If you use the pre-treated corn seed the birds won't bother it and if you plant it at the normal 2 inches deep they can't really get to it. I sure would want tar, kerosene or turpentine in my garden whether I was going to eat it or not. And seed soaked in whiskey only makes them drunk but doesn't keep them from eating it.

Then there are things like bird netting, chicken wire low tunnels over the rows, motion activated sprinklers, and mylar balloons.

Dave

Treated is worth the extra cost. I use deer-x but that is just a 16x20 area, then save it and bag the netting once established. I use chicken wire for sunflowers the same way but again, just three 12yrd runs. Roll it up when growing, then the deer get their 50%. . : ) I plant thick counting on that. A diversion tactic that keeps them out of the garden....feeds some birds. I get a few. Enough to save seeds for the next year.

Don't know the tricks the folks near me use for their maze. I would maybe plant thick and over a few weeks time. Like i do my beans. Another row every week for at least 4 weeks starting at the suggested planting time...this year two weeks early because of the early heat.

This area is just for a maze so anything to stop the birds from eating the planted corn seeds We will try even if soaking in a solution works.

The point is the soil contamination from kerosene, tar, and turpentine. But if you don't care about that or about possibly poisoning the birds then soak it in whatever you wish. Millions of acres of corn are planted and grown every year and they don't soak their seed in petrochemicals first. They have birds too but maybe their solution is a simple as using proper planting depth so the birds can't get to the seed.

Dave

OMG Dave, drunk corn! I almost wet myself lol.

OP, you are quite late starting corn, even for downstate. Your best hope now is bird netting. Teepee it over your rows. If you plan on a corn maze next year, follow the advice you've been given and plant deeper. We grow corn every year and never have birds eating the seeds.

Perhaps you could put out some corn in a feeder.

I meant whatever it takes not to ruin the soil. The corn says 110-120 maturation which is fine since we need it in Oct. we just ordered more Silo Goliath seed. How deep is ideal? Should the dirt over the seed be compacted down? This is our 5th year growing corn and every year we have had some good success I will post photos later after a weeks worth.

The standard planting depth for corn is 2" as I said above, Some use 2.5" and yes soil should be lightly compacted over the seed.

Dave

We tilled the entire area, made rows tossed the seeks and covered lightly compacted soil over it.

we put a ton of fertilizer as we tilled, we have sprinklers and in NY we have had good amount of rain. It appears sporadic. The past 5 years that we have been planting here the first year growing indian corn worked great. The second year indian corn chipmunks destroyed it. The 3rd sweet corn grew well some dead spots which we used as actor scare areas, the 4th was a hybrid sweet corn and it grew well last year Goliath silo corn grew well and this year so far looks a bit weak. The latest we planted was after the fourth of July and it was fine for October. I don't think we are late but just need to reseed open areas. Do you think more compacted dirt over the corn will work?

Might work (shrug). Be better than just feeding the birds IMO. Give it a shot and see what happens.

I think the replanting for the missed spots we will use hot pepper wax to soak the seeds in ahead of time

Birds don't mind hot pepper at all. Treat bird seed with a bunch of cayenne pepper to keep squirrels away. I used to feed my cockatiel jalapenos from the garden.

I wouldn't waste the time and product for that purpose.

Yeah birds have very few taste buds. It won't faze them at all.

Dave

This worked in my small planting, and will probably work in yours, but the scale of the effort may be too much. I covered my seed bed area with my cleaned out raspberry canes, and at the appropriate time, removed the canes and then use them to polish out the inside of my shredder after processing wet compost.