Is there such a thing as a TRULY "squirrel proof" birdfeeder???

[Robyncz]

I don't dislike squirrels as much as some people, but this time of year I get REALLY frustrated with them eating all the birdfood I put out for the *BIRDS*! This year I have put out several squirrel feeders as well, hoping they would leave the birdfeed for the birds, but that hasn't been the case.

Has anyone had a good experience with a "squirrel proof" feeder? If so, let me know which design.

Thanks!

[aggie94]

Nope, doesn't exist. :p

We have had mediocre success with a couple of things.

First, a squirrel baffle:

http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/img_p/AR-154_220x297.jpg

Ours is green metal and not the most attractive thing in the world, but it serves the same purpose as this one. The key with these is to hang the baffle/feeder in a location that is absolutely unreachable by other branches. If there is a branch close by that the squirrel can jump from to grab onto the feeder, he will. I think squirrels are still getting to ours, but it's taking them a lot of work, and the food is mostly going to the birds.

Second, a platform feeder:

http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/img_p/DUN-15201_250x121.jpg

The little grid is apparently too small for the squirrels to reach their mouths or hands through. Ours also seems to be working well. In addition, we have it mounted on a post, about three feet off the ground, in a location that can't be reached by squirrels. They try to climb up the post, but can't really get to the platform. The downside is that you get limited species of birds with this feeder because only the little ones can get in there for the seed.

We've also put in a squirrel box, which we keep stocked with peanuts and other goodies (corn, black oil sunflower seed). I thought the squirrels would leave the bird feeders alone if they had their own feeder, but they're greedy little suckers and will go after anything in sight. :rolleyes:

Good luck!

[JHolcomb]

I don't know how well it works, but I've seen one that spins when the squirrel lands on it and throws him off. It's fairly amusing to watch, but again, dunno if it works all of the time (squirrels can be very crafty). My mom loves squirrels and gets mad when the birds eat her squirrel food!

[SandyM]

Originally posted by JHolcomb
I don't know how well it works, but I've seen one that spins when the squirrel lands on it and throws him off. It's fairly amusing to watch, but again, dunno if it works all of the time (squirrels can be very crafty). My mom loves squirrels and gets mad when the birds eat her squirrel food!

I've seen this one at our birdseed store, and it's a riot - they have a video set up at the store to watch how it works. I would have bought one, because we have the squirrel problem too - but they're really expensive (over $100, I think). I'd hate to spend that much and not have it work. :rolleyes: :)

[muriel3002]

I just had to laugh when I read this - only because I've been in the same boat as you!

DH bought me a squirrel proof feeder, but the pesky rascals figured out out to get past the squirrel proofing, chewed through the plastic, etc. and got the seed out. Not only that but all winter I had STARLINGS (ugh!) at my feeders. That was when I gave up.

I've heard of the Yankee Flipper and I've seen it on a video. Never bought it (it was $180Cdn), but looks like it will work. See website: http://www.yankeeflipper.com/droll/index.cfm

Squirrel baffles can be effective. Locating your feeders away from trees so they can't jump from the trees onto your feeders. Also, my parents feed safflower seeds because apparently squirrels don't like them but birds do.

Good luck!

[aggie94]

Originally posted by muriel3002
Also, my parents feed safflower seeds because apparently squirrels don't like them but birds do.

Oh yeah, I forgot that one. The salesperson at Wild Birds Unlimited (in Westlake) spent a lot of time talking to us about squirrels and birds and feeders one afternoon. He said that squirrels generally don't like safflower, so to use that in the bird feeder instead of peanuts or other seed.

[Cherise]

Keeping squirrels out of the bird feeders can be very difficult. You can buy feeders that are supposed to be squirrel-proof, or you can as Aggie94 pointed out, use squirrel baffles. We have 1 feeder hanging from a tree and use a plastic baffle above, this keeps them from sliding down to the feeder from up above, they'll slide off of the baffle. If you have a feeder mounted on a post or pole, you can also buy a baffle to mount below the feeder which will keep the squirrels from climbing up to it. In either case you also need to make sure that the feeder is located far enough away from branches, fences, etc where the squirrels could jump directly onto the feeder. As for the yankee flipper, dh bought one at Wild Birds Unlimited after seeing the video. We had a few squirrels try to get on it, and they did get "flipped off", but it is actually our least popular feeder with the birds. More of a toy in my opinion than anything else. If you have a Wild Birds near you, you can go in there for some great ideas. But be careful, it's addicting. Good luck.

[Beth]

Two things I have tried that have worked pretty well --

A feeder with a squirrel and racoon baffle (a metal tube section with a top that mounts underneath the feeder and prevents them from climbing up -- we had to have one for racoons, but also saw a squirrel climb up inside the baffle and back down a few times before he gave up) mounted on a post 8-10 feet away from any fences and not under tree branches -- that worked great at our last house but harder to find a good spot like that here. One of the folks at Wild Birds here told me that if you don't like the big black metal tube baffle, you can use PVC pipe -- it would need to be at least 2-3 inches in diameter, and either mount the feeder atop that or just cover the smaller metal pole with it -- the idea is to make it large enough that they can't get their "hands" around it to hold on. The PVC pipe had the plus of being paintable if you want to hide it or decotrate it.

I currently have a square tube type hanging under the eaves in a spot betwen two brick columns. Occassionally a squirrel will leap across to it, but the perches and whole outer structure are on springs, so that the feeding stations are closed off when a squirrel lands on it. If I see a squirrel get on it, I let them check it out for a minute so they get the idea that it's not worth coming back, then open the door to make them jump and scamper off before they can tear up the sides.

I have a friend who has a feeder she loves mounted on a post in the middle of the yard. It is a green metal structure that has the perch spring-loaded to close if there is enough weight on it (i.e., a squirrel). She says it's the only thing that has worked for her.

They sell all of these types at Wild Birds Unlimited -- on the web at wbu.com. I have also seen the spring type feeders at Home Depot and Target as well as mail-order catalogs. You can probably find them most places that sell feeders and the PVC pipe at any hardware store. The metal baffles I have only seen at specialized places like Wild Birds, but I think I would try the PVC pipe and try to make it look more interesting. I try to have at least one large feeder the squirrels can't get to and then smaller ones that they can share with the birds. I had a squirrel feeder at our last house -- they liked it when I put peanuts in it, but they didn't like the other squirrel food I put in it.

[lakelady1]

I vote "no;" squirrel-proof is a contradiction in terms.

If they can't fit on it, they stand on it.

If they can't stand on it, they hang above it.

If they can't hang above it, they eat it until it is totally destroyed -- plastic, metal, teutonic steel, whatever.

If they can't do any of the above, they get all their other tree rodent friends together, dig it up during the night, and bury it way back in the woods. After emptying out the seeds and eating them all, of course.

Not that I'm bitter.

[syzygy]

After years of trying to discourage the squirrels, I think I've finally found a solution!!!!:D

Have you seen this feeder by you?
http://imageserver.homeearth.com/product_images/HM3201S_d.jpg

I recently bought one after the squirrels had destroyed several "squirrel-proof" feeders that I'd tried, and I've been very happy with it. The squirrels have been trying like crazy, but have so far been quite UNsuccessful in getting any seed from this feeder. It's fun to watch them, too -- they try to jump on it and if they do manage to land on the top without sliding off (I guess it's slippery to them), they can't lean over the front without falling off. If they land on the seed bar, their weight shuts them out.
You can get more info about the feeder here (http://shop.birdwatchersdigest.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=BWD&category%5Fname=Squirrel+Proof%28base%29&product%5Fid=HM3201S%28base%29)

I got mine at the local Walmart for $28.99, and have also seen it at Home Depot for about the same price...

[JHolcomb]

Originally posted by lakelady1


If they can't hang above it, they eat it until it is totally destroyed -- plastic, metal, teutonic steel, whatever.



My aunt's neighbor had a little pewter squirrel figurine in her garden. It was cute, the little squirrel was holding an acorn. Well, the real squirrels got so angry and jealous at the pewter squirrel because he had an acorn and they didn't that they first gnawed through the pewter acorn. After that the little buggers went after the fake squirrels eyes. Then they went after the head. By the time I saw it, it was completely headless. It was one of the most frightening things I've ever seen. I mean, they can gnaw through pewter.

[Beth]

The picture posted above by syzygy is what my friend has. She swears it is the best.

[sharris315]

DH bought me one of these--they have a battery powered perch that reacts to weight...and a squirrel is too heavy! Mine is out in the open and I have found that the spinning mechanism really isn't necessary, because the cylinder is wide and tall and the holes are on the bottom so the squirrel can't get from the top to the perch without sliding off. (They cannot reach their little arms around to get a grip on the slick cylinder to come down...I was disappointed they had no chance to "spin") I think if the feeder is located near trees, it would work as described because they could jump over from the side to the perch.

I can't help wondering why somebody else hasn't made this type feeder without the motor (wide, high cylinder, feed holes and one perch at the bottom). I've never seen one, though. I don't even keep mine charged and the squirrels can't reach the food.

It's certainly not worth the cost--and it's a pain to recharge.

[JHaris]

After years of battling the squirrels I was the joke of the family. They were always waiting to see what I would next rig up to keep them critters away from the seed. When I saw this video about the Yankee Flipper in the Wild Bird Center I felt this was perfect. The problem is that if you have two many squirrels attempting to feed or maybe one persistant one the battery runs down and you have to bring it in for recharge. Also, I found that the battery power was sapped by very cold weather. Once the battery power was zero the squirrels had a field day.

The one thing that does work is the one pictured by Syzygy. I have had that free-standing on a post in the yard for several years. I have the tube baffles on the post and even though they jump from the trees near by they can't get past the closed lid. Their weight is against them.

There is another one that is square plastic, but a metal cage over the plastic that the weight of the squirrel pulls down over the feeder openings. This has also worked very well. They are truly amazing in their antics and what they will do to get to the seeds.

Good luck!

[muriel3002]

Originally posted by sharris315
DH bought me one of these--they have a battery powered perch that reacts to weight...and a squirrel is too heavy! Mine is out in the open and I have found that the spinning mechanism really isn't necessary, because the cylinder is wide and tall and the holes are on the bottom so the squirrel can't get from the top to the perch without sliding off. (They cannot reach their little arms around to get a grip on the slick cylinder to come down...I was disappointed they had no chance to "spin") I think if the feeder is located near trees, it would work as described because they could jump over from the side to the perch.

I can't help wondering why somebody else hasn't made this type feeder without the motor (wide, high cylinder, feed holes and one perch at the bottom). I've never seen one, though. I don't even keep mine charged and the squirrels can't reach the food.

It's certainly not worth the cost--and it's a pain to recharge.

If I had one I put it by the trees, and make it squirrel accessible just to have a show!

[muriel3002]

Originally posted by lakelady1
I vote "no;" squirrel-proof is a contradiction in terms.

If they can't fit on it, they stand on it.

If they can't stand on it, they hang above it.

If they can't hang above it, they eat it until it is totally destroyed -- plastic, metal, teutonic steel, whatever.

If they can't do any of the above, they get all their other tree rodent friends together, dig it up during the night, and bury it way back in the woods. After emptying out the seeds and eating them all, of course.

Not that I'm bitter.

I also had a round ball chickadee feeder. I hung it from my gutters and the chickadees would come and grab a seed, fly away, come back... it was very peaceful...

then the squirrels found it. They found a way on the roof :eek: and tore off the plastic lid-thingy that you use to put more seed in... then they figured out how to take it off the S-hook that I was using. It was just a losing battle. Some days I wished I had a shotgun....