When you have plenty of fresh corn lying around your yard, you may want to dry it for squirrel feed. It can be as simple as following the steps listed below. You can use whole ears of corn, cracked corn, and shelled corn. Even pumpkin seeds work. However, make sure you dry them properly. You don’t want your food to develop mold. The temperature range for natural-air drying is 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Table of Contents
Whole ear corn
Dried whole ear corn is an ideal food for squirrels. It can be purchased online, but it is not always easy to find dried whole ear corn at your local bird feed store. A few weeks after the last harvest, ear corn will have lost most of its moisture, and the kernels will no longer be hard. Squirrels like to eat the germ of the corn kernel, and the rest of the corn is just starch. Leaving out a handful of dry ear corn for the squirrels to eat is a great way to make them your new friends.
To dry whole ear corn for squirrels, you can bake it at a low temperature and turn it upside down halfway through. It is best to roast the ears in an oven at a low temperature, so the kernels dry evenly. To prevent mold from growing, you can turn the ears over half way through the drying process. This will give them a more even diet and ensure healthy growth. However, it is important to keep the kernels dry when feeding the squirrels.
How to dry corn for squirrel feed
A good source of corn for squirrels is plain corn cobs. You can dry these corns for your squirrel by removing the husk and silk and breaking off the stalk end. Once the ears have cooled, break off the stalk end and run them under cold water to stop the cooking action. Next, cut the kernels to about 3/4 of an inch, and place on a mesh-covered dehydrator tray. The corn should be left at 150degF for one to two hours, then cooled. When the ears are dry, reduce the temperature to 130degF for the next hour.
If you feed your squirrels corn, they should eat the entire kernel, but not the husk and cob. You should try to limit the amount of corn to about 20% of the animal’s diet. Remember, squirrels need a varied diet, and they can eat a variety of foods. While corn is healthy for them, it doesn’t provide much in the way of nutrients. A squirrel needs a variety of foods in order to stay healthy and active.
Cracked corn
Squirrels are not picky eaters. They will eat almost anything, but they do prefer fatty foods, such as peanuts, so crack corn is ideal. Some backyard wildlife, like chipmunks, grouse, and turkeys, will also eat cracked corn if you remove the peanuts. In addition, this food can attract a variety of birds, such as cardinals and grosbeaks.
Cracked corn is often used as a bird feeder, but it must be kept out of high-humidity. Cracked corn is not only easier to digest for squirrels, it attracts other animals and birds as well. This food is not only favored by squirrels, but also by turkeys, pheasants, quail, and cardinals. Cracked corn is a great way to attract these animals to your feeders and make them happy.
Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds make excellent snacks for squirrels, but how to dry them for squirrel foot treats? You can try roasting them fully before you put them in a squirrel feeder. Squirrels also enjoy black sunflower seeds, which are a common component in bird feed. Poppy seeds are another popular snack for squirrels, and are small enough to be consumed quickly. So, if you want to keep squirrels from ruining your yard, try drying them before placing them on a bird feeder.
After selecting the right seeds, you need to rinse them thoroughly. You can also remove the pulp from the seeds. Then, spread them on a cookie sheet and place it in the oven. Leave the seeds for around 30 minutes. You can also set a timer for 10 minutes and reset it for another 10 minutes. After the seeds have roasted, you can store them in an airtight container. They won’t spoil if you offer them all at once.
If you want to attract squirrels to your home, you should use a high-quality peanut butter substitute. Peanut butter can be found in most grocery stores. Moreover, a small portion of peanut butter will provide your squirrel with plenty of nutrients. You can also try C&S Nut’n Sweet corn logs. These contain sweet corn and roasted peanuts. They fit on most squirrel hangers and corn on cob feeders.
You should remember not to feed corn to squirrels with the husk on, as they won’t eat it. Besides the husk, they will also not consume corn silk, the long soft threads that surround the kernels. Some people use the silk as a medicine because it contains essential vitamins and minerals. But squirrels prefer the kernels. The husks, on the other hand, can be unpleasant for squirrels to eat.
Royal Wing Sweetcorn
When you want to attract squirrels to your yard, one of the best ways to do so is to plant a densely packed corn kernel feeder. This will provide a squirrel with a variety of nutritious snacks, and it will last for months, compared to a single-serving corn feeder. Squirrels can eat the corn kernels on the stalks, and it’s possible to keep them out of the feeder entirely by drying the kernels first.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
Related Posts:
What Bullet Mold For Cva What Bullet Mold For CVI.32 Caliber Squirrel Rifle Should You Use? When you are shooting your.32 caliber squirrel rifle, it is important to know exactly what bullet mold you should use. Whether you want a…
How Do You Skin A Squirrel How Do You Skin A Squirrel? You've killed a bushy-tailed squirrel in the woods, and you're looking to prepare it for your family. The preparation is essential, as the meat is only as good as…
What Temperature To Slow Fry Squirrel Meat What Temperature to Slow Fry Squirrel Meat If you have been pondering what temperature to slow fry squirrel meat, this article is for you. We will cover how to cook squirrel meat, its nutritional value,…
How To Dry Squirrel Tail Tips on How to Dry Squirrel Tail If you're interested in mounting your squirrel tail for display, or preserving it for your own use, you've come to the right place. Mepps sells dried fox, red,…
How Long To Boil A Squirrel How Long To Boil A Squirrel? While most of us don't think about cooking a squirrel, it's actually a very popular game dish in Europe. Its taste resembles duck and it will surprise your guests.…
How To Dry Rars Of Corn For Squirrel Feef How to Dry Rars of Corn For Squirrel Feed When you have plenty of fresh corn lying around your yard, you may want to dry it for squirrel feed. It can be as simple as…
How To Make Squirrel Ears First of all, you must learn how to make squirrel ears. These ears are very cute and are a fun way to dress up your child. The inner and outer ears are made of felt…
How to Tan a Squirrel Hide How to Tan a Squirrel Hide If you want to make a leather wallet or bag, you will need to know how to tan a squirrel hide. There are a few steps to this process,…
How To Squirrel Proof Pumpkins How to Squirrel-Proof Pumpkins If you want to protect your pumpkins from squirrels, you can try several techniques to discourage them. Chicken wire, hardware cloth, and Capsaicin-based repellents are great options for your pumpkins. You…
How To Make Homemade Baby Squirrel Formula How to Make Homemade Baby Squirrel Formula A baby squirrel needs special care to ensure that their food is healthy. Esbilac is the most effective formula for a baby squirrel. You should also avoid using…
How To Get Rid Of Fleas On Baby Squirrel How to Get Rid of Fleas on Baby Squirrel In addition to fleas, baby squirrels may have other injuries, such as internal injuries, head or leg injuries, and respiratory issues. If you find any of…
What Foods Will Kill A Squirrel What Foods Will Kill a Squirrel? If you are worried about a squirrel snatching your dog's dinner, read this article first. Here, you will learn about what foods will kill a squirrel. Among the most…
How to Tell If a Squirrel is Safe To Eat How To Tell If A Squirrel Is Safe To Eat How to tell if a squirrel is safe to eat depends on what the animal looks like from outside. You can use rubber gloves and…
What Does Squirrel Lice Look Like What Does Squirrel Lice Look Like? A squirrel flea is a small, wingless insect that feeds on the blood of squirrels. They are dark brown or black in color and have a hard, flattened body.…
How To Make A Homemade Squirrel Call There are many benefits of using a squirrel call, and these can be very effective at attracting squirrels. However, to make a good calling device, you need to be aware of the sounds that squirrels…
How To Grill Barbeque Smoke Squirrel How to Grill Barbeque Smoke Squirrel There are a couple of ways you can prepare a smoked squirrel on the grill. One method is to wrap the animal in tinfoil, place it on the grill…
How To Nurse A Squirrel Back To Health If you have a baby squirrel, you might be wondering how to nurse it back to health. First of all, you should never attempt to take care of a squirrel as a pet. These animals…
What Kind Of Milk Can I Give A Baby Squirrel What Kind of Milk Can I Give a Baby Squirrel? What kind of milk can I give a baby squirrel? It depends on how young it is, but you can use coconut, soy, or almond…
What to Do With Squirrel Tails What to Do With Squirrel Tails Many people worry about squirrels that have lost or damaged their tails. They wonder if they should do anything to help them. In reality, the tail of a squirrel…
At What Temp To Cook A Squirrel What Temp to Cook a Squirrel? If you have been wondering at what temp to cook a squirrel, you've come to the right place. You'll find tips and tricks for field dressing the animal, insuring…
What Does It Mean When You Dream About A Squirrel What Does it Mean When You Dream About a Squirrel? If you've ever dreamed about a squirrel, you may wonder what it means. Squirrels are small but mighty, living off the land and thriving by…
How To Put A Squirrel Out Of Its Misery How To Put A Squirrel Out Of Its Misery You can kill a squirrel by shooting it in the head, but make sure that your surroundings are safe. Remember that a bullet can pass…
How To Kill A Squirrel With A Bow How to Kill a Squirrel With a Bow If you have never hunted a squirrel before, it may be time to learn how to do so safely. Here are some tips to get started. First,…
Is Squirrel Meat Good For You? Is squirrel meat good for you? Many people wonder if squirrel meat is good for them. While it can be dangerous, the good news is that this tasty, sustainable protein is not harmful. Squirrel meat…
How Did A Dead Squirrel Get In My Toilet How Did a Dead Squirrel Get in My Toilet? Celia Shiffer of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania recently discovered a dead squirrel in her toilet. The dead animal had climbed into the toilet piping from the roof vent.…