How to discourage rodents without poison

[Down Under]

You don't use sheared edges, you seam the edge, fold it over on itself, or put a U shaped cover over the front side edges. Impossible to get cut. But yeah the Chinese made Grandpa feeder and its many clones might not have seamed edges although they are thick enough to be deburred at least. We tried deburring. Saved a lot of time overseaming but it was hit and miss as the deburring tool wore so we stuck with seaming edges.

Miner birds can't use it? I guess technically this is a pigeon but still... View attachment 3952477

Yeah even the "high end" treadle feeders here arn't usually seemed, just cut edges. So your right "a clone of a Chinese feeder" with a nice paint job.

That pigeon must be wedged in there tight mate, there is no way there is enough room for its head to move around and my chooks would be pecking its bum (they hate pigeons in their yard ).

 

[Al Gerhart]

Yeah even the "high end" treadle feeders here arn't usually seemed, just cut edges. So your right "a clone of a Chinese feeder" with a nice paint job.

That pigeon must be wedged in there tight mate, there is no way there is enough room for its head to move around and my chooks would be pecking its bum (they hate pigeons in their yard ).

https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/dine-a-chook

Ahhh, actually that was from a review site of the Dine a chook feeder, from a four star review. Look for Lyn, four star review, two clicks down from the top of the page. The lady had it for five years, said it was good quality, but seemed to have knocked off a star because rats could jump in the feeder and use it and the pigeons used the feeder too.

Sounds like a good feeder for roosters with combs if a person doesn't have a rodent or wild bird problem. Probably no worse than a PVC/bucket feeder for hens. But claiming that vermin can't use it is a bit of a stretch, wouldn't you say?

 

[Down Under]

https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/dine-a-chook

Ahhh, actually that was from a review site of the Dine a chook feeder, from a four star review. Look for Lyn, four star review, two clicks down from the top of the page. The lady had it for five years, said it was good quality, but seemed to have knocked off a star because rats could jump in the feeder and use it and the pigeons used the feeder too.

Sounds like a good feeder for roosters with combs if a person doesn't have a rodent or wild bird problem. Probably no worse than a PVC/bucket feeder for hens. But claiming that vermin can't use it is a bit of a stretch, wouldn't you say?

I read it, Lyn doesn't used the cover or the brackets they supply and puts it on a brick in a position that other animals have easy access to it... yeah. And I still cannot see how the other animals are stealing food, unless Lyn overfills it or has shifted the brick for the photo or something, the food sits too low and they have to get their head around the grid.

The boys that I have seen using them take a bit longer to get a feed than the girls do but they manage.

 

[Al Gerhart]

I read it, Lyn doesn't used the cover or the brackets they supply and puts it on a brick in a position that other animals have easy access to it... yeah. And I still cannot see how the other animals are stealing food, unless Lyn overfills it or has shifted the brick for the photo or something, the food sits too low and they have to get their head around the grid.

The boys that I have seen using them take a bit longer to get a feed than the girls do but they manage.

Huh, Lyn's fault I guess.

Are you supposed to keep it covered all the time and take the lid off when the birds eat?

But the height looks the same as some of the ones on the company that makes them. Look at the picture with the two feeders, one as low as Lyn's picture, the one with the blue bucket and boy in a green fenced in area.

Being that rats can jump many feet, how would even six inches make a difference?

You don't think this thing is a bit of a brown eye mullet? Or at least the marketing is?

https://www.bcplastics.com.au/dine-a-chook

 

[Down Under]

Huh, Lyn's fault I guess.

Are you supposed to keep it covered all the time and take the lid off when the birds eat?

But the height looks the same as some of the ones on the company that makes them. Look at the picture with the two feeders, one as low as Lyn's picture, the one with the blue bucket and boy in a green fenced in area.

Being that rats can jump many feet, how would even six inches make a difference?

You don't think this thing is a bit of a brown eye mullet? Or at least the marketing is?

https://www.bcplastics.com.au/dine-a-chook

User error plays a big part, I had someone fill mine while I was away once and when I got back they told me that the feeders make a big mess. I was stumped so I asked what they were doing because you just take the top off and fill it, it turned out that they were adding a scoop of feed to the open port in the front after filling it.

The company also tell people not to use molasses coated feed in it as it will get stuck, but I still see people complaining that their molasses coated feed gets stuck in it.

The rat can jump as much as it wants but it would have to do a forward U turn and know where the grid is located to get the feed.

The cover is for night time or when the chooks are off roaming somewhere else. The only things that are not scared off by the chooks are the nuisance myna birds, unless you have a chook that doesn't mind sharing its food (which I have never seen).

 

[Al Gerhart]

User error plays a big part, I had someone fill mine while I was away once and when I got back they told me that the feeders make a big mess. I was stumped so I asked what they were doing because you just take the top off and fill it, it turned out that they were adding a scoop of feed to the open port in the front after filling it.

The company also tell people not to use molasses coated feed in it as it will get stuck, but I still see people complaining that their molasses coated feed gets stuck in it.

The rat can jump as much as it wants but it would have to do a forward U turn and know where the grid is located to get the feed.

The cover is for night time or when the chooks are off roaming somewhere else. The only things that are not scared off by the chooks are the nuisance myna birds, unless you have a chook that doesn't mind sharing its food (which I have never seen).

Interesting discussion. Thank you for your replies. I am learning so much.

But, we were discussing rats jumping into the feeder as Lyn stated and her picture of a pigeon allegedly chowing down. I don't recall Lyn mentioning feed waste much less dumping a scoop of feed in the front. I don't recall molasses being mentioned either. I guess I should pay more attention, sorry.

So was Lyn lying about the rats?

Do you think she offed a poor pigeon and stuffed it in to stage a picture? Should we report Lyn to animal welfare?

I would find it hard to believe she was doing anything but giving a four star review and pointing out why she didn't give it five stars.

But I did ask about the height off the ground in Lyn's photo and how close it was to the one on that manufacturer's website. If I didn't misunderstand your reply, kind of cloaked in some interesting info about scoops of feed and molasses, but it seemed that you admitted that a rat can jump into the opening but now it has to do a U turn? And it would have trouble finding the grid? But surely a rat can just use its eyes to locate the grid, right?

Now help me understand, the photo below is an official Dine a Chook marketing picture, correct? That looks like a pressure treated 2 x 4 board under the wire grid or something pretty close to it. So the feeder might be what, two to four inches off the ground? Close to what Lyn had done, right? How silly of her to make such a mistake, user error, right?

And did someone take a scoop and dump feed into the front tray like that one customer did you mentioned, in your official marketing picture? Pretty sure I see feed piled up that nearly any small bird or rat could reach easily. No U turn needed, right? And if I can see the small divider, how is it that the rat cannot see the "grid"?

Man, you guys are so lucky down under. Here the wild birds, mice, and rats give us so much trouble, chickens rarely chase them off, heck there are hundreds of threads here on BYC going on about wild birds and rodents causing trouble. Glad it isn't that way down under. Maybe the pests fall down and leave the atmosphere or something. I bet you have to make the export models of your feeders upside down so the feed stays in them when they are used in the U.S..

The more I learn the less I realize I had taken for granted. Thanks for straightening me out.

 

[LaurasNew]

It's been a while but I've learned so much from older posts. Hope this helps somebody out there. We have in and outdoor cats so have started pouring used kitty litter around the outside of the enclosure. It has worked so well! Mice seem more stupid and do come in but no rats! We do have sensor lights and a camera. I'm seeing no more rats. Def worth a try if you have access to fresh kitty litter and a small flock of chickens with a manageable enclosure. I do pick up food every night and bring it into the utility room but nothing has discouraged rats like the kitty litter!

 

[SanK]

I got traps everywhere, it worked some but after after 10 rodents trapped within 7 days, they learned how to by pass it. I don't use poison because it will kill hawks or other in the upper level of the food chain.
BEST THING THAT WE HAVE ARE KING SNAKE (not this color, ) AND RAT SNAKE. They are so happy to "help" me.

 

[LaurasNew]

I got traps everywhere, it worked some but after after 10 rodents trapped within 7 days, they learned how to by pass it. I don't use poison because it will kill hawks or other in the upper level of the food chain.
BEST THING THAT WE HAVE ARE KING SNAKE (not this color, ) AND RAT SNAKE. They are so happy to "help" me.

I wish St Patrick hadn't rid Ireland of snakes sometimes We have zero snakes so have to rely on alternatives!

 

[Down Under]

I wish St Patrick hadn't rid Ireland of snakes sometimes We have zero snakes so have to rely on alternatives!

You can have some of ours but they are not too friendly .