Bird feeders!

[VolNExile]

—specifically, bird feeders that at least make it difficult for squirrels to empty out in under 10 minutes.

🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿

I’m going to put up several on poles, but I do want a few that hang from under the eaves, which are the most vulnerable to squirrels.

I’m resigned to losing some seed to varmints, but I’d like them to at least work for it without destroying the feeder.

Anyone have any favorites?

 

[Vol Farmer]

Nothing like a tree rat stealing food

 

[MSME Vol]

We got my dad this one for Father's Day this past year. The thing is a hoot. Squirrels only are able to get the droppings from the birds under it.

Droll Yankees® Yankee Flipper® Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder, 5 lb. capacity

 

[VolNExile]

We got my dad this one for Father's Day this past year. The thing is a hoot. Squirrels only are able to get the droppings from the birds under it.

Droll Yankees® Yankee Flipper® Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder, 5 lb. capacity

Pricey —do you think it’s worth it?

A big part of this will be the entertainment value in watching the cat, when she’s inside on one of her perches, go berserk.

 

[GoDucks349]

—specifically, bird feeders that at least make it difficult for squirrels to empty out in under 10 minutes.

🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿 🐿

I’m going to put up several on poles, but I do want a few that hang from under the eaves, which are the most vulnerable to squirrels.

I’m resigned to losing some seed to varmints, but I’d like them to at least work for it without destroying the feeder.

Anyone have any favorites?

I have two solutions for this problem, the first For feeders hanging on a vertical wire/cord/pole etc. put a slinky over the vertical area (google slinky bird feeds and you should get some idea's). The squirrels can't get a grip it's too flexible for them. The second solution is my own creation, at a home and garden store I found some spiral cut PVC that was intended for wrapping young tree trunks to protect them from deer. I wrapped it around the horizontal arm of the hanger and it spins when they try to walk on it so they can't get out to the bird feeder. Make sure the spiral cut tubing is big enough to spin freely.

Best feeder attachment I've found is the Droll Yankee "squirrel and weather guard" to work pretty well.

 

[VolNExile]

I have two solutions for this problem, the first For feeders hanging on a vertical wire/cord/pole etc. put a slinky over the vertical area (google slinky bird feeds and you should get some idea's). The squirrels can't get a grip it's too flexible for them. The second solution is my own creation, at a home and garden store I found some spiral cut PVC that was intended for wrapping young tree trunks to protect them from deer. I wrapped it around the horizontal arm of the hanger and it spins when they try to walk on it so they can't get out to the bird feeder. Make sure the spiral cut tubing is big enough to spin freely.

Best feeder attachment I've found is the Droll Yankee "squirrel and weather guard" to work pretty well.

A slinky!!! Who knew?

 

[MSME Vol]

Pricey —do you think it’s worth it?

A big part of this will be the entertainment value in watching the cat, when she’s inside on one of her perches, go berserk.

So far it has been. Nothing beats seeing them fly through the air. Plenty of you tube videos out there on them working.

 

[VolNExile]

So far it has been. Nothing beats seeing them fly through the air. Plenty of you tube videos out there on them working.

They have one of the vids on endless loop in my local independent garden center. It’s hypnotic!

 

[Rishvol]

We got my dad this one for Father's Day this past year. The thing is a hoot. Squirrels only are able to get the droppings from the birds under it.

Droll Yankees® Yankee Flipper® Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder, 5 lb. capacity

You could make on of those yourself minus the motor. Of course if you're savvy that way then add the motor

 

[VolNExile]

—Oh also, does anyone use squirrel feeders (meant for squirrels, that is), like corn cob holders? Supposedly they keep the squirrels happy elsewhere, but I can also see them serving as a billboard advertising “food in this yard!”

 

[VolNExile]

You could make on of those yourself minus the motor. Of course if you're savvy that way then add the motor

I am definitely not motor-savvy, although I have a son-in-law who is. Hmmm

 

[Danl]

We have feeders on poles and hanging from the eaves. Nothing we have tried is foolproof, but the best results we have found are using these.

Robot or human?

On the poles, we install these, upside down, around the pole higher up than a squirrel can jump. When the little bastards are on the ground under the feeder they can't see the feeder and tend to not try to climb the pole.

On the hanging feeders we put the oil pan above the feeder. Again the little fuggers can't see the feeder from above and if they do try to shimmy down the wire, they tend to slide off the oil pan.

I have also been known to expend a few rounds of .22LR for the ones that can't take a hint. There's always one!

 

[vols 30]

I've accepted the fact that squirrels are going to get there share no matter what I do.

I mean they are animals too.

#SquirrelLivesMatterToo

 

[Rishvol]

—Oh also, does anyone use squirrel feeders (meant for squirrels, that is), like corn cob holders? Supposedly they keep the squirrels happy elsewhere, but I can also see them serving as a billboard advertising “food in this yard!”

If you're going that route then make it multi-species accessable. Squirrels will still try and get the bird food no matter what

 

[VolNExile]

I've accepted the fact that squirrels are going to get there share no matter what I do.

I mean they are animals too.

#SquirrelLivesMatterToo

Exactly. As I mentioned, I’m ok with “share.” Just not an empty feeder on the ground, chewed up by rodents!

 

[VolNExile]

If you're going that route then make it multi-species accessable. Squirrels will still try and get the bird food no matter what

Didn’t know there was such a thing! I’ll check it out.

 

[VolNExile]

We have feeders on poles and hanging from the eaves. Nothing we have tried is foolproof, but the best results we have found are using these.

Robot or human?

On the poles, we install these, upside down, around the pole higher up than a squirrel can jump. When the little bastards are on the ground under the feeder they can't see the feeder and tend to not try to climb the pole.

On the hanging feeders we put the oil pan above the feeder. Again the little fuggers can't see the feeder from above and if they do try to shimmy down the wire, they tend to slide off the oil pan.

I have also been known to expend a few rounds of .22LR for the ones that can't take a hint. There's always one!

Oil pans, interesting! I can’t tell from the link: is this plastic or metal?

 

[GoDucks349]

A slinky!!! Who knew?

yea and it works!!

 

[Danl]

Oil pans, interesting! I can’t tell from the link: is this plastic or metal?

Plastic. I think any large bowl-shaped thingy would work. We have used a really large plastic salad bowl on one feeder.

 

[Tin Man]

Not the most visible in this pic, but my pole feeder has a big Ol’ disc squirrel guard.

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

To Feed or Not to Feed Wild Birds | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Not to be deebie downer, but the Wildlife Management major in me felt the unnecessary need to share this. We were always taught that bird feeders are bad as they can create a dependency for the birds to rely on the feeders, even stopping some migratory birds from continuing on.

 

[VolNExile]

I can understand that. However, I’ve only fed birds in the winter. If they’re here in western NC, they need supplemental food, whether they ought to be here or not. And Carolina wrens are mostly year-round these days. They were having a convention on our front porch today!

I don’t feed birds in summer, other than by wildlife-friendly gardens.

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

I can understand that. However, I’ve only fed birds in the winter. If they’re here in western NC, they need supplemental food, whether they ought to be here or not. And Carolina wrens are mostly year-round these days. They were having a convention on our front porch today!

I don’t feed birds in summer, other than by wildlife-friendly gardens.

I wasn’t trying to call you out individually, or anyone really, just sharing so people are more informed.

I will say, getting people interested and involved in protecting wildlife always trumps the negative effects of certain things like bird feeders.

 

[VolNExile]

I wasn’t trying to call you out individually, or anyone really, just sharing so people are more informed.

I will say, getting people interested and involved in protecting wildlife always trumps the negative effects of certain things like bird feeders.

No prob - I’m in our county Extension Master Gardener program (an intern being turned loose on an unsuspecting public) - and I cringe at some of the gardening stuff I used to do!

Do you work in wildlife management now? Please don’t break my heart and say that you are a VP of R&D for Amalgamated Snergles or something. That would be horribly sad.

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

No prob - I’m in our county Extension Master Gardener program (an intern being turned loose on an unsuspecting public) - and I cringe at some of the gardening stuff I used to do!

Do you work in wildlife management now? Please don’t break my heart and say that you are a VP of R&D for Amalgamated Snergles or something. That would be horribly sad.

Unfortunately no, the job market is very competitive, it’s not uncommon to see people with masters applying for entry level technician jobs, at least in Tennessee. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s hard to support a family on a $25k - $30k job.