Best squirrel proof feeder?

[nmayhew]

Hi,

Squirrels have gone through my last 2 seed feeders hung from birdtable.

do the "squirrel proof" feeder within a cage ones actually work, and if so which one is best and where is the best source?

the new feeder will likely be hung from a tree over the lawn - my current fat ball holder hung in similar fashion gets no attention from squirrels.

thanks for all your help,

Nick

[seasprout]

Grey furry gits....

The cage type feeders are ok until a small squirrel gets in, its rare but it does happen. Also the birds can be a little scared and avoid them, thus food begins to rot.

You wouldn't know until you try this type of feeder though.

Have you tried decoy feeding..?? Some birdfood sprinkled about the garden a bit..?? The squirrel will always go for the easier treats first.

I have a Squirrel feeder, the type where you put nuts and seeds in and the Furry gits lift the hatch to get at the food, it really works well, they just help themselves and generally leave the birds food alone.

Another thing i have is a green funnel baffle, its basically a cone on one of those pole bird feeding stations, i can hang different feeders and dishes for the birds and the squirrel cannot get up to them, downside is you have to have it away from trees etc.. that squirrels can use to jump from, this means it's a bit out in the open.

Here are a couple of sites that sell bird feeding stuff, the cone baffle is from RSPB shop site..

Please enable your cookies This link does work, it just looks odd.!

CJ WildBird Foods [UK]. Wild Bird food, seed, feeders, nest boxes, bird houses, water baths and more. Online Shop

[dogsbody]

Hi Nick,

there are many on the market, but have you thought about giving them their own? that way they may leave the others alone......

[Tam]

Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder GUARANTEED

This is the only one I have found to be squirrel proof and have now used them for a couple of years. Just make sure you follow the distance and height rules.

[nmayhew]

thanks for all your responses

i have seen the "slide down" squirrel proof ones on the net - to be honest i am not convinced it won't sieze up either in our climate or with bits of food.

i think my problem is that currently it's hung off a bird table, and the sq just leans across and gets a mouthful!

i will get one of the cage in cage efforts and hang that up from the oak in our garden and let you know what happens - the fatballs hung in similar fashion seem squirrel proof (or maybe he just goes for the easy stuff)

either way, the squirrels pay eventually: Spitfire my cat is a rabbit and squirrel killing machine!!

thanks again for your help

nick

[Redpepper]

Hi Nick
I have a Nuttery cage feeder hung from a tree in the corner of the garden above the lawn....haven't noticed the squirrels getting to it yet. Got it from here;

Wild Bird Feeders - available online at "The Bird Table"

[Tam]

As I said in my original reply, I have used the drop down feeders for over two years now without any problems. The squirrels did leap on them when we first got them, but eventually gave up when they couldn't get at the nuts. Before this, I spent well over a hundred pounds on various caged feeders and found them all completely useless. I must say that I had to admire the horrible grey beasties for the determination they showed in destroying them all. As for the sticking, you are advised to oil the wire.

[Lazgaot]

I saw a clever simple deterrant in a magazine recently...(cant remember the name) Essentially it was a largeplastic bottle, like a 2l coke bottle with the bottom cut off. This was hung from a tree with rope or wire round the top of the bottle and the wire goes down the inside of the bottle coming out the bottom where ti attaches to the bird feeder.

Its all suspended from a branch and the idea is that the bottle offers the squirrel no grip so they can't get to the bottom of it (and to the bird feed) without sliding off and to the ground.

[Shaun the Sheep]

And I thought I'd invented the plastic bottle deterrent!! It really does work but the squirrels have now started climbing up the tree trunk and jumping across sideways to get onto the feeder. They only seem to succeed about one in three times, but they still keep trying.

Perhaps nmayhew would like to lend me Spitfire the cat?

[nmayhew]

perhaps i should hire him out?!

despite having a rabbit warren less than 75yds away (at the back of the field in the pic) our veggie patch has also remained surprisingly bunny free.

wonder why???

[Shaun the Sheep]

He looks so sweet! But I don't think the bunnies think so. Our garden is always full of neighbours' cats but they don't do anything useful - they just think my flower and veg beds are their for their convenience!

[GrubbyGirl]

Have you tried decoy feeding..?? Some birdfood sprinkled about the garden a bit..?? The squirrel will always go for the easier treats first.

I have a Squirrel feeder, the type where you put nuts and seeds in and the Furry gits lift the hatch to get at the food, it really works well, they just help themselves and generally leave the birds food alone.

This is the only think I have found that really works, and I spent a fortune on "so called" squirrel proof feeders. Squirrels love peanuts more than anything so a squirrel feeder will definitely keep them off the bird food, just put it away from the bird food. I also have a metal one as they destroyed my first wooden one.

Angela