Tips To Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders

Squirrel Proof Bird FeedersDo you have one of those beautiful bird feeder’s in your backyard or garden that you love to watch you favor birds feed on? Have you placed it in a perfect spot for the birds, only to have the bird seeds stolen on a regular basis. Then you need one of the squirrel proof bird feeders. I know in our neighborhood squirrels are a real menace when it comes to bird feeders. I see them all the time stealing the seeds and sometime damaging the bird feeders.

If you do not want spend money buying bird feed or buying one of the squirrel proof bird feeders, then here are some tips that may help to make your bird feeder a little more squirrel proof. A course there are no guarantees when it comes trying to keep those pesky squirrels out of a bird feeder. You know they will continue to find a way to get to the bird seed if given enough time.

  • Place the bird feeder more than 10 feet away from any fence, wall, wire, swing set, tall plant, or tree limb. Squirrels are very good at climbing and jumping. Squirrels have been known to jump more than 10 feet.
  • Purchase one of the squirrel proof bird feeders designed for them. The goal is to get the squirrels to feed in the squirrel feeder instead of the bird feeder. You want to place the squirrel proof bird feeders as far from the bird feeder as possible. For squirrel feed try using corn, peanuts or sunflower seeds.
  • Grease the bird feeder support pole with petroleum jelly, Vaseline, motor oil, or WD-40 making it harder for the squirrels to climb up the pole.
  • If you hang your bird feeder from a wire, string or thread empty water bottles through the wire on each side of the feeder. This should make it more difficult for those squirrel tightrope walkers. It’s not very aesthetically pleasing but may work for you.
  • You should not hanging your bird feeder on a tree limb. This gives those pesky squirrels too many access points from other tree limbs.
  • Try spaying some squirrel repellent on or around the bird feeder. There are commercial squirrel repellent available. I have read that dumping used cats litter around the base of your bird-feeder works.
  • Purchase an overhead baffle that sits above a bird feeder. You want the largest size available to place above the feeder. This should make it more difficult for squirrels to get at a hanging bird feeder from above.
  • Try a pole with a climbing baffle. It looks like an upside-down saucer that is halfway up a pole support. It will prevents squirrels from climbing up the pole.  These climbing baffles are designed to tips when a squirrel jumps on it.
  • I have read somewhere that placing a slinky on your pole will make it really difficult for the squirrel to climb the pole. This is a fun way to make a squirrel proof bird feeders.

 Here’s an idea a mom gave her son to
deter squirrels from climbing onto his bird feeders.