Healthy and Green Living

My feeders used to be attacked and nearly destroyed by squirrels. Maybe you have this problem too. There seems to be a solution to really help. Instead of using foods that squirrels like, try using Safflower seeds! Squirrels don't really like them. I fill my feeders with Safflower seeds now and the squirrels leave my feeders alone while the birds enjoy them tremendously. It may take a while for your birds to get used to the safflower seeds, but once they do, they'll thrive and your feeders will last alot longer. Hope this works for you like it does for me. . . . Cindy

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I know someone who has put the bird feeder pole through an old fashioned Slinkey toy that should hang loose. The squirrels can't seem to get a footing.

Also, the best way to keeo cats from preying on birds is KEEP THEM INSIDE! I love cats and have one now, but cats are natural predators and CONSTANTLY hunt songbirds when not sleeping, eating or grooming themselves. They are very destructive to local birdlife, particularly slower moving birds such as mourning doves.

Bells aren't effective, and cats learn to move with such stealth that the bell doesn't make a sound.

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part 2/oops! We don't pick all our gooseberries and also leave the apples on one tree for the birds. I've found a way to keep the squirrels from climbing the birdfeeder pole: I grease it with Crisco! The squirrels feast on seed droppings(I just can't afford to fatten them from the feeders).
Hey, any ideas out there on how to keep suburban cats from chasing(and sometimes killing) the birds?

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I love our backyard wildlife: skunks, groundhogs, grey and black squirrels, and birds. We don

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spread peamut butter on pine cones and roll in birdseed, hang in tree. that works well ,

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I keep several feeders in my yard and use a mix of seeds for different visitors. I have never discouraged squirrels or anything else that comes to eat. I have noticed that different critters co-exist at feeders and everyone gets their turn. I put cut fruit out at night for the flying squirrels.
With the loss of pines and oaks in my area squirrels are in need of our generosity along with the featherd visitors. Plus, as they are playful, especially the young ones, they are good entertainment.
Dot.

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Be sure not to use the red hummingbird food. It is not the healthiest. I always use a 1 to 4 ratio of sugar and boiled water. After throughly cleaning the hummingbird feeder every time, I refill my feeders and it vanishes quickly to my voracious hummers. I just love them.

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Try putting your fat trimmings in a recycled mesh netting (like grocery stores use to pkg bulk apples, onions etc); then hang this from a tree branch where not easy for ground animals (like dogs etc) to get to.

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Yes, recipes would be a great help. I make jerky & am looking to do something with the fat trimmimgs.

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If you have problems with squirrels getting into your feeders you can mount a platform feeder up on a post that has a baffel on it. I found that ground feeders will readily come to it, year 'round as long as there is somewhere for them to retreat quickly to that is near by (bush, tree, etc.). The squirrels will have plenty to eat from the seed that falls to the ground, particularly with doves around, they are such messy eaters :)

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