How do I keep deer from eating the seed in my hanging bird feeder? I can't just build a fence.?

Question

Thanks for the answers (the appropriate ones anyway:-)). I was looking more for suggestions for additives to the bird seed mixture. I have no trees near by and don't want to buy a taller pole, so hanging it higher is not an option.

Answer 1

move it up higher so they can't reach it, it doesn't matter how high it is for the birds, but, if you put it up high enough, the deer won't be able to reach it. they are eating the food, because they are hungry, throw some of the food on the ground away from the feeders and it will distract them.

Answer 2

If you can't put it high enough, out of the deers reach, you can try mixing cayenne pepper with the seed. It won't affect the birds and it may keep the deer away. You could also spray the feeder (not the seed) with a deer repellent like Liquid Fence or Deer Off. Again this won't affect the birds. You can also check on-line sights for making homemade deer repellent using garlic, hot pepper & water. These repellents have to be reapplied everytime it rains. If the deer are hungry enough nothing will work.

Answer 3

Deer Eating Bird Seed

Answer 4

You could make some kind of "Basket" out of hardware cloth to attach to the bottom of the feeder and if it is shaped like a very shallow, wide cone, deer can't just stick their noses into the feeder. Birds obviously can fly over the "guard" and feed easily. Hardware cloth should be available at most any building supply or hardware store. Good luck, they're very persistent!

Answer 5

Birds have no salivary glands, so spraying hot pepper around and over the feeder won't hurt them one bit, but the deer won't like it. Give it a try. It works with squirrels.

Answer 6

Birds

Answer 7

I'd love to see deer in my garden. But I agree just hang it higher

Answer 8

Get a bag of human hair from the barber or hair salone and hang it from the pole. I use that to keep the deer away from my apple tree and it works.

Answer 9

Those poor deer are hungry too. Find out what it is that they munch on, besides your bird food and feed them too.

Answer 10

you can buy fox urine from garden center, after deer smell that , they think there is a fox around and will move away from this area, and then you can get rid of the urine.