QA

Question: How To Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders

How do you keep squirrels out of bird feeders?

If the feeder is hung from a washing line, thread the line through a length of hosepipe or a plastic drinks bottle on each side. Use a downward-opening cone or a biscuit tin fixed to the pole below a bird table to prevent squirrels climbing up it. Vaseline or other grease on a smooth pole will also help.

Is there really such a thing as a squirrel proof bird feeder?

The best overall squirrel-proof bird feeder is the Droll Yankees Yankee Flipper Motorized Squirrel Proof Feeder (view at Amazon). The sleek design, seed capacity, and rechargeable battery-powered motor to send squirrels flying make it a winner for any backyard.

How do I keep squirrels off my shepherds hook?

The best way to keep squirrels and raccoons off feeders is to use a pole or shepherds hook with pole baffles installed or hanging baffles installed above the feeder. We DO NOT recommend adding grease, oil or petroleum jelly to a pole or hanger to make it too slippery for squirrels and raccoons to climb.

What smells keep squirrels away from bird feeders?

Squirrels hate the smell of certain spices, such as garlic, onions, peppermint, cinnamon, lemongrass, and clove. You can use these to make sprays by mixing the ground spice with water, allowing it to cool, and putting the blend into a spray bottle. You can also use essential oils with these scents.

How do I keep squirrels off my bird feeder Slinky?

A Slinky is another quick and inexpensive solution to stopping the squirrel menace. All it requires is attaching the Slinky to the top of the bird feeder pole and letting it hang down to the ground. When squirrels try to jump on the pole or climb it, the Slinky simply dumps them back to the ground.

Will Vaseline keep squirrels off bird feeder?

The Center for Wildlife says there are many ways to deter squirrels from climbing feeders, however, Vaseline and other lubricants can harm the animals. “Please do not coat your bird feeders in Vaseline, oil, butter, or anything like that.

Will cayenne pepper keep squirrels away from bird feeders?

Spicy Seed: Mammals, including squirrels, are sensitive to the perceived heat of pepper, but birds are not. Adding cayenne pepper or similar spices to birdseed can deter squirrels, but it can wash off and must be used consistently for the best effects.

What is a good squirrel repellent?

NATURAL SQUIRREL REPELLENT IDEAS Hot pepper plants. Cayenne pepper on the leaves of plants. Peppermint essential oil on cotton balls in the garden. Garlic and vinegar spray (hard surfaces) Apple cider vinegar spray (hard surfaces) Motion detector lights. Large statues in the garden. High Frequency sound machines.

How do you keep squirrels away naturally?

Strong smells are a great way to repel squirrels – certain odors make squirrels wrinkle their noses. They’re said to dislike the scent of coffee grounds and peppermint, or you could make up your own recipe with vinegar, garlic and onions or peppermint oil to spray in the garden.

How do you make a squirrel baffle?

How To Build The Baffle Step 1: Drill Hole. Clamp the end cap firmly in a vise, or hold it with pliers. Step 2: Fit End Cap. Hook the stovepipe together, and fit it snugly inside the end cap. Step 3: Drill Pilot Holes. Step 4: Attach Screws. Step 5: Slip Baffle Over Pole. Step 6: Attach Hose Clamp. Step 7: Install Baffle.

Can a squirrel climb PVC pipe?

Can squirrels climb PVC pipe? No, they cannot, especially when it’s wide enough. When you cover your bird feeder’s pole with PVC pipe, it creates a slippery surface that ensures that the squirrels can’t climb up because they can’t grip it easily like a tree.

What do squirrels hate the most?

Squirrels have a strong sense of smell, which they use food sources and shelter. You can repel squirrels using scents they hate such as, capsaicin, white vinegar, peppermint oil, coffee grounds, cinnamon, predator urine, garlic, dryer sheets, Irish Spring Soap, and rosemary.

Will Irish Spring soap keep squirrels away?

Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden They chomp on flower bulbs and other leaves, dig up your favorite plants, and otherwise love to wreck your garden. Protect it by grating some Irish Spring soap around your plants. Squirrels can’t stand the smell of it and will stay away.

Do dryer sheets repel squirrels?

Then he tried a tip he got from a farmer: use Bounce dryer sheets. Bracikowski said the dryer sheets works for squirrels and mice as well. In his summer home, he’s going to place sheets by vents and doors to discourage the rodents.

Will aluminum foil deter squirrels?

A layer of aluminum foil is all the squirrel repellent you need on potted plants. For whatever reason, they don’t like the stuff. As a backyard gardener, I had a problem this spring with varmints digging up my potted tomatoes and sweet peppers.

Do squirrel guards work?

But you have to put them in the right place! Not so much the baffle, that’s the easy part, but the feeder placement itself will determine if your baffle’s installed correctly. And that purpose is nothing more than to gain access to your bird feeder. Mar 13, 2016.

Will wd40 keep squirrels away?

“A shot of WD-40 works just as well as Vicks to repel ants and to repel squirrels,” Lucy said.

How much cayenne pepper do you put in bird seed to keep squirrels away?

Most online recipes for pepper in bird seed suggest about 3 tablespoons of cayenne pepper per pound of seed.

Is it OK to put cayenne pepper in bird seed?

Spice It Up! Fair enough. Guess what can? Sprinkle some cayenne pepper or a similar spice onto your birdseed before you put it out. Birds will eat the seed just fine, but squirrels will smell the heat and stay well clear. You’ll have to re-apply the spice frequently, however, or it’ll wash off or blow away.

Can you adding red pepper flakes to bird seed?

Sprinkle ground cayenne or dried red pepper flakes onto birdseed and mix it into the seeds. If the wind is strong enough, however, it can blow the ground pepper away from the feeder.