Bird Feeder Friends
How do you stop squirrels from getting into your feeder??
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Diane on -
Well I tried the pepper that you add to the seed and my squirrels seem to like it. They just hang out at the birdbath more. So don't waste your money.
We tried a tray feeder with a high, thick wire type mesh on the top. The squirrels could NOT get in, but the birds did. One day later the squirrel chewed the heck out of the side of the wooden feeder so he could squeeze his head in.
So the pepper was a waste of money and the wooden tray feeder is ruined.
We have put a baffle on a clothes line and they shimmy across the rope and slide down over the baffle and grab on the feeder. .
Someone told me that when really bad people die they come back as squirrels.
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Permalink Reply by Bird Landlord on -
Ha that's pretty funny. Yeah the pepper seems to only work selectively and I've even heard that the Twirl-a-squirrel works for a little bit, but then the squirrels learn how to run the batteries down.
Thanks for the tips on what not to try. I almost want to put up a squirrel feeder to just appease the little punks and cut my losses.
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Permalink Reply by Miranda Paymer on -
Duncraft makes some feeders that are tubes enclosed in a cage. I fed a lot of squirrels until I got this feeder. Most of the birds get in easily (though I'm not seeing any woodpeckers at the feeder any more - nor grackles). Chipmunks can still get in and I'm waiting for one to tank up too much and not be able to fit back through the holes in the cage. Squirrels really can't get at the food except for what the birds or chipmunks drop to the ground; they'd been pretty tenacious otherwise. Other companies might make a similar style feeder, but I got this one from Duncraft (and no, I don't work for Duncraft (-; ).
My husband caught a TV show years ago that showed squirrels outwitting virtually every "squirrel proof" feeder; they even worked in teams. This feeder actually seems to have stopped them; I haven't even had one chew through the metal mesh - and I've had this feeder for a couple of years, so.......
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Permalink Reply by Bird Landlord on
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Thanks was it any feeder in particular? I wonder why woodpeckers and grackles don't use the feeder anymore. Thanks for the info!
Miranda Paymer said:Duncraft makes some feeders that are tubes enclosed in a cage. I fed a lot of squirrels until I got this feeder. Most of the birds get in easily (though I'm not seeing any woodpeckers at the feeder any more - nor grackles). Chipmunks can still get in and I'm waiting for one to tank up too much and not be able to fit back through the holes in the cage. Squirrels really can't get at the food except for what the birds or chipmunks drop to the ground; they'd been pretty tenacious otherwise. Other companies might make a similar style feeder, but I got this one from Duncraft (and no, I don't work for Duncraft (-; ).
My husband caught a TV show years ago that showed squirrels outwitting virtually every "squirrel proof" feeder; they even worked in teams. This feeder actually seems to have stopped them; I haven't even had one chew through the metal mesh - and I've had this feeder for a couple of years, so.......
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Permalink Reply by Dolfan on -
Here's a link to the Gemini "No Squirrels Allowed" Feeder. Works like a champ, and doesn't have any ugly cages. It's a ton of fun to watch the squirrels attempt to defeat it. They just don't understand magnets ;)
www.geminifeeders.net
Thanks,
Jim
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Permalink Reply by Bird Landlord on
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That's pretty clever....I'm surprised there's not more innovation to keep squirrels out. Thanks Jim.
Dolfan said:Here's a link to the Gemini "No Squirrels Allowed" Feeder. Works like a champ, and doesn't have any ugly cages. It's a ton of fun to watch the squirrels attempt to defeat it. They just don't understand magnets ;)
www.geminifeeders.net
Thanks,
Jim
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Permalink Reply by gypsymom3 on
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I have a caged feeder that birds refuse to enter. I have tried different seeds and have spread seeds on the bottom tray of the feeder in hopes of encouraging birds to use it. The birds will eat the seed on the tray but refuse to enter the cage area to continue to eat.
The squirrels have chewed through the "anti-squirrel" suet feeder (this is the second time) and have taken over the feeders since winter set in.
I am thinking of trying to Gemini feeder.
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Permalink Reply by Gemini Girl on -
We purchased a http://www.yankeeflipper.com/droll/index.cfm Yankee Flipper several years ago. The squirrels will try to get on it several times then they give up. It always keeps the starlings and grackles off of the feeder.
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Permalink Reply by Marcy on
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The magnet thing sounds good, I will check it out maybe sometime when I move and can have my own yard. The only thing that worked for me is using the safflower seed in regular feeder and thistle seed in the finch feeder. I don't get too many different birds now, mostly chickadees, sparrows, rare cardinal & bluejay, now I have some Juncos on the floor of balcony eating the thistle parts. I have pure suet for the woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees. The squirrels don't like any of those seeds or suet w/o treats in it. Even on the coldest day in winter I may see one out there, tasting some at the feeder, but they never stay. A squirrel ripped my screen door open to come in and eat my bag of whole peanuts I had out of sight in my living room once! I wanted to kick his **s! I really am not a huge squirrel fan anymore because of all the food they ate and destruction they caused to so many feeders I had!
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