My wife loves song birds. She likes to read in the second floor patio and watch the birds. I put up three bird feeders behind ou

[Gary Devine]

My wife loves song birds. She likes to read in the second floor patio and watch the birds. I put up three bird feeders behind our house. The damn squirrels have destroyed two of my feeders. I went to two different pet store chains and bought feed that stated on bag “Birds Love It and Squirrels Don’t”. That was total hogwash because the squirrels still ate it. I can not shoot the squirrels because there are houses all around me. Does anybody know of a bird feed that squirrels hate and the song birds love?

[jhjimbo]

I do not think there is some seed the squirrels will not eat.
I saw a program on Discovery trying to keep squirrels out of feeders - they could not do it. They thought they had a plan by stretching the feeder between two trees with round balls like you see at swim pools covering the rope. The squirrel would hit the ball and flip right off. So, after about three tries one squirrel figured it out - he backed up and hit the string running as fast he could, cleared each ball and got to the feeder before they could throw him off. At camp the deer hit the feeders and knock them to the ground. Can't win. If you find something, let us know.

[Gary Devine]

Hey Guys, sorry to get off point from the above question but just a heads up.
"Senator Feinstein insults all U.S. Veterans. I just posted the story on the Message Page of Backlash/Blowback.

[allegnmtn]

I've had luck keeping squirrels and chipmunks out of planter boxes by sprinkling cayenne pepper on top of the dirt. They were burying sunflower seeds in the planters from the bird feeder. I've read that mixing cayenne in birdseed seed keeps squirrels away. Birds can't taste the capsaisin that makes peppers hot. I've also mixed it in a sprayed it with Murphy's Oil Soap and sprayed it on sweet corn to keep squirrels and raccoons away. It works ok. Not as well as in the planters. I'm saving a jar of habanero sauce to try this year. I'll probably end up killing my corn with that stuff.

[allegnmtn]

I've had luck keeping squirrels and chipmunks out of planter boxes by sprinkling cayenne pepper on top of the dirt. They were burying sunflower seeds in the planters from the bird feeder. I've read that mixing cayenne in birdseed seed keeps squirrels away. Birds can't taste the capsaisin that makes peppers hot. I've also mixed it in a sprayed it with Murphy's Oil Soap and sprayed it on sweet corn to keep squirrels and raccoons away. It works ok. Not as well as in the planters. I'm saving a jar of habanero sauce to try this year. I'll probably end up killing my corn with that stuff.

[ozarkghost]

You can tie a metal cone, like the ones vets use to keep dogs/cats from scratching their ears, above the feeders or on the posts below them. Squirrels can't get a grip on the metal and fall off. Don't underestimate the squirrels though, they are very smart at solving puzzles when it comes to a free meal. You might try putting out food for them as well, to keep them away from the bird feed.

[Gary Devine]

Ozark, I been feeding the squirrels on the ground with corn to keep them off the feeders. When the corn runs out, they go back up to the feeders. I like your plastic guard idea.
I was thinking of catching them in a Have-A-Heart trap then drive them five miles away and let them out, but that’s against the law.

[thehunter98.6]

I have a bird feeder in my backyard and the squirrels kept eating all the seed and destroying the feeders. I switched to safflower seed and the squirrels wont touch it! Try safflower.

[canvasbackhunter]

You might try a live trap and find a way to dispatch them quietly and safely.

[Ncarl]

I would suggest a gamo air rifle

[mike0714]

try a have a heart trap with peanut butter and corn as bait, a pellet gun, or if the squirrels are climbing up the pole then put vaseline on it.

[ozarkghost]

Gary use the metal ones if you can find them. Squirrels will chew thru the plastic but they can't chew the metal. A farmers co-op or hardware stores are good sources for them.

[Hoski]

I've got 3 feeders hanging from Shepard's hooks. I fastened medium sized stainless mixing bowls a couple feet above the ground. I also liberally apply axle grease under the bowls. Look for bowls without a lip that the squirrels can get ahold of, or grind off the lip as I had to do.
They'll still try, but it's fun watching them fail.

[Kiko Guam]

I have a Brome 1024 Squirrel Buster feeder that has withstood attempts by squirrels for two years. The squirrels have chewed at the aluminum cap but have not gotten to the bird seed.

[708jonah]

My dad cuts the bottoms out of pop bottles and puts them top up under his feeders. Sounds like your squirrels might be a little more committed to your seed than his are... the squirrels in his yard haven't tried to chew at the bottles yet...