We have a very interesting bunch of birds in our yard. Yellow finches, bluebirds, cardinals, etc. We would like to put out a bird feeder for their enjoyment. Preferably without entertaining our local squirrels. Any suggestions? They thank you.
-
July 21, 2010 7:21 p.m. cwh SuperDork
-
July 21, 2010 7:35 p.m. Kia_racer HalfDork
hang the feeder from a tree with a upside down pie plate above it.
-
July 21, 2010 7:37 p.m. alex Dork
http://www.amazon.com/Outwitting-Squirrels-Stratagems-Dramatically-Misappropriatio...
Haven't read it, but I have it on good authority it's utterly hilarious.
-
July 21, 2010 8:46 p.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork
We got one that is basically a bird cage with some small holes in it. The squirrels had a hard time getting into the seed in the middle, but eventually figured out how to game the system. I think it did keep the coon out, though. That one was about the most squirrel resistant feeder we've had. I don't know if there's a squirrel proof one. Kinda like idiot resistant. They just keep making better idiots.
-
July 21, 2010 9:24 p.m. Mikey52_1 Reader
Dr. Hess PowerDork said: Kinda like idiot resistant. They just keep making better idiots.
Amen, my son, Amen!!
-
July 21, 2010 9:31 p.m. flountown New Reader
Might want to google it to be sure, but I have heard that adding pepper to the birdseed will prevent squirrels from eating it. IIRC, birds don't have taste buds to sense pepper, but squirrels do taste it and dislike it greatly.
-
July 21, 2010 9:34 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork
I wonder if hanging the feeder with aircraft cable and a cone ontop would help. Certainly the squirrels would never get a good grasp on the cable. especially if greased
-
July 22, 2010 6:03 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork
Mine is on a stick with a cone wrapped around it. The center of the cone rides on a half sphere so when the rodents try, it just rocks them off.
Odd request?
Obviously you don't know whom you are dealing with.....
-
July 22, 2010 6:06 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork
In the battle against squirrels, the squirrels always win in the end. You may win for a while, but they will defeat you eventually.
I've seen semi good results with shepards crooks placed in the yard far away from any trees or other climbable structures. The shepards crooks had inverted cans on the shaft to prevent the squirrels from climbing.
But even if you did manage to successfully keep the squirrels out, the birds do a great job of feeding them. Just look at the video in this link.
-
July 22, 2010 7:13 a.m. RossD Dork
foxtrapper wrote: ... had inverted cans on the shaft...
heheheeh
-
July 22, 2010 9:31 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork
foxtrapper wrote:
I have the cone thingie like in this video, works great, mine is loosly fitted over a ball so it flops around. I tried a 5 gallon bucket first but the rodents just chewed through it.
Dan
-
July 22, 2010 9:44 a.m. 2.0dohc Reader
why not have a little fun with the squirrels?
-
July 22, 2010 10:21 a.m. bludroptop SuperDork
BBC did some work on this subject a number of years ago entitled "Daylight Robbery".
Here's a 2 minute clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWU0bfo-bSY
Mrs. BDT goes through 100-150 lb. of black oil sunflower seed a month (no, that is not an exaggeration). We've basically surrendered to the squirrels, although we don't make it easy for them.
-
July 22, 2010 2:08 p.m. porksboy Dork
I have a squirell proof feeder. The squirells have to climb up to eat from it, cant jump from a tree. The problem for them is the post has hardware cloth alternating with power and ground from a fence charger. You should see the buggers when I leave it off then sand bag there fuzzy buts by tuning it on at just the right moment.
They do learn and wont go on it when it is turned on. I think they can hear it.
-
July 22, 2010 5:44 p.m. friedgreencorrado SuperDork
cwh wrote:
We have a very interesting bunch of birds in our yard. Yellow finches, bluebirds, cardinals, etc. We would like to put out a bird feeder for their enjoyment. Preferably without entertaining our local squirrels. Any suggestions? They thank you.
They're clever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvWFLvaUAzo -
July 22, 2010 5:47 p.m. wbjones Dork
a pellet rifle does a pretty good job...
-
July 22, 2010 9:17 p.m. RossD Dork
Paintballs are fun, too. And if it doesnt first drive them away, you can at least mark the ones that are doing it.
-
July 22, 2010 9:21 p.m. RexSeven Dork
-
July 22, 2010 9:32 p.m. porksboy Dork
I have had more than one in the pot. Thanksgiving always has a few in the fry pot with the turcky.
-
July 22, 2010 10:44 p.m. RexSeven Dork
I can't believe no one brought this up yet... cwh, I found yet another use for your squirrels besides for nomming on:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/scottish-beer-served-i...
-
July 22, 2010 11:23 p.m. JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
Our strategy is one of appeasement. We have several feeders, some with bird-friendly stuff (seed, leftover parrot veggies and pellet scraps) and some with squirrel friendly stuff (bigger nuts and seeds). For the most part, it works. Occasionally there's some cross polination, but nobody seems to mind. I figure it took about four months for the lines to be drawn equitably among the wildlife pals. Now each pretty much keeps to themsemves, wth the occasional tourist.
