Tessa the Duchess Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I am trying very hard to have food for the birds in the garden available at all times. The problem is we have this extremely greedy squirrel who eats anything I put out, I don't begrudge him/her but my concern is for the birds. Does anybody know of any food that birds will eat but squirrels will not? Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 My chooks have been sharing their mash porridge. Much cheaper than bird food. The birds love that ... I make them their own bowl and hang peanuts up which the squirrels prefer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I've got a bird feeder station up outside my office window and I've noticed the squirrel doesn't seem to go for the home made fat ball type of food - he has shown some interest in the commercial fat ball feeder but not as much as in the peanut and bird seed feeders. The home made fat ball feeder was an activity I did with cub scouts where we mixed lard, bird seed raisins and grated cheese together and stuffed into yogurt pots hung upside down as a squirrel deterrent although the two pots we have at the moment are within reach of a tray he stands on and I meant to move them but the squirrel has shown no interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I'm using a bird feeder station that has a slippy pole that sticks in the ground and nothing around it that a squirrel could use as a launch pad - perhaps that would work? - or one of the feeders that is encased in a cage that squirrels don't fit through? We have one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gardman-Deluxe-wild-feeding-station/dp/B000QVPB8E/ref=pd_sim_kh_4 but I was thinking about these.... http://www.britishbirdfood.co.uk/shop/bird-feeders/squirrel-proof-feeders/extra-large-nut-seed-2-in-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I feed my squirrel peanuts in shells in his very own squirrel feeder :D That solved the problem of him eating the bird food and now he doesn't touch the bird's food even though he can get to it :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 No squirrel problems in my garden, I just shoot them. A brace of squirrels makes a very tasty curry, and the dogs love the innards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share Posted February 10, 2009 No squirrel problems in my garden, I just shoot them.A brace of squirrels makes a very tasty curry, and the dogs love the innards. Not an option for me, anyway I would probably be such a lousy shot I would end up shooting one of the birds I very much like that caged feeder Lesley, but it is mega expensive. I do have a squirrel proof feeder but it is almost impossible to refill so I don't use it anymore. I have noticed that the squirrels aren't interested in the fat balls, but neither are the birds Peanutes are everybody's favourite. The homemade fat balls made with lard sound like a good idea and making a mash out of chicken pellets, I will have a little experiment with different foods and see how it goes. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 The homemade fat balls made with lard sound like a good idea As you can probably imagine cub scouts loved making them parents may not have been so happy at us sending sticky boys home Robins especially like eating them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Spray peanuts with a bit of water and sprinkle curry powder on them. Birds still eat them but squirrels dont! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Chook Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Hi Tessa I have a running battle with the squirrels here. I bought a large tub of Extra Hot Chilli Powder from an Asian food shop in Green Lanes, and if you sprinkle that on the food, the squirrels hate it but the birds are fine with it. Just have to be really careful when sprinkling it I stopped using it eventually, as I did splash out on a caged bird feeder which although madly, MADLY expensive has worked perfectly, and the squirrels have completely given up. Bliss. If you like, you can have my tub of powder as I no longer use it. Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I have a couple of the caged feeders and they work well at keeping squirrels out of bird food. My local Pets at Home has a peanut feeder for £20, it comes with its own bracket, the cheapest I had seen before that was £25. Still expensive but it does seem quite well made. They occasionally turn up on Ebay too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Luckily we dont have any probs with squirrels and we have about 10 different feeders on the go with fat squares x 3 and peanuts, sunflower seeds and niger seeds all out all the time at the moment and a water bath which OH keeps bringing in overnight to defrost so the birds can have fresh water in the mornings and a bath. We only have a wee mouse running along the tree branches to get the peanuts!. and of course the girls sitting underneath hoovering up the lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 How helpful you all are Ok chilli powder it is, I am going to buy a new batch of peanuts tomorrow and start the new regime. I will leave one feeder un-chillied as I don't want the squirrel to starve. Thanks for the offer of the chilli powder Caroline, but I already have a huge bag because I use it to deter my cat from pooing in the area of the garden where I grow my veg. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
