The great thing about this is that small birds are not affected by capsaicin. They might attempt to eat it once, but they will hate the hot taste and thus be deterred. If you mix pepper powder into your birdseed, it should keep squirrels away. This is usually uncomfortable, and most people have a low tolerance for it. Things like Cayenne pepper contain capsaicin which is the main cause of that hot taste sensation in our mouths when we eat spicy peppers and chilli. However, birds do not taste the same way we do, and you can use this to your advantage.Ī great way of squirrel proofing bird feeders is to add cayenne pepper or hot pepper mix to your birdseed. Like humans, squirrels have a great sense of taste, and surprisingly enough, they will not eat certain things. Sadly it doesn't bother chipmonks, they just think it's Mexican. Birds can't taste it but squirrels hate it. Tip 4: Consider Placing Cayenne Pepper Onto the Bird FoodĪdd cayenne pepper to bird food. However, plenty of manufacturers create bird feeders complete with weight-triggered shutters. It can be tricky to make these systems yourself. As a result, when they land on the feeder, they trigger a mechanism that automatically shuts the feeding ports. However, a squirrel’s weight is far greater. The bird can access the feeding ports and eat undisturbed! When a bird lands on the feeder, its weight doesn’t trigger anything. These are simple contraptions that are weight-sensitive. If you don’t want to buy a squirrel proof feeder, you could then invest in weight-triggered shutters for the one you already have. Squirrels have been known to pry these cages open! Tip 3: Use Weight-Triggered Shutters Over the Bird Feeder Hatches You can then secure the cage to a hanging baffle.Įnsure that it is secured properly and where the sheet joins is also secure. It should have enough length to wrap around the feeder fully. Cut a sheet a little longer than the height of your feeder. You can easily create DIY cages using chicken wire or malleable metal mesh. However, the holes are too small for squirrels to fit through. The idea here is that the cage has large enough holes for birds to get through and access the seed. A cage will deter squirrels, and if installed correctly and with the correct size gaps, it should prevent squirrels from stealing your seed completely. Tip 2: Add a Squirrel Proofing Cage around your Bird FeedersĪnother thing you could potentially do is add a metal cage to your bird feeder. When a squirrel tries to jump onto the feeder, it hits the hanging baffle instead and falls harmlessly to the ground. This is usually a cone shape installed at the top of your bird feeder pole, above the feeder. The hanging baffle does the same but stops squirrels from jumping down onto your feeder or bird table. The idea is that it prevents squirrels from climbing up the pole – they essentially reach the underside of the baffle and get stuck. The underneath baffle is positioned on the feeder pole, underneath the actual feeder. ![]() There are two types of baffle – the underneath baffle and the hanging baffle. A shop-bought squirrel proof bird feeder typically comes with a squirrel baffle, but you can easily build your own if you don’t have one. When looking at how to stop squirrels from eating bird food, the first thing you can do is add baffles to your feeders. It may often require several or even all of these tips to stop these furry animals from their quest for gluttony! Tip 1: Add a Squirrel Baffle Underneath and Above Your Bird Feeders However, there is no fun in that! It is far more rewarding and interesting to try and keep squirrels off your feeders using your skill and craft!Īs you can see from the seven steps below, there are many different ways to squirrel-proof a bird feeder. It is possible to buy squirrel-proof bird feeders online or from many shops. We look at this below and provide some valuable tips to help stop squirrels from stealing food from your bird feeders! How to Squirrel-Proof your Bird Feeder: Tips and Tricks They also love food presented to access – easily like a bird feeder! Therefore, it is essential to know how to squirrel-proof a bird feeder if you have one in your garden. ![]() Anyone who has bird feeders will understand the annoyance of squirrels.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |