edited by Silent1 on Wednesday 4th August 15:33

[Don]

Silent1 said:

if you can't get a small amount of bait, i've got 50kg or so here so i could post you some
ETA it's proper solid blocks, the same as what the commercial companies use

Thanks for that! Very kind.

I've actually managed to buy a small pack from "StopRat!" though - so I hope I'll be good to go...

[Bri957]

I had a similar problem.

Resolution =

1x house brick.

Cover with peanut butter.

Place in middle of lawn.

Cover a 50p sized piece of cling film with a layer of red nail polish.

Take lens off maglite, place red cling film over it. Re-assemble and position in upstairs window (open) pointing at brick.

Wait till dark.

Put torch on.

Shoot rats with the cheapest .22 air rifle you can get.

Don't bother moving the rats once dead, other will continue to eat from the brick regardless of their fallen comrades.

Once done, bin bag and dispose of rats.

[Don]

Bri957 said:

Shoot rats with the cheapest .22 air rifle you can get.

This will be the final escalation if nothing else works.

[Bri957]

I got a cheap Chinese .22 (they are about £30).

Worked very well...and was quite fun.


I had myself set up so that non of the rifle was visible to the outside world, all neighbours would have heard was a few sharp cracks. Nobody noticed, or commented.

[VxDuncan]

I'd keep trying with the traps - I had a few rats burrowing under the fence where the neighbours kept the bins. Trap (big plastic snapper thing from the poundshop!) got set off a few times but didn't catch anything. With peanut butter as bait it took a couple of weeks then started getting one a night for a week or so. Stopped now, and the evidence of ratty movement is gone. Positioning of the trap is quite crucial, needs to be along a fence or similar where they run along - they rarely run across open ground. Need to be patient, but be warning I did catch a little starling in one "friendly fire" incident.

[rovermorris999]

Everthing you need at www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk
I use their bait stations with Tomcat 2 bait blocks. Very effective and pets can't get at the bait nor can the rats carry the bait away.

[Silver940]

Sure the local council will come and lay poison etc for free with rats, killed one with a spade once at my parents, strangely satisfying, they had given them loads off hassle!