OT — bah!! Any recs for a squirrel PROOF bird feeder? —OT

Smoker317

This is has worked perfectly for me for the past three seasons.  It wraps around the pole below the feeder.  I bought mine at home depot, but they are for sale on Amazon as well.  It is a Squirrel -X bird feeder baffle for bird feeder poles.  Mine is attached to a square-shaped Shepard hook, I had to tighten down a bit more than I think one would if this was attached to a round shepherds pole. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004UKOQMY/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B004UKOQMY&pd_rd_w=vOMX7&pf_rd_p=21517efd-b385-405b-a405-9a37af61b5b4&pd_rd_wg=4R0YT&pf_rd_r=T7YQ6AETY3GNW89789J3&pd_rd_r=51ae74f9-1f6b-11e9-b211-f3dfa78d1ad5

TideEggHead

Higher priced option but the squirrels won't hear it coming! A 20ga does a great job around here too.

Mickey

SquirrelBuster Plus. They work!

MaskedMarvel

@Mickey pushed us over the edge. 

Thanks all for the great suggeations. 

We bit the bullet on the five pounder squirrel buster. 

Have camel alerts on everything else. 

Now - for great BIRD SEED!!

thank you, again!
8-Damien

Toxarch

I have a 50 gallon deer feeder and a small hanging bird feeder. The squirrels and the birds learned how to get corn from the thrower on the deer feeder. The deer have learned how to hit the bird feeder with their head and get the seeds out of the bird feeder. Maybe I should have swapped the feed in the two of them. 

When the squirrel population gets too high and they all learn how to raid the deer feeder, the squirrel population gets thinned out real quick. A good lead slinger is useful. 

Mickey

We run different feed in each of the three. I do toss a couple of handfuls of peanuts in the shells on the ground each day for the squirrels. 
I only feed about 3" up the glass (not to the full mark on advice of customer service). 
They are 100% under warranty and THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE ANYWHERE. 

MaskedMarvel

Mickey said:

We run different feed in each of the three. I do toss a couple of handfuls of peanuts in the shells on the ground each day for the squirrels. 
I only feed about 3" up the glass (not to the full mark on advice of customer service). 
They are 100% under warranty and THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE ANYWHERE. 

Why not fill them up? Seed goes bad?

RLS

MaskedMarvel said:

Mickey said:

We run different feed in each of the three. I do toss a couple of handfuls of peanuts in the shells on the ground each day for the squirrels. 
I only feed about 3" up the glass (not to the full mark on advice of customer service). 
They are 100% under warranty and THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE ANYWHERE. 

Why not fill them up? Seed goes bad?

We have two and fill them about 1/3 to 1/2 way. On occasion we will get moisture in the tube, which makes the seeds stick together and the birds will not eat them. We live in Florida and it seems the humidity causes this coupled with heavy blowing rain entering the bottom seed chamber. Like Mickey said warranty and customer service is top notch.

Rick

DoubleEgger

Well, the squirrels are back in the attic. Your dad won't call an exterminator. He says it’s personal this time...

Teefus

I used a piece of stove pipe as a baffle. Squirrel free for 25+ years on this one. 

Cornholio

Squirrels are a lot more fun to watch than birds so why not just enjoy that show?  

MaskedMarvel

We had our first hawk visit. No idea what kind, and if I hadn’t been flailing around to keep from a bloodbath in my yard, I would’ve taken a picture. Really pretty.

He didn’t seem too upset that I was there.
Hmmm......

CPFC1905

How close are your neighbours????

steveear

I think the easiest way to stop squirrels from eating bird seed is to hang the bird feeder away from the trees, or put it in the middle of the yard where there is no cover. Hanging the feeder on a fishing line doesn't always work. A divider can be used instead. This is an effective method to keep squirrels away from bird seeds if the squirrel dares to climb into the bird's feeder. Squirrels hate the smell of cayenne pepper, white pepper, black pepper, or garlic. Sprinkle pepper on the yard or the area around the birds sure to keep the annoying squirrels away for a while.

EzraBrooks

steveear said:

I think the easiest way to stop squirrels from eating bird seed is to hang the bird feeder away from the trees, or put it in the middle of the yard where there is no cover. Hanging the feeder on a fishing line doesn't always work. A divider can be used instead. This is an effective method to keep squirrels away from bird seeds if the squirrel dares to climb into the bird's feeder. Squirrels hate the smell of cayenne pepper, white pepper, black pepper, or garlic. Sprinkle pepper on the yard or the area around the birds sure to keep the annoying squirrels away for a while.

Solid 1st post.

nolaeggheads_squirel

Resistance is futile.  Assimilate.  

GregW

nolaegghead said:

Just feed the damn squirrels,  you squirrel haters.

I thought the same thing until the little sob's got in the attic.

northGAcock

I have had good results with mixing hot sauce with bird seed. It’s an extra step, but works.

JohnInCarolina

we bought these things for my MIL:




think of how embarrassed the squirrels feel afterward.  

steveear

steveear said:

I think the easiest way to stop squirrels from eating bird seed is to hang the bird feeder away from the trees, or put it in the middle of the yard where there is no cover. Hanging the feeder on a fishing line doesn't always work. A divider can be used instead. This is an effective method to keep squirrels away from bird seeds if the squirrel dares to climb into the bird's feeder. Squirrels hate the smell of cayenne pepper, white pepper, black pepper, or garlic. Sprinkle pepper on the yard or the area around the birds sure to keep the annoying squirrels away for a while.

Squirrels are very determined to disturb your peace. They will do anything to get food. I shared many methods here because you might need all of them to stop squirrels from eating the bird seed from the feeder or container.

alaskanassasin

The diverse wealth of knowledge on this forum boggles the mind.

 OP asks for advice on a subject, days later a expert who wrote a article on that very subject chimes in.

saluki2007

At my old house my feeders where in the middle of the yard bc I didn’t have any trees close to the house. The squirrels and raccoons destroyed my feeders are the time. At my new place there is a tree I can hang them from and the squirrels haven’t bothered them at all. Now my problem is the cost of feed is getting redonk. $35 for 20# bag of peanuts?!??

alaskanassasin

My bird feeder is a ghost town, I havent figured out whats going on.

rekameohs

chzplz said:

I have a Brome “Squirrel Buster Classic” hanging from a tree branch. Squirrels have not been able to figure it out.

...but a chipmunk wasn’t heavy enough to trip the squirrel-proofing mechanism and this guy had a lazy pig out. I didn’t mind. 

I have two of the Original Bromes, which work quite well at keeping the squirrels out.   What impressed me about the company was when I called needing a replacement part.   They sent them out promptly, without charge and without needing a receipt, etc.   The company really stands behind their products.

The Original Squirrel Buster, like I have, are not adjustable.  I think the newer models can be adjusted to prevent the chipmunk.

nolaegghead

Eat moar squirrels.

JohnInCarolina

nolaegghead said:

Eat moar squirrels.

Don't you mean tree rats?

Carolina Q

I think you should forget the fancy feeders and just call BigGreenDave and see if he and his buddy Jimmy could help you out. They kick butt when it comes to baggin' tree rats.


Maybe they could even bring some of that fancy wine (if they didn't use it all for the herb garden border). You could trade 'em for a case of PBR.

https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/858629/bge-tree-rat-and-fancy-wine/p1

Langner91

That post always kills me.  

That is not even are dog!

Best caption to a photo, ever!

BigreenGreg

I think I could hear my brain cells dying as I read through it. Absolutely brilliant and tragic at the same time.

Mickey

Took a squirrel proof feeder to Florida. Turns out not bear proof. The company did send me all new parts. I took it back to Texas.