Corn for Squirrels – Alternative to Nuts
If you’ve seen the cartoon movie Ice Age, you’re familiar with the squirrel constantly in search of nuts. In fact, if I asked you what you think you should feed squirrels, you would probably answer “nuts”. While nuts are the classic squirrel food, research has discovered that a constant diet of nuts is innutritious for squirrels. Looks like too much of a good thing applies to squirrels, too!
Indiana has four species of tree squirrels including the fox squirrel, gray squirrel, red squirrel, and southern flying squirrel (learn more at the Indiana Government website). What do all of these squirrels have in common? They’re all in search of snacks to help them get through these freezing winter conditions.
Many people think that squirrels are in hibernation during the cold winter months, but actually they don’t fully hibernate. Squirrels sleep in their nests and usually only venture outside in search of food. If you see a squirrel outside during the winter, it usually means that little guy is hungry!
Instead of putting out more nuts, which can be bad for squirrels’ health, try adding some variety to their diet with corn. When eaten in moderation, corn is easy to eat, a good source of fiber, and is full of vitamins. Just like with chickens, corn can help keep squirrels warm because it helps keep their digestive system on track, generating more warmth. Corn is also an inexpensive snack for squirrels, making it easier to keep their feeders stocked throughout the winter.
When providing corn feed for squirrels, remember that their food and water must be fresh at all times. If mold grows on the food it could be dangerous for the health of the squirrel. At Daily Family Farms, we pride ourselves on providing fresh, quality corn feed for animals year round. We guarantee that any order you place with us is freshly grown and shipped directly from our farm to your home.
If you’d like to help feed your backyard squirrels this winter, consider Daily’s your source for fresh corn. Our corn comes in multiple sizes to accommodate whatever you need – starting at just $6.50 per pound.
Additionally, if you need to find a squirrel feeder for your corn, check out this online shop full of feeder options.
Squirrel feeders are typically built to be difficult for squirrels to get into due to the fact that squirrels are opportunistic feeders. This means that if they find food, they’ll gorge themselves because they’re not sure when their next meal will be coming. Although this is certainly understandable, we don’t want the squirrels to get stomachaches from too much food. By making the feeder tough to access, the squirrel will eat a more reasonable amount of food and have a healthier weight than a squirrel with unlimited access to food.
In Indiana, we want to keep our squirrels happy and healthy throughout the winter season. They’ll appreciate finding a safe place to come find food. By not putting out nuts for your squirrels, they’re guaranteed to have variety added to their diet and stay healthier throughout the winter. Enjoy keeping your backyard visitors fed this winter!