How to protect your garden birds’ food

How to protect your garden birds’ food

Food theft is a perennial problem in our gardens, but one that is easy to tackle without harming any wildlife. Here’s a few top tips on how to deter squirrels, large birds and rats from stealing your bird food:

Use squirrel-resistant feeders

1 -  Caged feeders are perfect for allowing small birds access to feed safely, but block out larger birds such as magpies and pigeons.

2 – Weight-activated feeders such as the Heritage Squirrel Defence range are the ultimate way to protect bird feed from squirrels and large birds. They have a clever shutting system which closes the feeding ports when they land on a perch.

Shop Heritage Squirrel Defence Sunflower Hearts Feeder

Shop Heritage Squirrel Defence Peanut Feeder

Shop Squirrel Defence Seed Feeder

3 – Buy metal feeders rather than plastic ones, which are easy for squirrels to chew through.

4 – Position your feeders at 2 metres away from fences, trees and sheds as squirrels are great jumpers.

Select the right food

1 – Sunflowers are loved by small birds but rats tend to prefer seeds in husks.

2 – Nyjer Seed is popular among finches but avoided by squirrels and pigeons.

3 – Dried mealworms are a favourite among robins and wrens, but they are less attractive to rats.

4 – No-Mess-Seed-Mix is enjoyed by many garden birds and it  reduces the spillage that attracts rats.

Keep it clean

1 – Sweep or rake spilled seed on a daily basis.

2 – Use seed trays under hanging feeders to catch debris.

3 – Move feeders every few weeks to avoid spillage build-up.

4 – Don’t overfill feeders. Only put out enough for a day or two.

5 – Bring feeders in at night to avoid rats which are nocturnal.

Perfect placement

1 – Fit a baffle over the feeders to stop climbers.

2 -  Site feeders away from shrubs and woodpiles where squirrels and rats hide.

3 – Hang feeders over a hard surface such as paving slabs or gravel to make it easier to keep clean.