Has anyone ever heard of putting crushed red pepper in bird feed to keep squirrels out?

Yes, cayenne pepper is used.





This is because only mammals, have the taste buds that can taste hot spice's. Birds are unaffected, they have no idea the cayenne pepper is mixed in with the seed.





Mankind and birds are the only animals (insects not withstanding) that purposely eat hot peppers.





The hot peppers do not affect the birds in anyway, except health wise for the vitamins.





1999 Cornell Feeding Study


The efficacy of capsaicin-treated sunflower seed as a repellent to birdseed


consumption by free-ranging Gray squirrels.


Dr. Paul D. Curtis


Ms. Elizabeth Rowland


Dr. Joseph A. Dunn


Cornell Cooperative Extension, Department of Natural Resources


Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853


Abstract


Eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are considered to be a pest by many bird-lovers because they can steal significant quantities of seed from birdfeeders. None of the available methods of protecting birdseed against squirrels is completely effective. We assessed the efficacy of treating birdseed with capsaicin oleoresin as a means of deterring squirrels. Consumption of treated and untreated whole black-oil sunflower seed was compared by carrying out one-choice feeding trials at three sites near Ithaca, New York from 11 May to 24 June 1999. Untreated seed was provided in weeks 1, 2 and 4 and capsaicin-treated seed was offered in weeks 3, 5 and 6.





It was concluded that treating the sunflower hearts with capsaicin while keeping the shell intact does effectively deter squirrels from eating the seed. The use of this seed provides a solution to the problem of squirrels stealing seed from bird feeders, making this a commercially viable product. We also showed that this treatment of seed has no noticeable effect on the frequency of bird visits where bird populations are low, and may increase visit frequency where bird populations are high. This would further enhance the marketability of this seed








http://www.ebirdseed.com/page/EB/CTGY/FA鈥?/a>





http://www.napa.ufl.edu/2001news/peppers鈥?/a>Has anyone ever heard of putting crushed red pepper in bird feed to keep squirrels out?
Doesn't that keep the birds out, too?Has anyone ever heard of putting crushed red pepper in bird feed to keep squirrels out?
The cayenne pepper responce is correct. Also, my African Grey loves hot spicy foods, she also likes crushed red pepper seeds. The seeds are in her daily seed balls.
Joker 1 has a theory that birds don't have taste buds. Well I have first hand knowledge that by sprinkling pieces of bread with Tabasco sauce and tossing them out to sea gulls. They would swallow these morsels and then dive into fresh water puddles to cool their throats. So if you want to drive birds away from your feeders that's the way to do it. The best way to keep squirrels away is to tack sheets of aluminum or tin around the tree trunk or pole that houses the feeder. The squirrels cannot dig their claws into the aluminum therefore cannot climb to the bird feeder.
That's mean. It would burn the bird's throats. Of course having an outside cat or two would keep both away.
I used Cayenne Pepper not crushed pepper. I was told dont know how true this is or not but birds dont have a taste bud for ';hot/spicy'; but squirrels do. I tried it mixed enough Cayenne pepper so it lightly covered the seeds and the squirrels stopped eating the seeds and killing the baby birds that came to feed there but the birds kept on eating without any problems.
i have parrots and i was told they like spicy peppers so i tried it. my african grey cant get enough of it. jalapenos, cayenne,etc he loves them and doesnt run looking for water. i dont give him too many, but they dont bother him.
It will probably keep the squirrels AND the birds out.
That's a good way to kill the birds.





You'll have to put wire around the bird feeder so the birds can fit their beaks through the wire to eat.





Good luck