My new squirrel proof bird feeder....
mbug_gw
8 years ago
.....someone didn't get the memo!
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peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
8 years ago
timhensley
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoRelated Discussions
squirrel proofing suet feeders
Comments (6)Keilamarie, Now that's a suet feeder!! Short of building one myself (it's not patent pending is it? :), you did give me a good idea. I think you're right about the back feet. I was watching one of the little bastards on the suet this morning (I forgot to put out peanuts) and he was clinging on with his back feet and holding the suet basket with both front paws while he chewed away at the corners of the suet. Seeing your contraption made me realize that if I cover the sides of the suet basket with something (strips of wood perhaps), they won't be able to get a mouthful since it appears that they actually chew around the corner bars. I actually have a suet basket hanging from the trunk of my maple in the front yard just outside one of the upper windows. After scaring the squirrel away, I went and threw some cayenne pepper on the suet cake. My neighbours can't see the basket since it's on the house side of the tree, so I'm sure if anyone saw me it will be dinner table discussion tonight. "Honey, the new neighbour was sprinkling red powder on the tree again!!?? And he was talking to himself...he looked mad."...See MoreSquirrel Proof Feeder:
Comments (8)I bought two different ones at HD last spring, one that's never been raided by anything furry, the other once that I've witnessed but it's neither have ever been emptied by anything but a bird. On the one, the perches are mounted to a cage that is attached to a spring. If anything heavier than your typical feathered friends get on it, the spring stretches, the cage drops and some decorative metal leaves block the holes. Once the intruder jumps off, the spring retracts and it returns to normal. On the other, there's a single perch bar with a counterweight attached. The food comes out in a tray in front of the perch. If anything heavy gets on that, the perch tilts down. If they manage to hang on, it also covers the tray. That was the one that an intrepid squirrel managed to get into after much effort. He didn't get much before he fell off. He stood there and looked at it and I could almost imagine him thinking "S O a B" Had a crow land on it one time and he swung upside down before plopping on the ground. He was not pleased either. You can adjust the counterweight on it as well if you want to keep larger birds off but I've never tried it. They're both only about 3 feet off the ground hanging from a 2x4 crossbar attached to a 5' 4x4 so it's not like they can't get to them. The first one was the "Perky-Pet Wildbird Squirrel-Be-Gone" and the other was the Squirrel Be Gone II. If I were to rate them I would give the first one 9 out of 10 and the other a 7 out of 10. The only issue with the first one was a flimsy hanger that I replaced with some heavy gauge wire and the other, well, a squirrel did get into it although they leave it alone 95% of the time. I've had one similar to the picture and while ours was squirrel proof, it was also as rhizo_1 mentioned, bird-proof. The one I bought had a suet feeder in it. The first suet cake I put in ended up about 5% eaten and the rest turned to rock. I made it into an improvised bike basket for our granddaughter....See MoreShow Me Your Anti-Squirrel Bird Feeder Set-Up
Comments (10)I don't have a pic at the moment, but a squirrel has never made it onto my platform feeder since we put it up many years ago. It is made of threaded iron pipe hammered into the ground with a screw on flange attached to the feeder. Below the feeder is a baffle made out of round metal duct probably 6" diameter and 2' long. There are some sheet metal strips crisscrossed to close off the top of the baffle tube and to give it some way to hang off the pole with another pipe fitting. The bottom of the feeder is probably a little under 5' off the ground. The pole has a clear area of maybe 4-5' all the way around. It is also a good 10' away from anything real high that they could use to jump down onto it from above. The setup is ugly as sin, but it works. I plan on trying to use a pole in an umbrella stand next so that I can move it around easily since I don't use it in the summer. I have heard that a baffle made out of 4" pvc with a cap is sufficient too. I wonder though if the plastic would not get roughed up enough over time to let them get a grip. Here are instructions for that type of baffle and it looks a lot better than mine. I'll have to try one with a nice cap and black finish someday Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-make-a-squirrel-and-raccoon-bird-feeder-baffle/...See MoreKeeping Squirrels off Squirrel Proof Feeder
Comments (3)One thing I've tried but sadly, it only works for a short time is this: Spray the pole and every place the squirrels may touch with oily cooking spray. Then sprinkle it HEAVILY with red pepper. They really hate red pepper. The rain will wash it all away and red pepper is NOT cheap in the bigger containers, but it works. I mostly use it when I'm at my wit's end just to get the satisfaction of watching them try to get to the seed but can't. If someone could come up with a good reliable and affordable solution to this, they could make a lot of money! We've tried all the squirrel baffles, supposedly squirrel proof feeders, etc. but they always find a way around it....See Moretimhensley
8 years agoin ny zone5
8 years ago
sandyslopes z5 n. UT
8 years agoWhere there's a will, there's a way .....said every squirrel out there.
DelawareDonna Zone 7A
8 years agombug_gw
8 years agoirawon zone 5a Ottawa.ca
8 years ago
don_in_colorado
8 years ago
The squirrel and I have a deal: I give her a treat once or twice a week, and she stays out of the hostas. Look, she's smiling!
myermike_1micha
8 years ago
Jon 6a SE MA
8 years agoJon 6a SE MA
8 years ago
josephines167 z5 ON Canada
8 years ago
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littlebug zone 5 Missouri