I reckon there'll be a car grease of some kind, or something similar, which will stick on and stay there longer too. Probably just need to scout around a bit
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Just wondering - and I have seen this thread a bit late - id the squirrel problem because they are in the gardem or because they steal thr bird food?
The Boys tend do dump bird feen on the table in the morning, it is gone by night, but they also spread it over the garden. What I see is that the magpies eat from the table and the smaller birds root around in the grass more, the squirrels use the table. So if the problem is small birds miss out on food, then accept the squirrels will be there and help the small birds out. Perhaps feed the squirrels somewhere else and spread snaller bird food out and about (the squirrels will get lazy and won't look for the odd sead)/
I also have a fat-seed feeder on a tree away from the table and the squirrels and big birds don't bother with that (or they don't now it is held up with a wire, otherwise the squirrels were ust biting it down and running away with it)
I have been looking at these feeders,however my problem is more with pigeons than squirrels. Can anyone advise whether they are good at keeping pigeons away? I am wary of spending so much money on a feeder ! Many thanks
The feeders with ports that close under a certain weight do work up to a point but the lager birds will get anything spilled on the ground. Keeping Pigeons at bay is a full time task.
Mix chilli powder into your seed to put squirrels off, they find it too hot put them off. The birds actually like it & apparently they don't have the heat receptors mammals do (how do they know this?) In America some chillies are called bird peppers because they actually seek them out!
Anni - get a feeder with a cage. I made one because the starlings were an issue. The bigger birds can't get in, or the squirrels, but they get bits that are chucked out. I do put food on the ground, but I only use good quality food. The cheap stuff is full of wheat, which is what attracts pigeons in particular. Buy no mess mixes, which are far better value. As the name suggests, there's very little waste and what doesn't get eaten doesn't sprout either. Add some sunflower hearts - available separately - which most birds enjoy.
There's another thread somewhere as this has been getting discussed a lot recently
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Ok thanks - need to go to B&Q and it's nasty here too brrrr!
I reckon there'll be a car grease of some kind, or something similar, which will stick on and stay there longer too. Probably just need to scout around a bit
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I used axle grease, very thick the squirrel certainly didn't approve, rubbed itself on the lawn to try and remove from it front, he ain't been back.
Just wondering - and I have seen this thread a bit late - id the squirrel problem because they are in the gardem or because they steal thr bird food?
The Boys tend do dump bird feen on the table in the morning, it is gone by night, but they also spread it over the garden. What I see is that the magpies eat from the table and the smaller birds root around in the grass more, the squirrels use the table. So if the problem is small birds miss out on food, then accept the squirrels will be there and help the small birds out. Perhaps feed the squirrels somewhere else and spread snaller bird food out and about (the squirrels will get lazy and won't look for the odd sead)/
I also have a fat-seed feeder on a tree away from the table and the squirrels and big birds don't bother with that (or they don't now it is held up with a wire, otherwise the squirrels were ust biting it down and running away with it)
I have been looking at these feeders,however my problem is more with pigeons than squirrels. Can anyone advise whether they are good at keeping pigeons away? I am wary of spending so much money on a feeder ! Many thanks
The feeders with ports that close under a certain weight do work up to a point but the lager birds will get anything spilled on the ground. Keeping Pigeons at bay is a full time task.
Mix chilli powder into your seed to put squirrels off, they find it too hot put them off. The birds actually like it & apparently they don't have the heat receptors mammals do (how do they know this?) In America some chillies are called bird peppers because they actually seek them out!
Anni - get a feeder with a cage. I made one because the starlings were an issue. The bigger birds can't get in, or the squirrels, but they get bits that are chucked out. I do put food on the ground, but I only use good quality food. The cheap stuff is full of wheat, which is what attracts pigeons in particular. Buy no mess mixes, which are far better value. As the name suggests, there's very little waste and what doesn't get eaten doesn't sprout either. Add some sunflower hearts - available separately - which most birds enjoy.
There's another thread somewhere as this has been getting discussed a lot recently
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks Fairygirl, I'll have a look on my next trip to the garden centre !
I guessed there may be more than one thread, but this was the one that came up on my search thingy.
I'll see if I can find the other one
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks, that would be appreciated