How do I prevent mourning doves from eating all the finch food?

Question

They're scaring away all the finches from our finch feeder and all the other smaller birds, as well. We have a mixed seed feeder, too. They eat everything! I don't know how they get their beaks in the finch feeder, but they do. Not sure how to repel them but still attact the rest of the birds. Please don't tell me to shoot them! Thanks!

Answer 1

we have tubular hanging feeders and the doves cant land on them so they eat the overspill on the ground...

Answer 2

I agree with using the Thistle and woven sack. This is what I use and no other birds even try to eat it. The sack always has two or three Finches on it.

Answer 3

Lowes has a feeder with a wire mesh all around it. It lets the smaller birds in but the bigger birds can't get in it. We have other feeders for the bigger birds, but this one is just for our little friends.

Answer 4

Just buy more food, They have to eat too!, The only way I can feed the birds is to buy more food for the squirrels. Morning dove like to eat off the ground so put out a dish of food on the other side of the yard near trees and they might go to their side and eat.

Answer 5

the finch food we use is thistle seed it comes in a woven sack with a string attached. the birds have to hang on the sack to eat and pull the seeds out. birds other than finches are too big to do that,so only finches come to eat.