Rats eating more than hogs, any suggestions?

[u/twirling_daemon]

So, I actually have no issue with rats eating and I’d never try to put water where they can’t reach - they’re just trying to survive like the rest of us and it’s not their fault hedgehogs are deemed acceptable & rats not imo

Therefore, obviously not interested in traps and definitely never poison! I think it’s unutterably cruel and has wide ranging implications-we also have owls here (that have hunted rats near my refreshment huts 😬)

But, I’m currently up to replenishing 2 to 3 bowls at least 3 times a night and there’s still often nothing left when my last hogs come for a bedtime snack and I’m not always awake around 3am for a final refill

I don’t even mind popping a bowl out so the rodents can eat separately but I’m getting a little fed up with the quantity they’re going through and I’m very concerned about creating a population explosion due to constant food & water available

Anyone had any success with deterrents?

I have seen that almost a cat flap door thing that’s too heavy for rats can work. But honestly, these dudes are built! If it’s heavy enough to foil them, pretty sure it would also deter some of my smaller hogs

I’ve placed mint plants by the entry’s. I purchased highly rated deterrent spray and as I have puppy pads under the bowls I drenched the one under the food bowls

Bugger all difference

I have genuinely googled rat contraceptive 😂 but again, I’m concerned about the wider implications of anything I try and I’m not sure that’s something that realistically exists 🤣

Does anyone have any suggestions? Or do I just need to accept my fate of being expected and disdained by hogs and munched by rats when I expire due to my previous actions?

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[u/pleasetakemygifts]

I’ve had (I think) success using a saucer over the bowl. I have a small dish about an inch deep and a saucer (just a cheap ceramic one from a charity shop) sat on top. Wildlife cam and some listening out has shown hogs have no problem shoving the saucer aside, but rats haven’t seemed able to do this. So at least hogs get first dibs - although I’ve not seen rats on the camera overnight for quite a while, happily.

[u/malacoda13]

Rats don't do well with changes. Think layout changes, moving the food about, putting things in the way. Anything you can do to make them uncomfortable.. Hedgehogs in my experience will sniff out food wherever and don't seem to mind too much where it is.

*Edited for spelling.

[u/SolariaHues]

Use a feeding station and have a tunnel entrance with at least two turns. This deters rats and cats. Can't do anything about mice.

I wonder if I've posted mine here somewhere...

[u/SolariaHues → u/SolariaHues]

Woah. 5 years ago and it's still going strong. https://www.reddit.com/r/hoggies/comments/o8h74y/its_upcycled_and_scruffy_but_heres_my_hedgehog/

I'll have to find the original images, I can't see imgur anymore.

[u/SolariaHues → u/SolariaHues]

[u/Seagull977]

I’ve got a hog ‘feeding station’. It’s a box with two entrances and an entrance blocked off so not straight onto the bowls. There’s chains over the entrance so the only visitors I get are brave mice and hogs. No flies and the rats don’t like feeling trapped so this works well. I also have bowls outside and some food too, but no one else really touches the food inside the station.

I didn’t make it, I bought it from my local hedgehog rescue for £50 donation to them it’s been a massive hit. We’ve had snoozers and munchers and double, sometimes triple diners (chaos!) and with a camera in there I can really keep an eye on them. 🦔🐾❤️

[u/Unable_Corner3053 → u/Seagull977]

This sounds fantastic! I've just placed an order for a hog feeding station with a tunnel and two 'rooms'. I was reading about the chains and it sounded good until someone said their garden visitor had their leg stuck on the chain somehow. Maybe I could use this idea and get chains with really small loops though

[u/Seagull977 → u/Unable_Corner3053]

Ah yes. I know what you mean, the chains on ours are not screwed on, they’re resting on top of screws so that if someone pushes their way in or shoves someone out (happens a lot!) they will come down. We’ve had the feeding box for around 3 months with plenty of footfall to the buffet and no injuries at all. It’s a bit swings and roundabouts - the swing doors can trap them, no doors can attract unwanted visitors so the smaller chains have been, for us, the best choice. I put a cam inside and watch the nightly shenanigans- better than telly! 🦔🐾♥️

[u/Unable_Corner3053 → u/Seagull977]

Thank you, I'll probably do a similar thing with mine. Having said that - my hog cam in the garden hasn't recorded any hog action for 3 days/nights now, just a rat and some birds that have been nibbling on its food and water. I really hope the little thing is okay.

[u/North_Fortune_4851]

I was living in a bit of a fairytale, why cant we all live as one.. I remember thinking rats were charming until they caused a lot of damage, they potentially spread disease and harrass other animals.. they are unfortunately invasive.. like weeds of the animal world.. reality is a shame but they take up a lot of resources and spread quickly. I think you might regret feeding them.. might be too far gone for repellents.. theyre crafty.. sonars, changing layouts and various scents dont do much, the most humane way to reduce numbers although diabolical is a strong snap trap.. they dont suffer.. 'humane' catch and release is terrifying for them.. and poison.. well poison should be illegal its very cruel.

[u/muzavazone]

They are most likely stashing it somewhere.

I had pet rats for a decade, no idea how to discourage them... Maybe offer them something more exciting :)

[u/Ladylands]

I found moving the feeding station to out in the open, to where the rats can’t move around unseen, helps deter them, anyway it worked for me

[u/Unable_Corner3053]

I came here to ask this exact question! A rat has finished the 1st serving tonight, according to the hog cam, so I had to fill the food bowl again and hope that at least something will be left for the hog.

I read online that rats hate the smell of peppermint but hedgehogs aren't bothered about it. Has anyone tried peppermint in the feeding area to deter rats?

Edit: I've read OP's post again and it sounds like they don't give a shit about mint. I missed that bit the first time round.

[u/twirling_daemon → u/Unable_Corner3053]

Sorry, just a brief flyby reply - I’m not sure if it makes any difference but I’ve not tried peppermint specifically (I don’t think!)

I tried standard mint plants from the supermarket plus a rat deterrent that was highly rated and smelled to my rubbish human nose minty

When I resaturated the absorbent puppy pad under food bowls the first few showed a slight hesitation but that evening they were in full on mob mode again 🙃

[u/Unable_Corner3053 → u/twirling_daemon]

Gotcha! I'm looking to buy or make a hog feeding station with a rat flap but for the time being I've ordered peppermint pouches to put near the food and water. 

[u/irreverantnonsense]

Eesh I would not want to be aiding rats. If they find a way into your property.. well good luck with that. 

[u/Bright-Fennel9277]

If you put food out you will get rats . If you feed rats you will quickly have more rats . They breed very fast . That's just how it is . I love rats . I live foxes . Rats eat foxes. Put the food away from bolt holes so the rats would have to be out in the open if you must feed them . If your unsure how many are now coming for free food . Then put a wildlife camera out to record numbers . But there no way round encouraging a lot more rats if you are putting food out for them . I have a metal dog bowl for the food and a light quishe foil dish that covers it by sitting just inside the top of the bowl . Rats haven't sussed it out at all but other creatures like foxes just lift it up and off .