BUYING BIRD-FEEDERS AND BIRDHOUSES AND DEALING WITH SQUIRRELS
What should you do and what you should not do .
2 Oct 2007
Squirrel repellents do they really work? How can you stop these sometimes pest from getting into your feeders? Grey squirrels and eastern fox squirrels can keep you busy filling your feeders while your feathered friends are without feed. They can also damage or you may end -up with a total loss. Despite efforts by home owners and bird-watchers, squirrels usually can gain access to your bird-feeders, even the experts with all their testing on bird-feeders and squirrel repellents have yet to find the “magic bullet” …
So how or what can we do about these serenity takers? The grey squirrel and the eastern fox squirrel can jump 8 feet sideways and 4 feet straight up from the ground, and can leap 15 feet down and hold on to where it land, “most likely your feeders” This some of the things I was told to try and have not tried them all but one is working just fine.
1. Avoid hanging feeders from trees, instead use a large post or pole and a baffle. Go to Lowe’s Home Improvement Center on 70 highway in Garner NC and get a fence post made of white plastic, its is squirrel proof.
2. Elevate your feeder at least 5 feet off ground.
3. Hang your feeders by chain from the arm of the post with a baffle over it.
4. If you can’t beat them, feed them! Use food to attract them from feeders, corn, soybeans, nuts, or seeds.
5. Mix Fine Crushed Hot Red Pepper in with your bird feed. No it won’t hurt the birds or the squirrels but they will remember not to go to that feeder again. This works for me and most people.
6. Bulb booster with Bobcat Urine.
7. Hot Pepper Wax. 8. Ropel you can find ropel online from gardening catalog websites.
Buying Birdhouses And Bird-Feeders
Things to consider and questions to ask before you purchase a bird-feeder or birdhouse. What is the product made of? Most handcrafted birdhouses and bird-feeders are made from the very best exterior grade woods, like cypress, western red cedar, eastern yellow pine, eastern red cedar, and plywood Baltic-birch or a very good grade from eastern Europe, these are all good for making birdhouses and bird-feeders.
Warning do not buy a birdhouse or bird feeder that’s been constructed with pressure treat lumber! Ask how it was constructed? what kind of paints? what type of glue was used? a good polyurethane or marine glue is a good choose. Is your birdhouse or feeder guaranteed? There are some companies and crafters that do guarantee their products but as a rule you should not ask for guarantee if the product (birdhouse, feeder) is under $90.00.
For expensive birdhouses and bird-feeders don’t be afraid to ask, they just might include with your purchase. Also get your guarantee in writing and full detail on how it works. Ask where to hang it or the best place to put it? When to clean it and how to clean it? What type of food? Loaded with the right info you should be able to beat the squirrels and purchase a great bird-feeder or birdhouse. For more helpful info: http://www.garnernc-online.com