Birds don’t possess the capsaicin receptors found in mammals, so cayenne pepper doesn’t produce the same burning sensation for them as it does for mammals. However, consuming whole peppers could expose birds to dust that causes respiratory issues in them.
Chilli powder, flakes or cayenne-based products will effectively deter squirrels from your feeders without harming them in any way. Try creating an aromatic blend which draws in colorful songbirds while sending away squirrels!
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Attracts more birds
Hot pepper bird seed can be an effective way to keep squirrels at bay from your backyard feeding station without endangering other animals. Capsaicin in red pepper flakes creates an uncomfortable burning sensation that should deter squirrels from coming near your feeders. Simply sprinkle cayenne or chili pepper flakes over suet or seed and enjoy their spicy flavor doing its work!
Birds don’t suffer the same level of irritation from capsaicin due to having fewer taste receptors than humans and other mammals, and having throats and stomachs adapted for withstanding moderate heat levels from peppers.
Capsaicin-treated seed has long been available on the market, and anecdotal reports from birders and ornithologists seem to indicate its safety for wild birds. Furthermore, it works effectively against grey squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks, mice, and other mammals which might otherwise cause issues at feeder stations.
Keeps squirrels away
Squirrels can be one of the primary reasons people stop feeding birds, wreaking havoc at feeders by staging high-flying raids or simply loitering nearby, stealing seeds and nuts before even potentially deterring other birds from coming back to visit your feeders. They create chaos, steal food from feeders or deter other visitors altogether!
Applying capsaicin to wild bird food helps ward off mammals such as squirrels, raccoons and chipmunks from coming near your feeders. Capsaicin works by irritating their skin and mucous membranes – without impacting birds at all!
To effectively use capsaicin in your backyard, the easiest and safest way is to add cayenne pepper or other powders directly into your seed mix. This strategy only deters mammals.
Notable for hot pepper products stored outdoors for extended periods in wet environments such as rain or snow, the capsaicin can diminish over time, although the product will still work, just not as effectively as when purchased fresher containers.
Deters rodents
Squirrels can be an annoying pest when it comes to backyard birding, gnawing on everything they come across and taking the seed intended for birds away from feeders. But there are ways you can deter squirrels and other rodents from your feeder without harming the birds: cayenne pepper is one effective solution that may work without hurting any of them!
Add hot pepper flakes or powder to your bird seeds, or purchase a blend with cayenne. Additionally, create your own homemade hot pepper spray and apply it around areas you don’t want squirrels to enter, such as at the base of a feeder pole or around any plants near it.
Shafer Seed’s Hot Pepper Wild Bird Mix offers suet and seed mixes treated with capsaicin to deter rats, raccoons and bears (which are common in Big Bear) while still attracting birds.
Keeps birds healthy
Birds don’t possess the senses of taste and smell that mammals possess, meaning they cannot detect heat; thus enabling them to consume hot pepper seeds freely without suffering any adverse side effects. Capsaicin may help reduce pain signals sent directly from mouth to brain.
Birds are expert at spreading seeds across large distances through their digestive systems without breaking them apart, which means the seeds travel far and germinate in new locations. Furthermore, birds frequently carry seeds on their feet or store them in fur-lined cheek pouches for further dispersion.
If you want to deter squirrels, raccoons, and other rodents from eating your bird feed, sprinkle cayenne pepper powder over the seed before placing it at your feeder. Or mix hot pepper into loose bird seed, seed bells or suet cakes so as to deter these pesky creatures. As an added benefit for birds, cayenne pepper provides essential vitamins like Vitamin A to improve feather quality as well as antioxidants for immunity support and additional nutrition benefits.
