Protect Your Cedar Siding: Stop Woodpeckers

how to prevent woodpeckers from ruising cedar siding on house

Woodpeckers are known for their unique ways of hunting food and building shelters, which often involves drilling holes in wood, including cedar siding. This can be frustrating for homeowners, as woodpecker damage can be costly to repair. While there is no single method to prevent woodpeckers from pecking, combining different approaches can help minimise the damage. Here are some strategies to consider:

Characteristics Values
Reason for woodpecker damage Food, nests, drumming
Average loss per woodpecker attack $300
Visual deterrents Netting, windsocks, mylar/reflective tape, scare eye balloons, plastic windmills, CDs, pie tins, bird repellent discs, bird repellent tape, bird repellent balloons
Electronic woodpecker repellents BirdXPeller PRO, Super BirdXPeller PRO
Woodpecker suet cakes Woodpecker suet cakes
Woodpecker birdhouse Woodpecker birdhouse
Physical barriers Woodpecker spikes, woodpecker netting
Filling holes Silicon, paintable caulk, cedar plug, wood filler, vinyl concrete patch, bondo car repair kit

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Use visual deterrents like bird repellent discs, tape, and balloons

Woodpeckers can be a real nuisance, causing serious damage to your home. To prevent them from ruining your cedar siding, you can try using visual deterrents like bird repellent discs, tape, and balloons. These solutions are simple, cost-effective, and harmless to the birds.

Bird Repellent Discs

Bird repellent discs are a popular choice for many homeowners dealing with woodpeckers. These discs are designed to spin in the wind, creating a visually confusing and frightening experience for woodpeckers. The discs are highly reflective, and the constant movement in the breeze keeps woodpeckers away. They are easy to install and can be hung from gutters, balconies, trees, or anywhere with access to wind and light. While they are very effective, be careful not to hang too many, or your house may start to resemble a disco ball!

Reflective Tape

Another option to explore is the use of reflective tape. Mylar or flash tape can be hung from the soffit or eaves of your house. The reflective surface confuses and deters woodpeckers, preventing them from pecking at your siding. This method is inexpensive and easy to implement. However, it may need to be reapplied every few months as it can tear over time.

Scare Eye Balloons

"Scare eye" balloons are another visual deterrent that can be effective in scaring away woodpeckers. These yellow balloons have large, scary-looking eyes printed on them, which can intimidate woodpeckers and make them think twice before approaching your home. They are best used in conjunction with other deterrents and should be moved around every few days to maintain their effectiveness.

It is important to remember that woodpeckers are intelligent birds, and they may eventually get used to these deterrents. Therefore, it is recommended to use a combination of these methods and change their placement periodically to maximize their effectiveness. Additionally, addressing any insect infestations in your siding is crucial, as woodpeckers are often attracted to insects in the wood.

Choosing the Right Siding for Your Home

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Use an electronic woodpecker repellent

If you're looking for a more discreet solution to deter woodpeckers, an electronic woodpecker repellent device might be the answer. These devices emit distress calls that scare woodpeckers away from the area. They are also adjustable, allowing you to choose when and for how long they operate.

While these devices are effective, they can be quite pricey. If you're going to invest in one, it's recommended to go with a well-known product such as the BirdXPeller PRO or Super BirdXPeller PRO. The BirdXPeller Pro covers an area of 1 acre, while the Super covers an area of 6 acres.

There are cheaper alternatives available, but they may not be as effective. It's worth investing in a high-quality product to ensure the best results.

In addition to using an electronic repellent, you can also try other methods such as visual deterrents, providing alternative food sources, or building a woodpecker birdhouse. Visual deterrents include hanging shiny, reflective objects like CDs, pie tins, or specially designed bird repellent discs, tape, or balloons. These can help scare woodpeckers away and may be more affordable and easily accessible options.

If woodpeckers are visiting your siding in search of insects, you can distract them by offering suet cakes placed inside a woodpecker suet feeder away from your house. Additionally, providing a woodpecker birdhouse can give them an alternative shelter, reducing their need to peck at your siding.

By combining these methods, you can effectively deter woodpeckers from damaging your cedar siding while also providing them with alternative food and shelter options.

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Feed them with woodpecker suet cakes

Woodpecker suet cakes are a great way to prevent woodpeckers from ruining your cedar siding. The way to a woodpecker's heart is through its stomach, and these suet cakes are absolutely irresistible to them!

Suet is essentially animal fat, and you can make your own suet cakes by using beef fat straight from the butcher—no need to render it. However, store-bought suet cakes are also a great option, and they are specifically formulated to attract woodpeckers.

  • Place the suet cakes inside a woodpecker suet feeder as far away from your house as possible.
  • Spread 2-3 suet feeders around your yard.
  • Look for feeders with a tail prop—these types of feeders make it easier for woodpeckers to feed.
  • Woodpecker suet cakes are suitable for all seasons.
  • It is critical to use suet cakes specifically made for woodpeckers, as they are finicky eaters.

By feeding woodpeckers with suet cakes, you can effectively control their behaviour and keep them away from your cedar siding. Not only is this method safe and humane, but it's also a great way to enjoy watching these beautiful birds in your yard.

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Shelter them with a woodpecker birdhouse

If you're looking for a humane and easy way to prevent woodpeckers from damaging your cedar siding, consider investing in a woodpecker birdhouse. Not only will it provide these vibrant birds with a valuable home, but it will also deter them from drilling holes in your house.

Woodpeckers prefer to create cavities to lay their eggs, which can cause significant structural damage to your property. By placing a woodpecker birdhouse in a nearby tree, you can encourage them to nest in a ready-made box instead. Look for birdhouses made of softwood, such as cedar or pine, with rough-cut surfaces for better grip. The entrance hole should be facing slightly downwards to keep the wind and rain out, and be sure to secure it firmly to the tree.

In addition to the birdhouse, you can also provide a suet feeder to give the woodpeckers a consistent food source. This combination of food and shelter will make your property less appealing to woodpeckers, as their basic needs are already being met.

It's important to note that woodpeckers don't tend to fly far from home, so you're likely to see the same birds year after year. By providing them with a safe and comfortable space to nest, you can deter them from causing damage to your cedar siding while still enjoying their presence in your backyard.

To further enhance the appeal of your backyard to woodpeckers, consider adding fruit trees, nut-bearing shrubs, and insect-attracting plants. A bird bath will also provide them with a water source for drinking and bathing. Just remember, the more appealing your backyard is to woodpeckers, the more likely you are to have regular visitors.

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Use woodpecker spikes or netting

If you're looking for a surefire way to repel woodpeckers and prevent them from damaging your cedar siding, consider using woodpecker spikes or netting. Here's what you need to know about these methods:

Woodpecker Spikes

Woodpecker spikes are an effective way to deter woodpeckers by providing a physical barrier that prevents them from landing on the areas they love to peck. They are easy to install and won't harm the birds. However, they may not be the most aesthetically pleasing solution. When installing woodpecker spikes, consider using Velcro instead of the included glue. This allows for easier removal and reattachment if needed. Keep in mind that physical barriers like spikes should only be used as a last resort after trying other deterrents such as visual and electronic repellents.

Woodpecker Netting

Woodpecker netting is another effective method to repel woodpeckers. It involves installing a lightweight plastic mesh with a small enough mesh size to block woodpeckers from pecking. The netting is easy to install, cut, store, and reuse. It can be wrapped around stakes or installed using hooks and zip ties. While it may take some time to set up and may not be aesthetically pleasing, it provides a guaranteed way to protect your house from woodpecker damage. Similar to spikes, netting should be considered after trying other deterrents first.

By using woodpecker spikes or netting, you can effectively prevent woodpeckers from damaging your cedar siding without causing them any harm. Remember to combine these methods with other deterrents for the best results.

Frequently asked questions

Woodpeckers are likely to be damaging your cedar siding because they are searching for food, creating nests, or trying to attract other birds.

There are several ways to deter woodpeckers from your cedar siding. You can use visual deterrents such as hanging up items that will blow and swing in the breeze to scare them away, like windsocks, mylar/reflective tape, scare eye balloons, or plastic windmills. You can also use an electronic woodpecker repellent, which emits distress calls that frighten the birds away.

Longer-term solutions include replacing your cedar siding with harder wood or vinyl siding, which is more difficult for woodpeckers to peck through. You can also try to eliminate insects from your siding, as woodpeckers are often attracted to the insects in the wood.

Small holes in your cedar siding can be filled with a paintable exterior wood filler, sanded, and finished to match the siding. For larger holes, you may need to replace the entire board.

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