As the winter weather sets in, you’re sure to want to keep the bird feeders well stocked so that all your favourite garden birds have ready access to tasty and nutritional food… but your feathered friends won’t be the only ones who are hungry at this time of year and you might find that a few thieves pop by to help themselves, as well.

Squirrels have all been known to come along for a feast at the expense of the birds and if this is something that you’re keen to avoid, here are a couple of little tricks you can try that could help keep the pests at bay.

Feeling spicy!

One potential way to ensure that your garden birds stay well fed over the winter months is to mix a few chilli flakes into the bird seed itself or perhaps scatter some on the bird table as a deterrent.

It’s thought that this works because chilli flakes contain capsaicin as an active compound, which squirrels find irritating but which birds aren’t bothered by because they lack the necessary taste receptors… so you don’t have to worry about them finding their food too spicy to enjoy.

You can achieve the same effect with ground chilli powder if you’d rather not use flakes, mixing a small amount into the seed for even distribution, which will make it even more effective. You only need a tiny amount so don’t be tempted to go overboard.

If you don’t like the thought of using chilli, you could consider trying coffee grounds instead, sprinkling them around the feeding area. 

The strong smell of the coffee grounds is thought to be offensive to pests but not to birds, so this is another strategy to try if you’re worried about your bird food being pinched.

Physical deterrents

Chilli flakes and coffee grounds aside, there are other ways in which you can stop pests from making off with the bird food.

There are squirrel-proof feeders available, for example, that will get the job done quickly and easily, while cage feeders are also a great idea, as they allow the smaller birds to access food while blocking squirrels and bigger birds.

And, of course, you can do a lot to deter pests by making sure that the area around your feeders is tidy and well kept. 

If any food spills onto the ground, clean it up as quickly as you can as certain pests are particularly active at this time of year, constantly searching for food sources. If they know that bird food is easy pickings, you’ll find your birds go hungry!

Keep squirrels second guessing themselves by moving your bird feeders around and about if you can.

With just a few little tricks like this, you’re sure to keep your garden visitors happy and healthy over the next few months. Fabulous!