How can i keep squirrels out of my bird feeder?
That has been a problem for as long as man has fed birds. Difficulty: Moderate Squirrels are wily little rodents noted for being able to outsmart just about anyone who tries to deny them access to bird feeders. Squirrels can walk on wire, jump almost 4 feet straight up, leap 10 feet across, and climb almost anything. Steps Contact a bird-feeding specialty store either in person, by phone or online, and ask about "squirrel-proof" bird feeders. Purchase a recommended feeder. Buy or make a squirrel baffle if you intend to mount the feeder on a post. A baffle is designed to foil squirrels that can jump or climb onto the feeder from the ground. Mount feeder on post and add baffle according to instructions. Or, Mount your feeder in the middle of a long wire that extends from your house to a tree in your yard. String empty film canisters, empty plastic soda bottles, sections of hose, old vinyl records, spools of thread, or PVC pipe all along the wire. Use any objects that will cause squirrels to slip off the wire if they walk on it. Try providing squirrels with their own feeding station if all else fails, and give them whole dried corn and seeds that they like. Tips & Warnings One of the most successful squirrel baffles, the Pole Mount Cylindrical Squirrel Baffle, is made by ERVA. Putting grease or oil on poles sometimes prevents squirrels from climbing. Try enclosing the entire feeder in a wire cage that denies access to squirrels, but allows birds in. If you are bitten by a squirrel, seek medical attention immediately.
How have you defeated squirrels at your bird feeders?
I can’t say I defeated squirrels 100%, but I’ve come fairly close. Here are some recommendations that have worked for me:Don’t hang a feeder under trees, or from tree limbs.Place your feeder station at least 10 feet from any trees or likely launching pad for a squirrel.I use 2 kinds of ‘poles’ for my feeders. The first type is a three piece, round pole. I tried several feeder and found the best ones look like a cylinder with a diameter of about 8 inches and length of 16–20 inches. The top half is where the bird food is poured. The pole attaches to feeder in the middle of the unit. This approach makes the feeder squirrel proof (not flying squirrel proof). The squirrels can climb the pole, but end up inside the bottom half of the feeder with no way of reaching the food above. (To visualize, think about two soup cans joined with their opened ends facing in different directions. Now, place this on a wooden dowel. The top is for food, the bottom foils the rodent.)The 2nd ‘pole’ I use is a Sheppard’s Hook. Attach a metal “Slinky” to the top of the Sheppard’s Hook so that the pole is inside the Slinky. I’ve noticed the squirrels attempt to jump up and climb the pole, only to grab on to the Slinky, and have the toy slide them back down to the ground.I have yet to find something to stop the flying squirrels from ravaging my suet feeders and bird feeder during the cold months, so I remove the stations 1/2 hour after sunset and replace them in the morning.
How can I keep squirrels away from my suet feeders?
The best types of birdseeds including black oil sunflower seeds, nuts and suet, are just as attractive to squirrels as they are to birds.I love birds and squirrel too as both are adorable.But here I have to justify birds as squirrels tend to scare or chase away birds and may stay at the same feeder until it is empty, consuming seeds quickly without the birds getting a bite.Also squirrels can also be predators and have been known to eat eggs and kill nestlings.Squirrels can jump distances of 10 feet or greater, so place feeders well away from trees, wires, porches, gutters and other launching points to make it more difficult for squirrels to get on the feeder.Place a wire cage around a bird feeder that squirrels will not fit through but with openings that will not restrict smaller birds from feeding.This is also useful for preventing larger birds, such as starlings, grackles and pigeons, from accessing the feeder.Add smooth plastic or metal baffles above and below bird feeders.Squirrels are less attracted to nyjer and safflower seed, both of which have a bitter taste.Bird Feeder : Squirrel-ProofSome bird feeders videos ….Squirrel Proof Suet BirdfeederSQUIRREL PROOF : SUET FEEDERSquirrel-proofingBirds Feeder : Squirrel & Big Grackle ProofHang a camera in front side of birdfeeder poles.Happy Birdwatching & the Baby.~~~~~~~~Courtesy : google & youtube
How do you use a slinky to keep the squirrels away from bird feeders? I've read about using them, but haven't seen how they are attached. I use pole hooks for my feeders.
It goes around the poole, under the feeder. They keep trying to climb it, and it stretches.Here are videos on YouTube showing how it works:slinky bird feeder - YouTube
What is the best way to keep squirrels from eating out of your bird feeders?
I think Bennett has a good idea. There are several products on the market that have the capsaicin or concentrated oil of pepper in them. Havahart makes a product called “Critter Ridder” in both a granular and in a spray that is very effective. The spray will have to be repeated about every 30 days or so to stay effective. Another way to prevent the squirrels from climbing up and into your bird feeder is to grease the pole it is on! Canola oil works great! Placing a cone on your pole also works out well but the greased pole is funnier to watch!!
What would be the best way to keep squirrels away from my deer feeder?
I have a feeder with a timer and a solar panel but squirrels are getting up there and chewing my wiring and eating my corn I have a varmint cage but they are still getting to my wires I have considered getting one of those plastic owls I need to do something without scaring away the deer that are frequenting there
HOW DO I KEEP SQUIRRELS OFF MY DECK?
How I keep squirrels from eating my birdseed and bird suet: 1. I installed a squirrel feeder http://www.flickr.com/photos/21211516@N0... at the back of my yard and I keep it full of black-oil sunflower seeds. 2. I put a squirre baffle (terrible picture, but the only one I have right now) http://www.flickr.com/photos/21211516@N0... on my bird feeder pole. Squirrels can climb, jump, leap, and it even seems like they can levitate to get to birdseed when they want it. This squirrel http://www.flickr.com/photos/21211516@N0... leaped onto my bird feeders from a nearby branch, and I had to cut the branch off. I have tried "treating" the bird seeds with nasty or hot-tasting things, and it didn't seem to work for me.
What is the best way to keep squirrels out of the garden?
If you’re feeding birds and you’re getting squirrels of any kind during the day, it’s odds-on that you’re getting these visitors at night:That’s what we found out after hearing noises in our attic one night. Rats are nocturnal, so you’ll never see them during the day (unless you’re really infested), but if you’ve got squirrels of any kind coming during daytime, it’s pretty much guaranteed you have rats visiting at night.The exterminator we called told us that if we wanted to get rid of the rats, we had to get rid of the food sources that attracted them.We learned that we absolutely positively had to sweep up/rake up any spilled birdseed. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.We changed to a bird feeder that had a “skirt” to catch some of the seeds the birds scattered; we also changed the type of seed we used to a mix the birds didn’t throw around so much, and we moved the feeder location to a place that made it easier to clean up seed spills.We finally got rid of the rats; we also now understand that squirrels of any kind are “rats in baby clothes,” and squirrels during the daytime means rats at night.
Is there a good squirrel-proof peanut bird feeder?
I don't know that my suggestion is completely squirrel proof but I have this in my back yard and it works for me. I have a container attached to a clothes line that I reel out each night with peanuts in it (shelled) that the jays, cardinals and other birds feed from. The peanut are usually eaten by 8.30 am. Squirrels used to go hand over hand out to this container a few years ago but have not done it for the past 3 years. The other definitely squirrel proof feeder is "The Big Top" bird feeder made by the Droll Yankee company. It is not designed for whole peanuts but will serve the purpose.
How do I keep Doves out of my bird feeder?
I finally got squirrels out of my hanging feeder but now I have a new problem. What I believe to be Mourning Doves fly to my feeder and just sit in it feasting on the seeds. The dove will clean out the entire feeder in about 30 minutes and I can't afford to feed them too! How can I keep them out but still attract the Cardinals, Wrens, Chickadees, etc. that I want?