Looking for a direction to finally turn back those catchy squirrels from fleece your dame feeders ?
Squirrels are notorious for stealing from boo feeders at will . With their ability to climb , springiness and fly expectant distance , they often foil even the best efforts to keep them away . And once they find a reliable food germ , they do n’t stop coming back !
It can be frustrating for our feathered friend for certain . Especially in the colder month when overwintering birds often use the food in bird feeder to help them live on . Unlike squirrel , who store solid food aside for the barren winter months , Bronx cheer have to scrounge daily for food . And when squirrels rob the feeders they have fall to rely on , it can make life story difficult .
Squirrels are quite the acrobats when making their way to bird feeders.
It can also be frustrative for those who sleep together to fertilise boo . Even more so when you consider the price of continually receive to purchase fowl cum to replenish feeders ! But as amazing and gymnastic as squirrel can be in getting to bird feeders – there are a few tips and tricks that can stop them in their track . And in the process – keep the bird feed for the doll !
With squirrels stopping success in creative thinker – here is a expression at some elementary but efficient solutions that can keep squirrels from stealing the food from your bird feeders for goodness !
How To Protect Your Bird Feeders From Squirrels
Although humans , squirrels , deer and many other animals can try the heat of hot pepper – birds can not . The burning sensory faculty from hot peppers comes from capsaicin , an active factor found within the anatomy and seeds of the yield of a pepper plant .
Although mammal and humans are both highly sensible to the capsaicin , bird are not . That means by simply adding hot capsicum flakes or powder to your bird provender mixture , you may greatly deter squirrels from come back for more .
To doctor your feed , simply disperse it with cayenne pepper or any other hot pepper eccentric or pulverization before place it into your fowl eater . With one taste of the heat , the squirrel are unremarkably more than happy to move on to other generator of solid food .
Hot pepper bird seed can be used all by itself, or added to mixes to help keep squirrels away.
In addition to doctoring your own skirt provender , you may also purchase quick made seed premix with the rut already inside . They are great as a stand alone nutrient source , or when added to your current bird seed to aid protect it . Affiliate Product Link : Cole ’s BH05 Blazing Hot Blend Bird Seed
If you also happen to feed your birds suet , you could mix heat in if you make your own – or buy ready - to - go suet with hot black pepper spicery at heart . Affiliate Product Link : Blue Seal Hot Pepper Suet Cakes
Another highly in effect way to keep squirrels at bay is to use squirrel - proof feeder . It ’s important to note on this subject , nothing can ever be really 100 % squirrel proof – but using these feeder will greatly decrease squirrel issues for trusted .
There are quite a few manikin on the market to select from . For good results , pick out a squirrel test copy feeder that can carry up to the atmospheric condition and out-of-door element . alas , many plastic styles are simply not strong enough to resist up to winter weather or summer storms .
One of the prompt and gentle ways to keep squirrels and other creature from pole - style bird feeders is with a squirrel baffle . Not only are they easy to install , they work wonders in hold on them from climbing chick house place . Even substantially , they are fairly right at protect against raccoons and chipmunks too !
Squirrel baffles are an upside down cone that squirrels have difficulty getting around . The cone extends far enough out of the bottom that it ’s unable to transfix above the perch . Because of that , it simply ca n’t gain access above to the birdfeeder .
Metal squirrel proof bird feeders can give you a hand up on protecting feed for birds.
Most models of squirrel baffle board install right to the post without having to slay it . For maximum effectiveness , locate your birdfeeder at least 5′ off of the ground . This prevents squirrels from leaping up and above to the eater . Product Link : Audubon Squirrel Baffle Wrap
Believe it or not , the miniature you used to send down the stairs and watch it “ slink ” down is also quite effective at stopping squirrels from baffle to bird feeders !
Much like the squirrel baffle , a salutary old - fashioned slinky can foreclose squirrels from climbing up a bird feeder magnetic pole . The spongy metallic element is plainly too annoying and unmanageable for squirrel to navigate.(Product link : Classic Metal Slinky )
To set up , slide the slinky over the bird feeding post and use zip ties to fasten it . Slightly expanding the coils can protect a longer country of the pole . As with the squirrel baffle , check that to place it to overlay at least 5′ up the mail . Any lower , and squirrels can quite well jump above it .
Last but not least , there are some keen preventive measures you’re able to take that in compounding with the tips above can all but wipe out squirrels in your affluent . The first begins with locating your bird feeder in the least advantageous blot for a squirrel to get to the intellectual nourishment .
More than anything else , never locate your bird feeder on a tree or within a short aloofness from a tree diagram . It is like giving a squirrel an instant ladder and a free drive to success .
Both baffles and slinkies can be used under bird feeding poles to keep squirrels from climbing up.
squirrel can easily jump distance of five to six foot . And if your bird feeder is locate close to a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , they can well vaporize right to the feeder . Even worse , that very same tree make the squirrels natural protective covering from predators .
For best results , situate your shuttlecock feeder out in an open arena . Be sure to keep it away from short walls , shrubs and other easy memory access point for squirrel . Most importantly of all , ensure your bird feeder post is longsighted ! Any post under 5′ in height is well-heeled prey for a leaping squirrel . For best results , select posts that are at least 6′ tall .
It ’s also important to keep the primer coat area under feeder as fresh as potential . Large amounts of fallen food will draw in squirrels , raccoon and other pests apace . And when the footing food is extend , the feeder will become their next target
you may also select bird provender admixture that squirrel are not especially adoring . Select mix with white millet or safflower seed or sum up these to your existing feed . Why ? Because squirrels detest both and will not be as attracted to add up feed !
Here is to hold on squirrel from robbing your doll feeders once and for all this class ! Happy Gardening – Jim and Mary .
Jim and Mary Competti have been write horticulture , DIY and recipe articles and book for over 15 twelvemonth from their 46 acre Ohio farm . The two are frequent speakers on all things garden and love to move around in their spare meter .
