Bird feeder question about spilling and rat/mice??

Question

I have lots of birds in the yard and want to feed them but when I put out a feeder, it spills and I get mice/rats that come around. (I live on a hill and so we have little field mice) but also sometimes a rat will come (gross). Does anyone know of a feeder that will not spill over? Something sturdy? Thanks!

Answer 1

Our feeder attracted rats as well. We only feed the birds black oil sunflower seeds. Little did I know, it's the sunflower seed shells that were attracting the rats and not the seed itself. Our local newspaper did an article on bird feeders and that's how I found out it was the empty shells. The first sign of a rat, the rat traps go out during the night. The rats moved in underneath the garden shed in the yard. I wasn't about to wait around for them to find their way into the house. We would just put the traps up around the shed. If you see one then you can be sure that there are more that you don't see. We killed about 4 or 5. I currently use a wooden feeder that I purchased from Wal-Mart for $4.98. The birds will still dump the empty shells after they crack it to get to the inside. The most important thing is to clean up the empty shells under the feeder every few days or once a week. The first sign of rodents, put out the trap. Be sure to bring the traps in early so you don't trap your birds. Another thing that you may want to try is suet. Suet is beef fat that is often filled with seeds, cracked corn, and peices of fruit. The suet can be bought where ever you are buying your other bird food or any department store. It hangs in a cage feeder close to the trunk of the tree and is only a couple of dollars. The feeder can be found next to the suet in the store. Suet will attract woodpeckers and a lot of your regular birds will eat it too. I use suet along with sunflower seed. The best thing about the suet feeders is that there is virtually no mess on the ground at all. I hope this helps and I'm sorry it's so long. And my spell check is not working. Good Luck!!! :)

Answer 2

Many birds are ground feeders anyway. so you want some on the ground, just scattered, not a pile. I'd live with the mice, but if you have a rat problem,they won't go away by taking away the bird seed. You gotta kill em. Gotta a .22?

Answer 3

Because birds sort through the feed, they will spill it no matter what kind you get. Normally, the bigger birds that cant land on the perch will eat what's on the ground.

The only solution I can think of is to make sure the feeder is sturdy (on a pole) instead of swinging on a tree branch. The wind is brutal sometimes and causes spillage.

Answer 4

have bird feeders too, and live in the country.....way I look at it, your just helping the food chain.....If your mice are a problem, get an outdoor cat, but then it'll chase after the birds.....only solution I see is no bird feeders....have never seen one that contains the seeds they spill and I have 6 different kinds, plus thistle seed bags, spillage I believe is unavoidable......

Answer 5

I am sure you will find less spillage if you change your feed to Black Oil sunflowers and Niger seed. The usual "Wild Bird mix" contains a LOT of seed that the birds really do not like so they tend to toss / scratch it aside and pick thru till they find what they like.
It is still very important that you rake up any spill every week to prevent molds growing if the seed gets wet.

Answer 6

tremendous analogy. Now allow me ask you this question. once you've been taking section in watching the birds (in reaction to what your analogy stated) you've been ok. also why did not you end feeding the birds before the region grew uncontrolled? replaced into it because perhaps you nevertheless loved watching those birds or concept the region does no longer get that undesirable?truly what i'm attempting to say is that at the same time as human beings loved the artwork unlawful immigrants did for little pay it replaced into ok.at the same time as they talked about that further and further were entering this united states they nevertheless stated it replaced into ok. yet you assume all of it to be fixed so easily? Comeon now be life like.