SunFire Chips; Why They Work!
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Spicy foods aren't for everyone, including the critters that seem to empty your bird feeders! Hot pepper is a great tool to use to help keep you at the top of your bird-feeding game because people, rodents and other mammals feel the burn when eating hot peppers, but the birds do not!
The science behind why our birds seem to be unphased by spicy food is fascinating; did you know that the heat you feel when eating a chili pepper is not actually a response by your taste buds?
The burning feeling actually comes from the body’s pain response system. What makes spicy things, well, spicy, is a substance called capsaicin. It activates a receptor protein in the tissue of most mammals that alerts the brain to the presence and location of capsaicin so it can trigger the heat.
Knowing this, we can also know why birds seem to be uncaring about the presence of spicy peppers: its because they cannot feel it! Birds lack the receptor needed for their bodies to react to spice, and because our hot pepper products are carefully made just strong enough to be unpleasant to mammals without causing any harm, our feathery friends are none the wiser to your valiant efforts to keep the competition away from their feeders.
Meet the Star of the Show!
SunFire Chips are a clean and convenient way to make use of this highly-effective tool, but what makes them a star beyond the hot pepper? We're glad you asked!
- Sunflower chips are the name of the game, and SunFire chips wouldn't be chips without them! A year-round favorite food for all your backyard songbirds (and flickers, we could never forget them!), what better food to offer than their first choice?
- Chips are also one of the cleanest ways to feed your birds. There's no shell mess to draw in rodents, and the small size of the chips means little birds will do a lot less rooting around to find their preferred morsel!
- To ensure maximum effectiveness, seeds are completely covered in an oil blend designed to ensure complete coverage of each seed without leaving them a dripping mess. But the oil isn't just coating the outside of each chip -- it's infused into them!
- Furthering the focus on cleanliness, SunFire chips bags are unique to them, being made of a thicker plastic with no zip-lock top so no oil bleeds through while its sitting between re-fills.
- The top corner also features a re-sealable spout so you can pour with ease! Don't worry about fiddling with a seed scoop or getting the oil on your hands, we've got you covered.
Got Burning Hot Questions?
These are some of our most commonly answered hot pepper queries:
Q: Will the birds still like it if its spicy?
A: They won't even know! At most they might notice a slight flavor or texture change, but that wont stop them from coming back again and again to your feeders.
Q: How do I clean my feeder after using SunFire chips?
A: You'll want to use regular spicy food-handling practices when cleaning anything you use with hot pepper products. That means not touching your face or eyes after handling, using warm water to avoid spicy-steam, and generally just being consciousness of your surroundings. Besides that, your feeders can just be cleaned the normal way with soap and water, and a 1/10 ratio bleach or vinegar disinfecting bath.
Q: I have a dog, can he play under the feeder?
A: It's best to keep your feeder in a section of your yard where your dog wont go. While SunFire chips spice levels are low as to not harm anyone, its still spicy enough to be uncomfortable if your pet gets into it. Your birds will also probably appreciate the extra space away from lively dogs, and will likely be more comfortable at your feeder!
Q: Will other wild animals be deterred by SunFire chips?
A: While squirrels are the main critters to be fended off by hot pepper, we've had many reports from areas all over the lower mainland about it's effectiveness against other unwanted visitors. Results can vary widely with rats especially, with some customers reporting a complete removal of rat activity from their feeders, while others tell us that they seem to gain a tolerance to spice rather quickly. Raccoons will tend to leave feeders alone once they discover the hot pepper. While results may vary along the range of backyard critters, hot pepper is a very effective deterrent in many cases and is worth testing out in your yard!
Wondering about something else?
Come visit us in-store or give us a call, we're happy to help!
