9 replies to this topic

[JimBob]

Last night I was doing a stake-out to get shoot a raccoon that eats my bird seed from the feeder. The raccoon did not show up but deer did. I have two feeders; a small hanging one, and a large one on a post. And the deer ate all the bird seed in the hanging one! How the heck do you stop a deer? Any way, there were four; two does and two bucks. Thanks in advance.

[creeker]

You're going to have to raise the feeders up a little higher.

[dklucius]

i agree  with hanging the feeders higher. also i put hay or old apples or chicken scratch either on the stumps or on the ground for the deer and ground squirrels and chipmonks.

My worst probelem is  i do container pots in the backyard with tomatoes and peppers and flowers ect in tubs or pots and i found out deer love green tomatoes and bell peppers and love to eat flowers.

I also get a few black bears in spring and fall and i have to put the feeders and hummer necter up high in the trees or the bears will tear down the feeders to get to the seeds

[creeker]

DK, your pic is classic with the deer and cat combo!

[Seattle]

We don't have a deer problem in our yard but you can buy "deer scram" products.  Or  there's some items that have a coyote smell to it that I've heard will keep deer away.

[JimBob]

I have coyotes and deer so I think that the deer are used to coyotes smell. The coyotes howl at night and run across the street in broad daylight. I think I will try hanging the feeder higher, I am doing a stake-out right now, hope I get him this time and wish me luck!

[dklucius]

the deer and cats seem to co-exist well but i have no luck keeping the cats away lucky in that they are house cats and not the best of hunters so the cats don't get many birds

[Aveschapines]

There's a podcast called "Birds and Nature", hosted by Scott Shalaway; on yesterday's show he described how he built a deer-proof feeding station.  It involved some construction, but might interest you.  The description of the project is right at the beginning of the podcast.

Helen

[JimUSNY]

I used to have a problem with deer at my feeders, but I since started buying the  big 50 lb bags of cracked corn at tractor supply and give them a few cups a day.. seems to make them happy enough they dont mess with feeders anymore and only cost 11 bucks in the chicken feed dept..(funny when you get it in bird food dept its like 5 bucks for 8 lbs)  doves like it too.. deer still get the flowers if I forget to use deer repellent on them.. my cats and deer get along well also.. funny how they know something wont hurt them.. my cats never saw a deer before I moved into my present house

[dklucius]

i get the 50 lb chicken scratch feed at a local feedmill. it had been around $8 for 50 lbs but this year has went up to $10. it is a mix of different grains and cracked corn  and i like it better than straight corn. as the doves like the wheat best and the juncos  and towhees the mix and the deer eat all of it. and the jays and magpies eat it first and don't bother the other feeders as much. I checked at Walmart the other day they carry a scratch mix also but is $9 dollars for a 40 lb bag.a little more expensive but a backup place to get it as they are open 7 days a week and the feedmill only 5 days a week.