Do you have a pet bird? Are you worried about the rat problem in your home? Rats carry many diseases that can be harmful to birds. If they get into your house, they will eat all of your food and destroy your property. Also, they may attack your bird to eat food from the birdcage. In the previous article we discussed how to keep cat away from birdcage. In this article, we will discuss how to keep rats away from birdcages.
Why do rats bother birds?
- The first reason is because of their instinct. They are very curious animal . When they see something new or different, they want to explore it. This curiosity makes them go near places where there are no people. So if they find some food outside, they will come and eat it. If they find any other animal, they will try to play with it.
- Another reason rats bother birds is because of their nature. Birds are not afraid of anything. But when they see a rat, they start screaming loudly. This causes the rat to run away immediately.
- A third reason why rats bother birds is because they like to eat bird eggs. Eggs are one of the most delicious foods for rats. So, when they see an egg, they will take it as fast as possible.
- Finally, another reason is because of their size. Smaller animals such as mice and squirrels are usually scared of bigger animals like dogs and cats. But rats don’t care about these things. They just want to eat whatever they can get.
Some tips on how to keep rats away from birdcage
1. Set up a rat trap
You can set up a mouse trap using a metal box. You need to put some food inside the box. Then place it somewhere near your birdcage. Make sure that the box has holes on both sides so that the rats can enter easily. Once they enter the box, they will fall down and die. You can also set up a glue trap. Glue traps work well for catching rats. Just make sure that you use non-poisonous glue.
2. Use poison
If you don’t want to use a rat trap, then you can also use poison. Sprinkle some poison around your birdcage. Make the area small so that only a few rats can enter at once. We recommend not using poison if you have kids in your home.
3. Seal holes in the room
Another way to keep rats away from birds is by sealing the holes in the room. You can seal the hole under the door or in the wall. You should make sure that the hole is big enough for rats to pass through but too small for humans.
4. Keep the food secure
Make sure that your bird feeders are safe. Don’t leave the food out in open areas. Put it behind a locked gate or cover it with a lid. This will prevent the rats from getting access to the food.
5. Use a rat repellent spray
This is a good idea to keep rats away from the birdcage. Rats do not like the specific scents. So, if you spray some scented oil or spray around the birdcage, the rats will avoid coming close to it.
6. Elevate the birdcage from the ground
Rats cannot climb trees or high walls. So, if you want to keep them away from your birdcage, you should elevate them from the ground. You can buy special cages made for this purpose. Or you can build your own elevated birdcage.
7. Get rid of nesting materials
Rats love to nest. So, if you have any nesting material lying around, rats will definitely come and look for it. To stop this, you should throw away the nesting material or burn it.
8. Clean the cage regularly
If you want to keep rats away from your birdcage completely, then you should clean it every day. Remove all the old droppings and debris. Also, wash the cage thoroughly.
9. Avoid leaving garbage outside
Garbage attracts pests. If you want to keep rats far away from your birdcage, then you should never leave trash outside. It should be taken inside immediately.
10. Use a rat-proof box
The last thing you should do to keep rats away from a birdcage is to use a rat-proof box. These boxes are specially designed for keeping rodents away from the birdcage.
Can rats beat my pet bird?
Yes, they can. In fact, rats are more dangerous than cockroaches. Cockroaches are smaller than rats. And they are also less aggressive. But rats are much stronger than cockroaches. They can bite your finger off and even kill a dog.
Will the disease spread if birds come in contact with rats?
Rats carry many diseases. These include rabies, salmonella, leptospirosis, and hantavirus. All these diseases can cause serious health problems. For example, hantavirus causes fever, vomiting, and diarrheas’. The symptoms last for several days. If left untreated, it can lead to death.
Can rats spread disease to children?
If you have kids at home, then you must take care of their safety. Children are very vulnerable to diseases because they don’t know how to protect themselves. So, if you see rats running around your house, you should remove them as soon as possible.
Can rats cause damage to my house?
If you don’t control your rats properly, they might cause damage to your home. Rats chew everything, including wires and pipes. They also gnaw at wood and drywall. If left unchecked, they may destroy your entire house.
Final verdict:
Rats are one of the most destructive animals on earth. They can eat anything and destroy almost everything. They can also cause damage to your pet bird’s health. In the above tips, we hope you can get some knowledge, and by following these tips, you can keep your pet bird away from rats.
