does cayenne pepper keep birds away

People put out bird feeders, houses, and fountains in order to attract birds to their yards, but that doesnt mean you want them to take over the place. If your feathered friends are starting to build nests in unwanted areas such as your gutters or dryer vents you can repel them with some cayenne pepper. Much like how your nose will become irritated if you take a giant whiff of the spice, it turns out the same thing happens to birds.

This burning sensation inflames the birds glands, making them fly in the opposite direction. Since birds are particular where they build their nests, they wont want to set up shop in an area that feels uncomfortable or seemingly dangerous. This is a great hack to try since you most likely already have this spice sitting in your spice rack. Further, using cayenne pepper against birds looking to nest is also an all-natural way to solve your problem, ensuring you dont need to use chemicals or harm your gardens wildlife.

Find the spots in your yard where birds are starting to build nests before using cayenne pepper to scare them away. If you see them frequently flying back and forth to the area while carrying objects like twigs or leaves, you’ll catch them in the early stages. Make a cayenne pepper solution and mist the area to discourage birds from penetrating too far into the process.

To do this, gather dish soap, water, cayenne pepper, and a spray bottle. Pour two tablespoons of cayenne pepper, water, and a few drops of dish soap into your spray bottle. After thoroughly mixing, let it soak for one or two days, or even overnight. Waiting will make the spray even more potent. When you’re ready to use it, shake the bottle once more to mix the contents and mist the surrounding area.

Reapply this hot repellent for birds once a week or immediately following a downpour. Additionally, you can use cayenne pepper to get rid of pests in your garden like fruit flies, yellow jackets, and spider mites. Just mist it on your plants or the spaces where they are hovering. Its an all-purpose pest deterrent.

Although people place bird feeders, houses, and fountains in their yards to draw birds, this does not mean that they should take over the area. You can deter your feathered friends by using cayenne pepper if they begin to construct nests in unwelcome places, like your dryer vents or gutters. It turns out that birds experience the same irritation that occurs to humans when they inhale strong traces of spice.

The birds’ glands become inflamed by this burning feeling, causing them to fly in the opposite direction. Birds are picky about where they build their nests; they won’t want to do so in an uncomfortable or potentially dangerous location. Since you probably already have this spice in your spice rack, this is a great hack to try. Additionally, employing cayenne pepper to deter nesting birds is a natural solution that spares you from using chemicals or endangering the wildlife in your garden.

What Smells Do Birds Hate?

For various reasons, some natural products emit an odor that deters birds. Consider using these items, if you already have them at home, to deter birds. Some of these are simple to locate and use as a bird deterrent if you don’t already have them. Some smells birds hate include:

Essential oils. These scents are overpowering to birds, especially peppermint oil. Even by itself, the potent scent of peppermint deters birds.
Peppers. Since most peppers are hot, their aroma frequently causes a burning feeling. Cayenne and chili peppers are two particular pepper varieties that have the ability to repel birds.
Garlic. Garlic’s potent, natural odor and allicin content deter birds from eating it.
Cinnamon. The aromatic scent of cinnamon is irritating to most birds.
Vinegar. The strong, disagreeable smell of vinegar can agitate birds, so they will avoid it.
Citrus oil. Because they dislike the scent of citrus, birds typically stay away from it. But, for citrus oil to be effective as a deterrent, it needs to come into direct contact with the bird.

How To Make Homemade Bird Repellent

Select a base scent from the list above to use as your homemade repellent against birds. Any of these aromas can be the primary component of a spray designed to deter birds. You can combine liquid dish soap, apple cider vinegar, and water with these fragrances. Some recipes to try are:

14 drops of peppermint oil
14 drops of lemon oil
½ cup of white vinegar
½ cup of water

6 drops of liquid dish soap
2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper
1 gallon of water

8 cloves of garlic
2 cups of olive oil

3 parts water
1 part cinnamon

FAQ

Is cayenne pepper bad for birds?

Capsaicin is most concentrated in the tissues surrounding the seeds (on the inside of each pepper). It triggers taste receptors found in birds and mammals. But it also stimulates a certain kind of pain receptor found in mammals but not in birds, and that’s why birds have no adverse reaction to eating peppers.

What is the most effective bird deterrent?

Bird Spikes are a simple but effective deterrent for birds. The blunt, harmless spikes thwart birds’ efforts to land without harming them in any way. Spikes can be permanently or temporarily installed.

Will vinegar keep birds away?

The smell of vinegar is very unpleasant for birds. It’s a common household item, so you can easily put it in a spray bottle and use it anywhere you want to avoid birds in your garden.