keeping raccoons out of the suet feeder
madtripper
18 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (12)
catherinet
18 years agoElly_NJ
18 years agoRelated Discussions
Raccoons raiding my feeders!
Comments (20)Tonight has been the 2nd night some lil rascal scared the wits outta me! Been having something raiding my feeders too. Lil sucker came up on my 2nd story deck and running across it! Knew it was a coon or possum as I could hear their claws as they ran past me as I sat in the dark smoking. I took off so fast, I still had the cigarette in my hand as I jumped through the door. Had to open the door quick to throw it out as I don't smoke in the house. Lordy lordy - almost broke my legs n back. I'll be sure to turn the corner light on next time. I had researched what could be the culprit b4 and thought it was woodpeckers. NOT!!!!! WOW! Think I'll bring them in now....See Moresquirrel proofing suet feeders
Comments (6)Keilamarie, Now that's a suet feeder!! Short of building one myself (it's not patent pending is it? :), you did give me a good idea. I think you're right about the back feet. I was watching one of the little bastards on the suet this morning (I forgot to put out peanuts) and he was clinging on with his back feet and holding the suet basket with both front paws while he chewed away at the corners of the suet. Seeing your contraption made me realize that if I cover the sides of the suet basket with something (strips of wood perhaps), they won't be able to get a mouthful since it appears that they actually chew around the corner bars. I actually have a suet basket hanging from the trunk of my maple in the front yard just outside one of the upper windows. After scaring the squirrel away, I went and threw some cayenne pepper on the suet cake. My neighbours can't see the basket since it's on the house side of the tree, so I'm sure if anyone saw me it will be dinner table discussion tonight. "Honey, the new neighbour was sprinkling red powder on the tree again!!?? And he was talking to himself...he looked mad."...See MoreSuet feeders, recipe/ratios, warding off chicken hawks
Comments (16)I make my suet mixture using suet or lard. I melt the fat in a glass bowl in the microwave until liquid. Then I add crunchy peanut butter, which melts in the hot fat. Then I add the dried ingredients - corn meal, flour, oats (usually ground in blender), ground eggshells, crushed nuts, a little jam or jelly, etc. The mixture is about 1/2 fat, 1/2 dried ingredients - maybe a little more dried. I aim for a mixture that is the texture of Play-doh - it clumps together easily for the suet log, but also crumbles into pieces that I spread in a tray feeder. I made the suet log over 3 years ago out of an old red Pine log and glued lots of perches and branches. It did not have much bark on it - which is fine, except that over time the log has darkened quite a bit, perhaps because of the oils in the suet mixture. Also, most of the perches and branches have broken and fallen off. This birds don't seem to care. If you put perches on the log, this will enable many more birds to eat more easily. However, this isn't necessarily a good thing because with mine, it enables the Starlings and Blue Jays to hog the suet log, and it encourages House Sparrows. My suet log is pole-mounted with a squirrel/raccoon baffle, so nothing gets onto the log but the birds. Here's what the suet mixture looks like - Some Bluebirds on the suet log a couple years ago. They don't eat that much on the suet log any more, because I usually spread crumbles in a tray for them....See MoreKeeping Feeder(s) Filled w� Nesting Tree Swallows in the Yard?
Comments (4)The last couple years I had Bluebirds nesting in snags in the back yard (both snags have since fallen over). I cut way down on the food in the feeders, which I usually do anyway in the summer, because I didn't want to attract House Sparrows. Would put out a little BOSS, but only put out the home-made suet nuggets if the Bluebirds wanted some. This Spring, I had a pair of Baltimore Orioles nesting in a large Pin Oak right above the feeders. Did the same thing, cut down on the food in the feeders, because the Orioles were very territorial about the tree. They were especially aggressive towards Blue Jays, Grackles, and Crows so I stopped throwing any tidbits on the ground (like old corn chips, which the Jays and Crows like). So I would favor the security of the nesting birds. During the summer and fall, there are normally abundant natural sources of food, so feeders are not critical. Birds eat a lot of insects and feed their young insects, so they are unlikely to starve if you aren't feeding them....See Moremadtripper
18 years agocatherinet
18 years agomadtripper
18 years agomarvin1234
12 years agopaulsiu
12 years agoNunyabiz1
11 years agorreidt2002
6 years agostamik2004
5 years agoJay 6a Chicago
5 years ago
Related Stories
LIFEHow to Outsmart Backyard Critters
Learn to think like a raccoon, skunk or squirrel to keep your home safe and your garden intact
Full StoryFEEL-GOOD HOMEWhat Really Makes Us Happy at Home? Find Out From a New Houzz Survey
Great design has a powerful impact on our happiness in our homes. So do good cooking smells, family conversations and, yes, big-screen TVs
Full StoryGARDENING FOR BIRDSBackyard Birds: Marvel at Chickadees This Winter
These North American natives flock to bird feeders and entertain with their complex birdcalls
Full StoryGARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIESA Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning
Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESOh, Deer! 10 Native Flowers That Stand Up to the Herds
Keeping a garden amid hungry deer can be hard, but these plants should fare well
Full StoryLIFEShare Your Winter Storm Jonas Photos and Survival Tips!
Let’s see your pictures and hear your ideas on how you’re keeping your house warm and staving off cabin fever
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGRaise Backyard Chickens Without Ruffling Neighbors' Feathers
Before you build a coop in the backyard, follow these strategies to help keep your neighbors from squawking
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESBackyard Birds: Northern Cardinals in the Snow, and Other Red Birds
Brilliant crimson feathers make these friends stand out in a crowd
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES13 North American Backyard Birds to Know
Find out about these enchanting native species and learn how to attract them to your yard
Full StoryDENS AND LIBRARIESRoom of the Day: Princess the Snake Reigns in a Luxe Library
Sure, there are books. But in this library the custom snake habitat may be most worth checking out
Full Story
dirtboysdad