Life Hack: How to stop mice from eating bird food — and the foods to add to repel rodents
There’s a noticeable drop in temperatures lately and with winter approaching many of us will be leaving seed out for wild birds who may struggle to find food themselves in the cold hard ground.
There’s a noticeable drop in temperatures lately and with winter approaching many of us will be leaving seed out for wild birds who may struggle to find food themselves in the cold hard ground.
It can be very enjoyable to watch a variety of feathered creatures visiting your home to find food.
However, this may also attract unwanted rodents to your home as well, with mice and rats often being attracted to the available offerings.
If you want to continue caring for birds but wish to prevent rodents from gathering for the leftovers, there are a few things you can do to deter them.
If you are tossing seeds and other food onto the ground for birds to find and consume, it will be very easy for mice to find too.
Instead, use a dedicated bird table elevated off the ground or hang a bird feeder instead.
If the food is hard to reach, mice will be less likely to access it and also less likely to linger in the area to wait for more sustenance.
Just tipping up yesterday’s leftovers? Bad idea.
Clearing food away and also regularly cleaning the feeders and feeding areas will work to deter rodents from gathering.
A build up of food will attract pests so keeping everything spick and span in the feeding area is definitely worth the effort.
Birds will happily swoop down for a snack during the day, seeing the seeds available easily from afar.
Mice, however, are nocturnal creatures and will mainly search for their food in the dark. By clearing away the food each evening, there is much less to tempt mice into your property.
Clean up any bird trays and remove feeders overnight, returning them the next morning.
By putting the food out early, it will also be eaten up by birds early, so you have plenty of time to bring in whatever crumbs remains before the sun sets.
Just as important as not leaving food out, be considerate of where you store it.
Mice and rats will chew though most materials, even gnawing through concrete, to access food when they can smell it.
Keep your bird feed in a strong container with a secure lid to make it as difficult as possible for rodents to find.
If a mouse stops by and enjoys some dropped seeds, they will be more likely to move in if your bins seem like a good home.
Poorly stored rubbish and badly positioned wheely bins are attractive for pests — make sure the bin lid is closed securely and if the lid is damaged get it mended or replaced as soon as possible.
It is particularly essential that your compost bin has a tight-fitting lid as rodents will be attracted to the scent of rotting food.
Birds are happy to eat a lot of things, but there are some foods they enjoy that mice hate.
Certain seeds are less attractive to rodents: safflower and nyjer seeds are less appealing to mice but will be enjoyed by birds, so those are a better option than sunflower seeds and corn.
Suet pellets are high energy food for birds too but not easily accessible for mice and rats.
Some seasonings can also keep pests away. Sprinkle some cayenne pepper on bird seed to deter mice without turning off birds or place garlic cloves near feeding areas to repel rodents.
Rats also hate capsicum, which is found in chillis, but it is flavourless to birds, so sprinkling chilli flakes in the food can keep the pests away.
Another option is to add a little herb garden to the area where you feed birds. Pests like mice and rats hate certain herbs that you may enjoy having around.
Plant mint (but in a pot as it is invasive) and citronella for an effective deterrent. Lavender is another scented option that is beautiful in a garden but not attractive to pests.
Alternatively, spraying peppermint oil or citronella oil around the food or areas you think may attract rodents will also help to deter them.
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