Many people like to set up bird feeders in their yards because it can be so much fun to watch birds. You might wind up encountering some problems if blue jays wind up dominating the bird feeder, though.
Blue jays are nice to look at in their own right, but they sort of bully the other birds. They wind up taking over the bird feeders and they don’t let other birds near it.
This means that many of the other local birds in the area that you’d like to see come around might not get a chance. A problem like this is going to require a good solution, but many people aren’t sure how to go about getting rid of blue jays at bird feeders.
Read on to explore the options that are available to you. Once you’ve read all of the information, you should have a much better idea about how best to proceed.
1 – Give the Blue Jays Their Own Feeder
One interesting idea is to just give blue jays their own feeder because this will keep them away from the other feeders. A nice and large feeder should appeal to blue jays because they are larger birds than many of the others that you might be worried about.
If you want blue jays to be attracted to the feeder, you should stock it with something such as peanuts or sunflower seeds. They will be capable of emptying a feeder in just a few hours in many cases, and you might wind up going through a lot of birdseed.
Even so, this can be a worthwhile thing to do. Keep the feeder that is meant for the blue jays far away from the other bird feeders that you wish to be for the smaller birds to use.
The idea is to separate these big birds that will dominate the feeder from the other birds. All of the birds will be able to enjoy bird feeders and everyone can be happy.
Of course, this idea doesn’t always work out perfectly because blue jays might empty the large feeder and then try to mess with the other feeders. If the feeders are separated from each other enough, this might be less of an issue, but it isn’t a guaranteed fix to your problem.
2 – Use Different Types of Birdseed
Another solution that you should consider is using different types of birdseed. Some types of birdseed aren’t going to appeal to blue jays at all, but other birds in the area will like it.
You could choose to put safflower seeds or nyjer seeds in the bird feeders. If you do this, then blue jays aren’t likely going to bother with the seed at all and the other birds will be able to enjoy it as intended.
It’s easy to attract many types of birds to your yard when you stock the bird feeders with birdseed like this. You might notice finches, cardinals, and chickadees hanging out in your bird feeders when you make this change.
You won’t have a hard time changing the type of birdseed that you’re using, and it’s one of the most practical ideas you can utilize. If you find that giving the blue jays their own feeder isn’t the best option, changing the type of birdseed that you’re using should work out nicely.
3 – Buy a Bird Feeder That Blue Jays Can’t Enter
It’s very possible to buy a modern bird feeder that blue jays won’t be able to enter. The birds that get bullied by blue jays are typically going to be a lot smaller, and this means that they can fit in spaces that blue jays can’t.
Look for bird feeders that are made for smaller birds so that you won’t have to be concerned about blue jays. It’ll be easier to enjoy the birds that you want to see at your bird feeder, and your problems will be solved.
It might even be possible to build your own bird feeder that fits the criteria, but it depends on if you have the skills to pull it off. This is a good way to ensure that smaller birds in the area can enjoy your bird feeders, but it might not be the ideal solution for all of the local birds.
For instance, local cardinals won’t likely be able to use these small bird feeders. It isn’t a good solution for every type of bird, but it will keep blue jays away.
You can weigh the pros and the cons of this decision before moving forward. It’s certainly possible to use small bird feeders in conjunction with other bird feeders, and that might be the best thing that you can do.
4 – Use a Weighted Perch Design
Weighted perch designs can work to keep larger birds away from bird feeders as well. This is something that makes it so that large birds that land on the perch to try to use the feeder will trigger the perch to go down.
When the perch is weighed down, it’ll trigger things so that something will cover the food. It prevents the larger birds from being able to use the bird feeders at all.
This solution can work pretty well and it’s comparable to buying bird feeders that blue jays can’t enter. It’s just the same idea that utilizes another method.
It also has the same flaws because other desirable birds won’t be able to use the bird feeders that have a weighted perch design. You could go with this idea if you’re just worried about helping the smaller local birds, though.
5 – Consider Placing a Garbage Can Under Bird Feeders
One other problem to consider is that blue jays might eat the birdseed that falls on the ground. The smaller birds might drop a lot of birdseed on the ground while using the feeder, and this could make blue jays hang out around the feeders despite your best efforts.
The best way to solve this issue is to place a garbage can under the bird feeder. The garbage can is going to catch the lion’s share of the birdseed that falls from the feeder, and you won’t have to worry about a blue jay flying in there to get it.
Blue jays will be very wary of flying into the garbage can because it might be tricky to get out and it will likely seem dangerous to them. A simple action like this can usually keep blue them from hanging out around the bottom of bird feeders that they aren’t able to use properly.
Choose the Options That You Like the Best
Choosing the options that you like the best will be the way to move forward. You might not hate blue jays, but you probably just want them to stop bullying the other smaller birds in the area.
If you use some of the methods listed above, it should help you to make the blue jays stop hanging out around your bird feeders. Which one of the options will be the best to use really depends on what you’re going for.
Some people really like the idea of giving them their own bird feeder to keep them separated from the smaller birds. Others will try to keep them away entirely, but it’s ultimately your decision.
Think about everything that you’ve read and then take action. You should be able to have a good time bird watching, and the local birds will be happy that you’ve done something to keep the blue jays from taking all of the birdseed.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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Lorna
Tuesday 1st of June 2021
This Spring we had a Wren family move into a decorative birdhouse in our backyard. I was so happy when I began to see the activity of Mom and Dad, flying back and forth to bring food to their babies. And we began to hear the babies as well. Last Thursday morning I’m standing at my back door with my eye on a pesky Crow, who I thought was eyeing the baby chick’s, when out of the blue (no pun intended) a blue Jay flew down and plucked that baby out of the birdhouse! I was horrified, and ran out, screaming Noooooo!!!!! The Jay flew off, the parents were panicked. When the Jay attacked, I saw the baby scamper off...still alive. I spent minutes trying to find it. I finally found it, cowering behind a lawn chair. I put on my garden gloves, gently picked her up, and placed her back in the birdhouse. But unfortunately and sadly, we think she died. Mom and Dad are gone too. I know it sounds silly, but I was heartbroken. Now my husband and I see that another Wren family have a nest in a bathroom vent on the outside of our home. I can’t bare to see another Jay kill another baby. Trying to keep the Jays away!
Jill
Tuesday 11th of May 2021
Thanks, that is really helpful. WE suddenly have 6 of them and the little birds are a bit put off.