If you have installed a bird feeder, then your first query is do they attract mice? – Yes, bird feeders attract rodents.
You must prevent mice and rats from reaching out to the bird feeders as they carry multiple diseases that can affect the birds. Also, if they start eating the feed, then there would be little or nothing left for the birds to feed on. Moreover, some birds are timid in nature, and spotting a rodent around the feeder can be enough to scare them away.
However, it is quite common that rodents would definitely come in search of food. So, let’s get to know the quick strategies that you can apply to feed the birds without attracting mice.
9 Ways to Keep Away Rodents from Bird Feeders
If correct strategies are followed then a bird feeder won’t attract rodents or other animals. So, here are 9 measures that you must apply to keep the feeder safe for the birds.
1. Plan the Location of the Bird Feeder
Decide the location of the bird feeder and keep it right outside the window away from the house. This discourages the mice from looking for more food. Also, if the property is small, then seal all the entry points for the rodents, so that they do not reach the bird feeder.
2. Hang the Bird Feeder
Try to hang the feeder from a branch, which is not near the garage roof or any other tree branch. To keep the feeder off the ground, you can also use metal poles so that rodents cannot use their claws to climb up. You can also attach baffles which would prevent the rodent from reaching out to the feeder station.
3. Use a Feed Collecting Tray
You must get a bird feeder that has a tray attached to catch seeds if they get spilled. It also acts as a landing platform for the birds. This model of bird feeders also comes with no-waste blends that help to eliminate the filler seeds that are thrown away by the birds. Thus, when there is no food spillage or waste, rodents won’t get attracted to the feeder.
4. Declutter the Area
If you find that some seeds have fallen on the ground, then try to clean them and keep the area tidy. Remove any kind of fillers or trash placed on the solid ground, as not to attract the mice. You must also trim the grass so that mice cannot hide among the blades.
5. Monitor the Feed Storage
Store the bird feed in a canister and seal them to keep it air-tight. It should be inaccessible to the rodents. Also, make sure the canister should not be chewed open by the rodents using their sharp teeth, so use metal or glass containers for feed storage. Try to feed only the birds and not the mice. So, store bird seeds in waterproof containers.
6. Scare them Off
Try to scare the rodents by using items like fake owls or snakes, but you need to place them in such a way that the birds do not feel threatened and stop coming to the feeder.
7. Choose the Feeder Mix
Never use bird feeders that have a mix of seeds and other kinds of treats as these easily attract the mice and rats. Alternatively, you can put some spicy food near the bird feeder, so that the rodents don’t come close to the bird feeder. Use mouse repellent that won’t harm birds, such as garlic powder and citrus peel.
8. Set up a Trap
You can also use a special kind of trap, to catch the rats and relocate them. These would definitely prevent them from coming back to the bird feeder. However, never use glue traps, as they are a cruel way of eliminating mice which is never recommended. It can become dangerous if any pet or children come into contact with these glue traps. Also, never poison the rodents or use cats as a natural predator to catch them.
9. Use Rodent-Proof Feeder
Make the house rodent-proof by installing a rat-proof feeder that won’t harm the birds. You can use rodent repellents, such as coating the feeder pole with capsaicin gel. Even spraying cayenne pepper into bird food can make it undesirable for the mouse to feed on, without harming the birds. You can also use natural sprays, made of mint, garlic, and mustard oil around the entry points of the rolents. Ditch the use of bird foods, such as corn and millet which pose more risk of attracting rodents.
What are Natural Rodent Repellents that You Can Use Near Bird Feeders?
You can use mothballs, ammonia, peppermint oil, cloves, cayenne peppers, etc, as natural mouse repellants. These have strong scents to drive away mice but should be used in monitored dosage so that it does not become deadly for rodents as well as birds.
