boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I am thinking about putting up a bird feeder. I have een all kinds of them the promote squirrel proof. I kinda doubt this. Is there such a thing. Those critters are exteremly clever at raiding feeders

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Very difficult, but Tony Northrup had a backyard bird photography youtube video that showed one that had legs that the birds could stand on that would bear their weight as they fed. They were spring loaded and would collapse under the weight of a squirrel. Looked like it might work...

twhrider Loc: Indiana

Depending on your surroundings, we've had very good luck with putting the feeders sufficiently high enough up on a pole (approximately 8 feet) and then cutting a hole in a lid from a 55 gallon trash can to put on the pole a couple of feet below the feeders. This makes a baffle that the squirrels so far haven't figured out. It's flexible enough, and bows down, so that when they try to climb out on it it gives and throws them off. Now, we don't have surrounding overhead trees close enough that they can jump from, which could be part of our success.

PhotoPhred Loc: Cheyney, Pa

If you hang them from a tree limb, use 2 baffles about 4 inches apart. If you use a pole, instead of a trash can lid, an empty 1 gallon milk/juice jug with the bottom cut out also works well. These techniques have worked for me. Good luck.

HallowedHill Loc: Chattanooga, TN

It's legit. I have used these products and they keep the squirrels at bay. Now the dang raccoons (*&^T^%$(*&(*&^*(&^%&$! :twisted:


http://bromebirdcare.com/

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

There are feeders that will prevent squirrels, et al from raiding them. Wild Birds Unlimited sells several sizes that work well. I use five feeders that hold 3# each and prevent squirrels from eating seed. The feeder is adjustable to allowed the user to vary the weight needed to close the feeding holes. I set my tree mounted feeders so the weight of any larger woodpeckers will cause the feeding holes to close. It does not take much frustration to cause the unwanted feeders to go elsewhere. These feeders are very good at preventing unwanted eaters.

A. J. Loc: PA. USA

You may want to try www.amazon.com and type in search column, Squirrel proof birdfeeders.

Bird feeders have to be kept at least 5 feet away from jumping off places such as trees ect.

I also like baffles over or under birdfeeders; one is called Sky Café, it is over birdfeeder.

If you are looking at platform feeders, an under birdfeeder mount will be necessary.

Bird feeders must also be high enough that squirrels can not jump from the ground onto the birdfeeder.

An inexpensive book called, "Enjoying Squirrels More or Less", sold by Drs. Foster and Smith or Amazon, could prove valuable in helping to deter the little rascals.

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

We got one at Lowes or Home Depot that worked great in our back yard where we had lots and lots of squirrels. Previous owner hand fed them and built squirrel houses. It was a squirrel designed back yard with lots of trees and a peanut bin that was always full.

The feeders we got are a rectangular metal box that holds the seed and with an adjustable spring loaded perch across the front. The feeder stays open when the birds are on the perch, but as soon as a squirrel gets on, the weight forces the feeder to close completely up. No way can they get the seed. But they did try. At the time they were about $40 may be more now.
Here is a link to one very similar. Be sure to use a pole mount and not hang it. The squirrels can get to the seed from the hanger without touching the perch. But Works very well when put on a pole.

http://www.duncraft.com/Original-Absolute-Squirrel-Proof

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I have two Brome 1024 Squirrel Buster Plus Wild Bird Feeder with Cardinal Perch Ring feeders that I got from Amazon. They work well frustrating squirrels.

Larrymc Loc: Mississippi

Find a "Twirl a Squirrel" http://www.amazon.com/Twirl---Squirrel-Squirrels-Activates-Carousel/dp/B005XKS8GK/ref=sr_1_3/178-5147505-3116342?ie=UTF8&qid=1430446241&sr=8-3&keywords=twirl-a-squirrel You might even get some fun squirrel action photos. Not sure how effective it is in the long run but the videos are fun to watch.

picpiper Loc: California

We have had bird feeders 10' outside our bedroom window for decades - it would be very quiet and sad if they weren't around.

We just hang regular feeders on tree branches with an "S" hook between rope and wire. We have squirrels, foxes, raccoons and miscellaneous other critters crawling around in our fig, redwood and pine trees. Never seen a squirrel trying to get down onto the feeder. However, I think this might be because we always get the feeders that have very skinny perching areas - 1" - 1.5" wide. Larger birds even have trouble!

What's always surprised us is that the squirrels don't even go after seed that is flicked onto the ground for the ground feeders.

All the pictures except the first and last were taken through double-paned windows.

Our feeders hanging on fig tree branch


About the largest bird that can sit on perch


Bigger ones just hang on by their toenails


Maybe these neighbors are watching over the little ones!

Jana-TAS Loc: Washington

First off it depends on what you are interested in attracting. To keep squirrels from wanting at your feeders once you get some I would suggest you get on the email list for springhillnursery.com They have taken over for audubonworkshop.com So then you will get coupons in your email.

Then after purchasing shepards hooks you will then be able to purchase the squirrel baffles from springhillnursery.com when getting the coupons. That is how I got mine from audubonworkshop.com years ago to save the money. If you are interested in attracting the woodpeckers in your area best thing you can feed is suet but you will not want to be feeding in the all open-like square feeder. If you do then Crows, grackles, and Starlings will be able to take large amounts at once. The #1 suet feeder is a Sandwich Log; #2 choice for me has been the regular "Log-jammer Hardwood suet feeder" but then you will need the #199 Create-a-Haven wire cage for around it and the SB5 Large Green Metal Baffle to first hang from the hook. The Chickadees and smaller birds appear to like to feed from this format of a feeder too. The Starlings can get some but not nearly as large of an amount as the all open-like square feeder. There are other formats to choose from but those would be the choices I would first suggest for you. If you have a tall snag of a tree in your yard the Sandwiches also help encourage woodpeckers to play with a tall snag more. That is why I purchased my Sandwiches in the first place. They have very much helped. The Pileated's will eat and then go up and work hard sometimes. It's awesome to watch. Although with a Sandwich log it's easier to use if you make your own suet like I do for putting the suet inside of the feeder. Also if you are having a problem with squirrels wanting at your feeders but you are not feeding corn on the cob on either side of your property. If you already have a fence all the way around your backyard just put up a corn on the cob feeder in 2 places on either side of the fence. If you do not have a fence just get 2 4 x 4's and put someplace that will be good for you to get good shots of the birds and squirrels while they feed 'cause having the corn on the cob will also help you attract jay-like birds and the droppings of the corn if you have a pond will possibly help attract ducks to be visiting you. Now that mallards know we have a backyard pond and the corn on either side out back we sometimes have up to 4 Drakes and 3 or 4 Hens sometimes. They I'm pretty sure are living in a small restoration pond about 2 yards kiddy corner to our property. At least a couple of them. Others possibly about 5 min. away. If you have a local Wild Birds Unlimited near your place you might find the feeder and other items I suggested for you in their shop.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

It doesn't matter what sort of feeder you put up the squirrels will usually find a way to get to it.

The key to excluding the little tree rats is use a pole that they can't climb and place it where they can't jump or climb down on it.

1. There are baffles for this purpose that when placed high enough on the pole where they can't jump past it will prevent them from going further.
-or-
2. Use a smooth diameter pole where the diameter is too large for them to wrap their legs around it and grip such as vinyl pipes or fence post.

There are also baffles that hang loosely above the feeder so when the squirrel jumps or climbs on it will deflect and cause it to fall off. Works fairly well but not 100%.

I had one smart squirrel that would leap from an over head branch (10 diagonal feet) on to the hanging baffle shaking the feeder causing the food to spill out. He would fall to the ground (7 ft) and feast on the seeds. He made a game out of it and after awhile wouldn't even eat the food.

I watched him do this about a dozen times in a row right in from of me. That was his demise.

Phg Loc: Canada

I love bird feeders but found out to my dismay they attract rats as well. I had to take them down!

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

mine is hanging from a heavy duty electrical cable, found a squirill traversing it like a sloth. maybe 100# fishing line would be better.