Among Friends

[fortune]

Following up on my previous post, have any of you used the red hot chili pepper bird food to keep away the squirrels?  Does it bother the birds?

[Laura14]

I use cayenne pepper sprinkled into my bird seed and on the feeder and I have the most popular feast on the block.  As far as I can tell, it's stopped my squirrels cold from climbing and hanging off of it.  Hasn't bothered the birds one bit.    

[hoosieroriginal]

Interesting - never heard of this!

[Krimpette]

I use hot pepper suet cakes, but also have squirrel-proof feeders, so I don't have a problem.

[chickenbutt]

For reasons relative to the different type of digestive systems that birds have (from ours), 'hot' things not only don't affect them adversely but in some cases they have positive value.

Among all the things I make myself, this one mix I get for my bird has those long red, paperlike, peppers in them.  I also put red pepper flakes in his omelets.  Is it the capsacin?  Something like that, that is actually good for him.  

[PINKdogWOOD]

We saw this birdseed in our local Anderson's General Store just last weekwend.  We were surprised actually - must be a big seller as there was only one bag on the shelf.  There was no suet though with red hot chili peppers.  I told DH that we could sprinkle cayenne on what we have.  We haven't tried it yet though but we should. 

[pupwhipped]

Ugh, I think my squirrels must be of Spanish descent or something. I'm very frustrated with this situation currently! Earlier I sprinkled some red pepper flakes on my platform feeder without any birdseed in it at all. Mind you, NOTHING but pepper flakes on the feeder. Next thing I know this squirrel is chowing down on the pepper flakes like there's no tomorrow. He didn't flinch...even kinda gave me the David "Yum Yum" face. What the heck?!?!

Back to your question, "most" agree that it will not harm the birds at all and they don't taste the hot nature of the peppers. I just hope your squirrels are not as tough as these little suckers I have!

Oh, and I'm all ears for any suggestions on how to thwart these squirrels. The ones we have not only eat the bird's food, they also chew our house constantly. That is the bigger problem. My husband has had it with them!!!!! 

[Elom]

I bought this seed and the squirrels loved it. Need I say more.

[CrazyDaisy]

Birds do not have saliva in their mouths so hot and spicy foods do not bother them.  I do not know about squirrels, however I am sure some might take a liking to spicy items while others may not. 

[fortune]

Well, I filled my bird feeder with Coles Cajun Cardinal bird seed with hot chili peppers.  I had five squirrels on my deck at the time.  It worked!!!  The squirrels tried to eat it, but were shaking their heads and leaving the feeder fast!

The birds continue feeding there.  I'm so glad to have found something that deters those @#$%^^&* squirrels!!