I only got one hazelnut from my tree this year - in the space of 24h, the squirrels had nicked the lot! I swore I'd pick them early this year, too.. I used to keep 2 cats which helped, but SWMBO has decreed no more cats, so it's no more homegrown nuts for me. At least I can use the hazel for poles and peas twigs though.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
I agree with Bookertoo, no one has told the squirrels in my garden they don't like chilli, or paprika, or white pepper, or black pepper, they just seem to love the hottest stuff I can give them. Bob you were lucky, we did not even get one hazelnut from our tree, and I am convinced that the little blighters send out invitations to their friends to come round for three courses lunches - seeds, bulbs and nuts!
I have tried chilli powder myself. It did seem to prevent the food from being eaten, but I found that I had to use so much chilli that it was simply not economical.
I have finally given up after struggling with magpies, squirrels,cats, rooks, sparrow hawks and wood pigeons for 50 years. I just put out the food and enjoy watching all of them take their chances!
P.S. So far The feeders with an outer cage are O.K. and some small birds do get a feed, fingers crossed.
Sadly the squirrels are getting into the caged feeders as well - there are so many of them, and the poor birds really get hardly a look in. If I thought feeding them (squirrels etc.) elsewhere woud help I'd give it a go, but in fact they just clear their rations and still take the birds food. I shall keep on the good fight, if nothing else it gives one or two of my brain cells a work out from time to time!!
Hi Boo, i don't know if this will work for your bulbs but it worked for my grandad with his peas etc and i noticed some people on this G/W were doing it as well, we rub the peas,bulbs etc in a lightly covered paraffin rag(grandad used to soak them for a minute or so) it doesn't harm the peas as its only on the outer case which is left as the growing process begins,our main prob was mice and squirrels eating everything till i remembered the old paraffin trick which I'm glad to say works nicely hope this might help Alan from sunny Tenby joke its force 5 and soaking
It would probably work well for sowing peas etc., I recall my father ding that. However, what I want to do is feed the birds!! I don't think I can give them paraffin?
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I only got one hazelnut from my tree this year - in the space of 24h, the squirrels had nicked the lot! I swore I'd pick them early this year, too.. I used to keep 2 cats which helped, but SWMBO has decreed no more cats, so it's no more homegrown nuts for me. At least I can use the hazel for poles and peas twigs though.
I agree with Bookertoo, no one has told the squirrels in my garden they don't like chilli, or paprika, or white pepper, or black pepper, they just seem to love the hottest stuff I can give them. Bob you were lucky, we did not even get one hazelnut from our tree, and I am convinced that the little blighters send out invitations to their friends to come round for three courses lunches - seeds, bulbs and nuts!
This is what I had in mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ9Gr7axZcI
That video only lasts for 50 seconds, then a screen of text slowly comes up, that tells you what happened next.
Alternatively, though not as dramatic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5X7Fal1PHs
I have tried chilli powder myself. It did seem to prevent the food from being eaten, but I found that I had to use so much chilli that it was simply not economical.
I have finally given up after struggling with magpies, squirrels,cats, rooks, sparrow hawks and wood pigeons for 50 years. I just put out the food and enjoy watching all of them take their chances!
P.S. So far The feeders with an outer cage are O.K. and some small birds do get a feed, fingers crossed.
Sadly the squirrels are getting into the caged feeders as well - there are so many of them, and the poor birds really get hardly a look in. If I thought feeding them (squirrels etc.) elsewhere woud help I'd give it a go, but in fact they just clear their rations and still take the birds food. I shall keep on the good fight, if nothing else it gives one or two of my brain cells a work out from time to time!!
Hi Boo, i don't know if this will work for your bulbs but it worked for my grandad with his peas etc and i noticed some people on this G/W were doing it as well, we rub the peas,bulbs etc in a lightly covered paraffin rag(grandad used to soak them for a minute or so) it doesn't harm the peas as its only on the outer case which is left as the growing process begins,our main prob was mice and squirrels eating everything till i remembered the old paraffin trick which I'm glad to say works nicely hope this might help Alan from sunny Tenby
joke
its force 5 and soaking
It would probably work well for sowing peas etc., I recall my father ding that. However, what I want to do is feed the birds!! I don't think I can give them paraffin?
the advice was for your bulb theives