Feeding the birds and how to do it safely

Rats, mice and grey squirrels are opportunistic feeders. This means they will feed on just about anything they can get.

Bird seed can easily spill out of feeders onto the ground and vermin only need small amounts of food to survive. If you spill food regularly they’ll keep coming back for more.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) advises that offering too much food for wild birds can also attract scavengers such as:

• pigeons
• crows
• seagulls
• starlings

Be a good neighbour when feeding wild birds, do so with care by following these guidelines:

1. Use a feeder with a tray to prevent seed from spilling on the ground.
2. Rats and mice are active at night so remove any leftover food from outdoor areas, take down hanging feeders at night, and clear waste food on the ground.
3. Only place enough food for one day at a time and feed early in the day, reducing the chance that food will be left at night.
4. Place feeders off the ground and away from:
   • branches
   • fences
   • sheds
   • roofs
   • other objects that rats may use to jump from
5. Rats, mice and grey squirrels are excellent climbers too. If you have a bird feeder on a pole you can try smearing the pole with petroleum jelly to prevent climbing rats.
6. Use higher quality bird food, as birds tend to sift through the food and discard the bits they don’t like and these end up on the ground.

We certainly don’t want to stop people who feed birds responsibly.

However if your bird feeding habits cause a nuisance or public health hazard our Environmental Health Service can ask you to stop feeding the birds.

Nuisance conditions that can lead to a complaint include:

• attraction of vermin
• attracting birds nesting on roofs, in gutters or under solar panels causing damage including water ingress to properties
• accumulation of faeces which can carry disease and cause irritation to those with allergies or lung conditions
• accumulation of faeces damaging property and vehicles

Other concerns are:

• attraction of larger birds including gulls that spread litter while they hunt for food in bins and waste and can become aggressive towards people
• attraction of large flocks of birds which create noise

Feeders

Use feeders with cages around the outside to keep larger birds and creatures out - small birds can slip through the gaps.

Try weight-activated feeders which close off the feeding ports when something heavy sits on them.

Store your bird food securely

Rats and grey squirrels can chew through materials such as:

• plastic
• wood
• rubber
• low-grade cement and concrete

Make it difficult for them by using strong, secure containers such as galvanised metal bins with secure lids to store your bird food.

Food waste

Food like bread acts as a filler preventing birds from looking for the useful food and nutrients they need and potentially causing malnutrition.

Don’t get rid of your leftovers by feeding them to the birds. Please dispose of waste properly – use your food waste caddy instead.

Keep your wild bird feeding areas clean

Dirty feeders can spread disease to both birds and humans so it’s important to keep feeders clean. The risk is small, but you should take precautions.

Wear gloves, use separate utensils and wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning bird baths and feeders.

Don’t let a build up of old food attract vermin and scavengers. Clean your feeders and surrounding areas regularly.

To find out more visit  RSPB: Birds and wildlife.