Will Wind Chimes Keep Squirrels Away?

The wind chime is a popular decorative household ornament that is traditionally used outdoors in the garden, although some people do like to keep wind chimes inside their homes.

In the olden times, wind chimes were originally used to be able to tell the time and were also said to be able to keep away evil spirits and bad luck from entering a home.

Nowadays, wind chimes are also commonly kept in gardens and backyards as a way to deter animals and scare them away due to the sound of the chimes as they move in the wind.

However, if you would like to use wind chimes as a way to keep squirrels away from your backyard or home, then you’ll likely find that the wind chimes are not an effective way to keep squirrels at bay.

Generally speaking, wind chimes may be able to startle squirrels from the sound created by the chimes, and this could then cause them to run away. Although, it is also highly likely that as soon as the wind chimes die down when the breeze stops blowing, the squirrel will simply come back.

In addition to this, squirrels are also known for their intelligence, which means that any squirrels trying to get into your garden will become used to the sound of the wind chimes sooner or later, and will also be able to understand that the chimes pose no threat.

Nevertheless, if you would like to try out using wind chimes to keep squirrels away from your home, then you should make sure that you position them in an area of your house that is close to the garden.

If you place your wind chimes close to your house, then the squirrels may confuse the wind chimes for general human activity, and scurry into your garden or nearby foliage.

Besides keeping your wind chimes close to your garden, you should also make sure that you are placing the wind chimes directly in the direction of the wind, as this will help to ensure that the wind chimes get caught in the wind and are able to make plenty of noise.

As we have already mentioned, there is a strong chance that the wind chimes will not be enough to effectively keep squirrels away from your home.

For this reason, we recommend that you also choose to combine the wind chimes with another pest deterring strategy that will be able to maximize the chances of keeping squirrels away from your home.

In particular, we recommend using a squirrel or small pest deterrent spray that will expel a strong scent that squirrels will hate.

If you need a recommendation, the Mighty Mint Peppermint Oil Rodent Repellent Spray is an awesome choice to consider. 

As you might have already guessed from the name of the spray, the scent repeller is infused with a strong peppermint fragrance that will repel squirrels (and other small animals) as well as provide long-lasting protection that won’t need to be reapplied even if it rains.

Do wind chimes keep rabbits away?

Similar to other small animals such as squirrels, wind chimes do very little in effectively keeping rabbits away long term. On a temporary basis, wind chimes may be able to scare rabbits away due to the sudden sound of the chimes getting caught in the wind.

However, it is highly likely that rabbits will simply get used to the sound of your wind chimes moving in the wind, so it is recommended that you choose an alternative method of deterring little rabbits from your garden.

One of the most effective ways that you can keep rabbits out of your garden is by installing garden fencing around the perimeter of your backyard. For the best results, we ideally recommend that you use a small mesh material with small, one-inch holes in diameter.

This will help to keep rabbits out as they will be unable to get through the mesh barrier, and are a particularly good idea for those who have garden crops or flower beds that they would like to keep protected and safe from curious noses.

In addition to installing a protective barrier around the perimeter of your backyard, another way that you can help to keep rabbits from wandering into your garden is by creating your very own repellent spray that will be able to keep small animals and even insects away from your garden.

To make this repellent spray, you will need to find an old spray bottle that you no longer use, or alternatively purchase one new. Mix a little bit of garlic and chili powder into a spray bottle filled with water and liquid detergent, then spray the mixture all over your garden, or the area of it in which you would like rabbits to stay away from. 

This homemade repellent is very effective at keeping rabbits away, although keep in mind that you will need to frequently re-spray it in your garden, especially if you live in an area where it rains a lot.

Do windchimes scare birds?

Besides adding a beautiful decorative element to your garden, wind chimes are very effective in scaring away birds! The reason for this mainly comes down to the nature of wind chimes.

When the weather is calm, the wind chimes will not make a sound, however, all it takes is a sudden gust of wind to send the wind chimes knocking against each other, and this unexpected loud noise of the chimes is enough to send all types of birds packing.

Nevertheless, do keep in mind that, although wind chimes do have the ability to scare off birds thanks to their tendency to make noise at random in accordance with the weather, wind chimes will only ever provide you with temporary results, so you might find that birds come back after the wind chimes have died down.

To help counteract this, we recommend pairing your windchimes with another bird deterrent, such as a scarecrow.