feeding the birds

[redsails]

my son lives in supported living accommodation, one of 10 ground floor flats. During his 20 years there he has always fed the birds that come into the garden and one of his neighbours enjoys helping top up the bird feeders as my son is unable to do this himself. His care provider has informed us that he can no longer feed the birds as it attracts rats. Several people who live in the houses just over the dividing fence also feed the birds which my son loves to watch and is one of his few pleasures. I feel the care provider is being a bit mean in insisting he gets rid of the feeders but would like to know what others think.

[Chocolate-heals-all]

I’d say it’s probably a good idea to get a pest control specialist to recommend a bird-feeding regime which directs the food towards and doesn’t attract rats. Some feeders have special devices to ensure only small birds can reach the food. Manufacturers also recommend taking care over siting and over cleaning up around the feeder, and they recommend cleaning the feeder itself at regular intervals.

You might be able to leave a video-camera pointing at the bird-feeder and the area nearby, to gather evidence as to whether rats are in fact gathering the bird food. In our area, the main source of food for rats is wheelie bins sitting next to bushes: the rats chew holes in the wheelie-bins and harvest the food people chuck out. Then there are the railway lines, where the rats can build nests behind the chain link fences, protected from foxes, and come out and scavenge. If that’s the case where your son lives, a few bird feeders won’t make a huge difference.

If your son can present a well-reasoned argument that he can have a bird-feeder without attracting rats, he has a better chance of getting what he wants, and this research and preparation will enable you to support him with an appeal if you want to dig your heels in. You could well argue that it’s part of his mental health support needs, being able to watch birds and to manage a bird-feeder. So the landlord/ care-provider can’t just forbid it if you can demonstrate that it isn’t attracting rats. But they have to abide by their H&S requirements too.

[redsails in reply to Chocolate-heals-all]

Thanks for your reply. My son has squirrel proof feeders and no one has seen the rats climb the pole they hang from but even I have seen one along with a couple of squirrels foraging round the base where the seeds fall. There are open fields on two sides of my son’s building and pest control have been out once in 20 years and also to the retirement complex next door but only caught 1 mouse in the metal traps they put down around both buildings. I’m aware that there are health and safety regulations and if there is a legitimate reason for the care providers decision then I’ll consider my options. Thanks to everyone who replied to my enquiry.