Hot Bird Seed

[XUSNORDIE]

No not stolen.....but seasoned with capsicum.

When I started having bear issues with feeders I tried the only hot seed I could find. Unfortunately the bears loved it. Licked all the feeder parts clean after destroying them. Only tried that once. I didn't have a squirrel/coon problem until I moved the feeders to my top deck railing. When in the yard the feeders were on top of 4x4's inside plastic pipe...they couldn't climb it. But the bears simply just tore them out of the ground.

Anyways. Bears are asleep now. Don't have to worry about them for another couple months. So the feeders stay out on the deck railing at night. But the squirrels are gluttons...and have figured out how to defeat the squirrel proof feeder. It hold 12 pound of seed and they can empty it in two days.

So this past weekend I bought "new and improved" hot bird seed lol. I filled the feeder and the squirrels jumped down real fast after getting a whiff. BUT....the birds are not as thrilled. I have documented a ton of different birds and really enjoy identifying new ones as they show up. It's been several days. Only takers are House Finches, Gold Finches, Titmouse and Carolina Wrens. A White Breasted Nuthatch now and then. Oddly enough the winter visiting Juncos are going to the feeder which is rare for them as they are primarily ground feeders. There a ton of other bird species now refusing to come to the feeder. Bummer. I hope to figure something out before the incoming Spring migration...I'm sure the Grosbeaks will not approve either.

Since the Juncos love it this afternoon I threw out several large handfuls of it on top of the very deep frozen snow.....to the absolute joy of the Juncos.....must have been 50 of them chowing down on that hot stuff.....I fully expect to see them showing up wearing little Sombrero's and a case of Corona...

I guess this stuff really is new improved and hotter....those handfuls left a orange dust on the snow and on my hands and began stinging some small cuts I had. I have been to enough crab feasts in my life to now....wash your hands before you hit the head to whizz.

 

[Dan in MI]

I’ve noticed our Juncos have been on the feeder much more this year than ever before.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

This is the first I've seen it as well. They normally bounce around on the ground under the feeders. Pretty cool watching them come in like a swarm and land on the snow. They sure love that stuff. Crazy how birds don't feel the heat.

Juncos have been my favorite way to determine the first snow.....just like Robins showing up and bringing warmer weather.

 

[RoninPA]

I put out two different kinds of feed. One for the little birdies and Morning Doves and one for the squirrels and blue jays (a mix of corn, shelled peanuts, whole peanuts and sunflower seeds). But then the deer come in and lick up any left overs they can find It's fun to watch them especially when there are 20 to 30 all trying to feed at the same time.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

My main feeder had a mix I blended from a few different bags. There was something for every size/type of beak. I also had a platform underneath that I put larger stuff like whole peanuts, corn, raisins, meal worms, suet balls, jelly bowls.....a complete smorgasbord. Deer couldn't reach even standing. Only issue was bears.

The squirrels can be fun to watch figure things out....but when they do you are cooked and they are well fed. I had a four cake suet feeder they hadn't touched. It was a bit bent from a bear and cages couldn't shut/lock properly. No issues hanging from deck off a pivot rod/hook. Until a Piliated Woodpecker jack hammered it from the side and a cake popped out onto the ground....squirrels made a quick snack out of that and then started figuring out how to get the rest. They can open the cages now....

 

[contender]

Keep feeding the wildlife! That ensures people like me have a job,, and I can buy more Rugers!

Bird feeders on a house,, attract ALL the wildlife to the feeder. Either for the free food, or the other critters wanting to catch the seed eaters. Then the seed eaters figure out that your house is a "Nice warm, safe place" to build a nest & raise babies.
From the lowly mouse that eats the stuff off the ground to the bears, and every critter in-between.

I teach my customers who want to enjoy feeders to put them well away from the house,, near trees & such. let the critters use the trees & woods as a nesting place.
To keep bears out,,, you have to look at your set-up and figure out how to suspend it high enough to where the bears can't reach it, AND at the same time allow you refill it. Trick; Use a high quality braided fishing line,, and a dual pulley system to suspend it at least 12-15 ft off the ground. A pulley directly above it, (at least 10-15 ft above the feeder,) and then one 90 degrees from that pulley about 20-30 ft away. That line can then come down a steel pole with a cleat for the line. Even squirrels have a hard time trying to hang on that line. BUT,,,,,, if the squirrels learn to chew the line,, switch to a thin, braided steel cable instead of fishing line. Remember,, the cable/line only needs to support the weight of the feeder.

 

[jimbo1096]

Ty, I had bird feeders strung up in my trees in the backyard running off a pully system to keep them away from the squirrels and other thieves. All my squirrel-proof feeders turned out to be very un-squirrel proof so I thought by hanging it off the tree it would be safe. It took about three months for the squirrels finally realized the way the feeders were suspended and just chewed through the paracord.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Ha! Contender we have had this talk before but it's not that drastic where I need to rig a contraption like that to enjoy the birds. I have plenty of tree line it surrounds my house. Nothing has invaded my house to raise babies....but a bear did get in one night because I was dumb and when I took the feeders in and placed on the kitchen table one nice Spring night I forgot to close the sliding glass door...and a bear welcomed himself/herself into the kitchen...MY fault not the bear. My shed is taken over by mice.....ATV air boxes, tractor top end, tool boxes, etc....never a mouse close to the house or anywhere else. No critter invasion inside or to the house (I lied...Piliated Woodpeckers killed my siding going after wood bee larvae, mail box post also).

Several years ago I was wearing a FoxPro shirt to a friends house. All our kids were there as he had a nice pool and "tiki" bar area. One of the fathers was there and saw my shirt and became offensive. Wanted to know where I worked/what company...We didn't really know him. He was there with his son because it was his visitation weekend. Lived in another county. He thought I was some sort of Pest Control guy and had a company....like I was competition. He started spouting off WPO this, PWPC that....all these certifications for wildlife pest control/removal.........he had no idea what Foxpro was. He gave some wild recommendations for bear proofing....our yards would look like a huge marinate puppet stage. He told us..."thats what the campers do in Montana".....I wouldn't hire that guy to take a snail off my porch.

 

[Jeepnik]

I've never been a fan of feeding wildlife. I'm not opposed to planting endemic species that attract native species, but deliberately putting out food only makes the wildlife dependent on that source. It interferes with the whole survival of the fittest thing that keeps a species strong.

I have a number of animals that forage on my property. But they aren't fed. They are eating the things that nature intended for them to eat.

 

[Mobuck]

Using an insulated feeder hanger and an electric fencer might work. Birds won't get shocked but anything 'grounded' gets zapped.
PS: including you if you forget to turn the fencer off before refilling.

 

[Jagdhund]

No not stolen.....but seasoned with capsicum.

When I started having bear issues with feeders I tried the only hot seed I could find. Unfortunately the bears loved it. Licked all the feeder parts clean after destroying them. Only tried that once. I didn't have a squirrel/coon problem until I moved the feeders to my top deck railing. When in the yard the feeders were on top of 4x4's inside plastic pipe...they couldn't climb it. But the bears simply just tore them out of the ground.

Anyways. Bears are asleep now. Don't have to worry about them for another couple months. So the feeders stay out on the deck railing at night. But the squirrels are gluttons...and have figured out how to defeat the squirrel proof feeder. It hold 12 pound of seed and they can empty it in two days.

So this past weekend I bought "new and improved" hot bird seed lol. I filled the feeder and the squirrels jumped down real fast after getting a whiff. BUT....the birds are not as thrilled. I have documented a ton of different birds and really enjoy identifying new ones as they show up. It's been several days. Only takers are House Finches, Gold Finches, Titmouse and Carolina Wrens. A White Breasted Nuthatch now and then. Oddly enough the winter visiting Juncos are going to the feeder which is rare for them as they are primarily ground feeders. There a ton of other bird species now refusing to come to the feeder. Bummer. I hope to figure something out before the incoming Spring migration...I'm sure the Grosbeaks will not approve either.

Since the Juncos love it this afternoon I threw out several large handfuls of it on top of the very deep frozen snow.....to the absolute joy of the Juncos.....must have been 50 of them chowing down on that hot stuff.....I fully expect to see them showing up wearing little Sombrero's and a case of Corona...

I guess this stuff really is new improved and hotter....those handfuls left a orange dust on the snow and on my hands and began stinging some small cuts I had. I have been to enough crab feasts in my life to now....wash your hands before you hit the head to whizz.

I bought some of the "hot" treated bird seed. It deterred the squirrels until the first rain, then they enjoyed it.

 

[contender]

jimbo,, switch the paracord to braided cable. A thin type. They can't easily chew it,, OR climb down it. Again,, the dual pulley system,, one to go up to the suspension pole/tree/whatever, and one 90 degrees away or so,, to your house etc. If to a separate tree or pole,, use a 3rd pulley from that pole or tree down to where you can raise & lower the feeder to fill it.

"No critter invasion inside or to the house"

YET!!!!!! I get calls weekly that go something like; "I've been feeding the birds for years & never had a problem before!"
You mentioned FoxPro. At the recent SHOT show,, I saw a former long time employee of theirs,, who made a lot of Videos & was on TC a lot,, (Abner) and we caught up with each other a bit. He used to donate to my FoNRA event.
But that guy who you ran into,, sounds like a newbie to REAL critter work. Just enough knowledge to be dangerous!

 

[coach]

We enjoy watching the birds too. The robins don’t take the seed but they sure like the fresh water from the heated birdbath. 17 degrees and blowing so water is in short supply right now.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I saw a former long time employee of theirs,, who made a lot of Videos & was on TC a lot,, (Abner)

Abner is a great guy! So is Mike Dillon. I talked with them at their office in Lewistown years back about our predator tournament. Gave good tips and sponsored some products.

But the ultimate for me for sharing a "happy dance" with Big Al Morris!...back when I could dance lol

 

[gnappi]

I keep a birdbath in my yard for the dry winter months which my dog loves. She will lie down watching birds drink and bathe then when her moment is right she will spring on them to chase them away. It seems to be a good fun diversion for her.

Two of my neighbors have bird feeders and the weeds from dropped seeds that are sprouting are unintended consequences of their kindness. I'm hoping these sprouts are not perennial because keeping weeds from my my grass free yard will become a pain.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Two of my neighbors have bird feeders and the weeds from dropped seeds that are sprouting are unintended consequences of their kindness. I'm hoping these sprouts are not perennial because keeping weeds from my my grass free yard will become a pain.

There are "no waste" options to prevent that. But where I am the ground feeders like dove, carolina wrens and various sparrows eat what's dropped...not to mention the squirrels and chipmunks. Nothing has a chance to grow...

...and no I have never had rodents in my house....