You can easily slide open the bottom part. June 8, 2023 Yes, squirrels can bother hummingbird feeders. Oh no! ), The 10 Types of Squirrels That Live in the United States! They are usually faster than the cats anyway. Keeping squirrels from stealing your hummingbird feeder requires a combination of strategies, including installing the feeder properly, using deterrents, offering alternative feeding options, and maintaining it regularly. Critter ridder repels birds. Help, We have a squirrel I call psycho squirrel he eats everything. LOL. We They're just as effective at keeping squirrels out, and infinitely more fabulous. Good morning, thanks for the great advice! How to keep squirrels away from bird feeders: 5 expert tips Much more picky than the darn squirrel raiders! In this manner, everybody gets to eat, and its a win-win situation. I've been trying to look for better spots for thr Hummingbird feeder. Or they can damage their fur and struggle to stay warm during colder months. Mount hummingbird feeders in the shade to help prevent the food from spoiling and within 3 feet of a window so you can easily see the birds. By doing so, the squirrels it would be quite hard for them to climb and reach for the bird food. None better or worse than the other Ive come to find. Cages also work great to keep blackbirds off your feeders. Unfortunately, most of them do not apply to my wild Florida backyard. You'll also want to reconsider this strategy during the summer, when sweltering temperatures can turn a bar of soap into a hot mess in just a few hours. And the squirrels they will chase, but not attack. Has not stopped squirrels at all. Want to learn more about our newest and coolest products? Love this piece. I tried just about everything else and a 3$ childs toy is the only thing that has worked, haha i totally just screenshotted another one just now . I use this same strategy to help control House Sparrows too! It has a plastic base that allows hummers to perch while feeding. By keeping your feeder clean all the time, youll less likely draw any unwanted visitors including squirrels. Dick and Gulshan both recommend keeping the area around your bird feeder clean. Set out nuts with the shells still on to maximize their benefit for the squirrels (the gnawing keeps their teeth healthy) and the viewing fun for you. The squirrels LOVE it!!! Best of all, you can hang your favorite bird feeders right from the pole. We've handpicked every little item in our shop for garden lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and, of course, bird nerds. 6 Proven Tips to STOP House Sparrows From Taking Over Your Feeders. Greasing up a feeding pole to keep squirrels away is downright inhumane. With the help of this sense, not only do they communicate with each other but also find mating partners. Hello. You cannot see the wire, but the squirrels cannot navigate it and we can see the feeder from our window(s). I bought them 2 squirrel houses and a feeder and I am feeding them but my patience is wearing thin. Every item in our shop has been chosen to fill your outdoor space with charm and cheer. We had rats and mice in the attic and in the garage. They stalk them, but wont attack. Like most other wildlife, squirrels would probably go for easy pickings and hassle-free lunch. Unfortunately, my bird feeding station will never be 100% squirrel-proof, and its because my feeders are too close to the trees you see in the above video. You can use yarn spools, plastic soda bottles, or anything that rolls as spinners. By using specialized squirrel proof feeders to easy tricks, you can prevent them from emptying the feeders. Having worked for Gardeningetc.com for two years, Holly now writes about plants and outdoor living for Homes & Gardens. How to Keep Squirrels Away From Bird Feeders | Install-It-Direct My TN squirrels must be part Mexican, as they seem to love any kind of pepper I add to the seeds and suet. This classic red and white suet feeder. Well, so much for the suggestions given here. I guess Ill have to try the safflower seed, though theyll probably like that too. Alternatively, you can use bird seeds that aren't a preference for squirrels but that many birds enjoy, suggests Debbie Sykes, the Director of Nashville Wildlife Conservation. Gravity should pull the spring down, and thats all you need to do. The best case scenario is that they rip off their fur trying to scape, which is just awful. When they couldnt get the seeds out of the feeding slots fast enough for their liking, the little blighters pulled out the perches & tried to get them out of the larger holes.twice! Never had them in all the years weve lived here and feeding birds. When In my experience with safflower seed over a few decades now, I have found that has long they have another food source (peanuts, sunflower seeds, cracked corn, etc.) But,I want to see my squirrelsON THE GROUND. This tip is all about keeping bird feeders high enough (and distant enough) to keep squirrels off every feeder pole and bird feeder in your yard. I have not found any good method of keeping squirrels out of my bird feeders. The problem is that during winter it gets cold and hardens. Consider building a DIY squirrel feeder, they arent too hard and are worth trying. If you wish to keep these creatures away from the vulnerable bird feed, the diversion would be a good option. This year I built a squirrel feeder and since I put it up and give them a cup of corn and peanuts once or twice a day, I havent seen a squirrel in my feeders at all. National Audubon Society recommends emptying the feeder of any food and cleaning it twice per week during hot weather to prevent mold growth. Other studies show that the birdseed covered in hot pepper are NOT DIGESTED and pass through their system unaffected, only to germinate somewhere in the yard. So awesome!! Squirrels are too big to walk on vertically-positioned wire, so they'll have to jump up and down it instead. And that mess may be one of the key reasons squirrels and other pesky rodents are attracted to your yard in the first place. I buy my feed from a specific bird store. I commiserate and enjoy with you. Well, for one, the metal moves. Recommended for use with black oil sunflower and/or safflower seeds, this feeder is another weight-activated design and features chew-proof materials. I built a hardware cloth cage for one of the feeders hanging on a shepherds hook.. Had to cut off all parts that would hurt anything, and lots of folding. I have always loved squirrels, but recently saw that they depleted the bird feeder. The feeder tended to slide on the wire so he put stoppers on both sides of the feeder and it is very successful in holding it where we want it. A squirrels strong sense of taste and smell are irritated by the capsaicin in hot pepper. If not, you can buy the original Slinky for about $2.99. Not only do the squirrels paws slide, but as they do, the slinky falls downward. We think the name is silly, too.). They love these foods! How To Keep Squirrels and Raccoons Off Feeders By doing this, you get to observe them TRY to make the jump but miss, which provides some entertainment. If you cannot place your feeder in a location squirrels cant get to, consider investing in a squirrel-proof feeder. Her appreciation for the great outdoors has only grown since then; over the years, she's been an allotment keeper, a professional gardener, and a botanical illustrator. My feeding station is only about five feet away from the nearest trees, and the squirrels make that leap easily! Squirrel Feeding at Hummingbird Feeder - Walter Reeves Great live feed and thanks! Looks like hes enjoying himself. Sprinkle cayenne pepper or similar spices onto the seeds before you place it in the feeder. They are loving the safflower and have figured out how to hang from the roof of the feeder by one hind foot and scoop out the seed with their front paw without touching the perch. So, when it comes to trying to prevent this from happening, you have to get a little *creative. Killing the squirrels in your backyard is a classic example of treating the symptom and not the problem. Katie Vance, I gave up on the pepper when I came home to a chipmonk chowing away at the red peppered seed in my platform feeder. Therefore, it is strong enough to hold up for years. Below is a LIVE look at my bird feeding station. They are experts in their field and she told me not to give them corn. Because I was getting precious little work done, I forced myself to close the webcam window, but stayed long enough to write these comments. Dick Woods is an engineer by trade, with over 40 years of experience in product design and manufacture. We installed the ultrasonic devices and we havent seen any in years. Then the best method you can use is to stock the feed with items that only birds can eat and enjoy. Yum And the squirrels, well, they seem happy with the black walnut tree in the front and the unused Recycle Bin in the loft in the garden shed in which they live as well as store their nuts. I live in Minnesota; our DNR (Department of Natural Resources) will come and trap the little beasties and take them to an area without humans -we are fortunate to have a bit of uninhabited and wooded land and a critter friendly government and populace. Instead, select poles made from PVC or copper. If you put your feeder near the ground or right next to your house, it would be an open invitation to enjoy a free meal for any squirrel. You may also want to keep eye on your contraptionat least for the first dayon the off-chance that a squirrels nail or toe gets stuck. Suspend the feeder from a wire that is at least 6 feet above the ground and 10 feet away from any tree, roof, or other structure that squirrels can climb. ), The Best Bird Feeder Poles Squirrel-Proof, Sturdy, & Stylish, The BEST Squirrel Baffles For ANY Situation (11 Ideas! Supposedly, squirrels detest the small of Irish Spring soap. So, I used tip #6. 'Avoid open, tray-based feeders at all costs,' Dick adds. Crazy squirrelit has lots of food right there in the tray. Cardinals, chickadees, titmice, and many finches love this small, white seed while squirrels dont. Squirrels are very agile and can easily climb up the wooden poles. It works very well!! His goal is to inspire you to care more about the birds and wildlife in YOUR backyard. We've also recently added a line of new merchandise to our online shop. WebIn this video I test two methods of stopping squirrels eating all the bird food. Any ideas for me? It should be easy to keep squirrels out of window feeders as a glass panel can't be climbed on. I ran the wire a little over 6 foot high. It worked great during summer they slid right down but not now in cold. You can clean up after them yourself, or add a seed tray to the bottom of your bird feeder. A cage can be placed around the hummingbird feeder to keep squirrels out. Squirrels keep raiding Hummingbird feeder The pair continued to eat, until they were briefly interrupted by the appearance of an Opossum, who decided to dine elsewhere, disappearing back into the darkness. Because birds dont have Whats the answer hereI give up. Lets also check out ways how you can stop these agile creatures from climbing the feeder pole and stealing the invaluable seeds. A: Daryl Pulis, www.MrsGreenThumb.com, says: Squirrels are incredibly intelligent rodents. They sustain serious injuries if they slip, slide or fall off a pole too quickly or clumsily. This is significant because I usually have 10 -12 in my yard at most times. Nancy I wish my squirrels would stop at burying the peanuts in the yard. (An important note: baffles are meant to discourage and redirect squirrels, not harm them. In this way, you dont have to fill it with more seeds. ', Position your bird feeder out of the reach of squirrels. One way to keep squirrels away from your bird feeder is to distract them with their very own feeder. Once they realize that it is too hard to get hold onto it or reach for the food source, they will soon give up and will never come back. Here are the THREE most popular styles used by squirrel-proof bird feeders: Access to bird food is denied if there is too much weight on the perches of the feeder. If you go to my Youtube page under community you can see the whole set up now. Think about all the places you see squirrels in your neighborhood. Worst part was that the cardinals who were coming to the feeder before, in between squirrel raids, quit coming. Squirrels can be fun to watch as they scurry for cover up onto the trees. Most feeder poles are not made from these materials, so you may need to get your hands a little dirty. I was happily surprised by how big this is. They are affordable and readily available this powder-coated steel one, for instance, can be found on Amazon for less than $20. Now, they are tipping the hummingbird feeders and drinking them. When a squirrel climbs on the feeder, the motor kicks in to start spinning, which tosses them off. Alternative Feeding Options Offering alternative Blackbirds (starlings and grackles) also dont eat safflower seeds, which makes me think this may be a miracle food! Fed up with having to deal with these furry stealers. Just be sure to place it at least five feet high so squirrels cant just jump over it to the food. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. I keep my feeders in the trees. If you want to see more birds at your feeder and fewer squirrels, do you think letting your cat outside is a great idea? In Florida, you cant win, so you just learn to live with all the critters on your feeders, in your house, on your lanai, on hikes, , Conclusion (for me): After trying everything, Ive decided to simply put off with going through my bird seed. My feeders are hanging in the trees and since I started using it five days ago, no more squirrels are in my feeders but the birds are still coming which was the desired result. Want to bring some good vibes to your news feed? An inexpensive DIY alternative to a squirrel foil may already be sitting in a childs toy boxif not, you can purchase the original metal Slinky spring for about $4 (available on Amazon). I am so happy with it, and one of these days, equipped with a razor blade scraper or some such, maybe a small pry bar, Ill get the stinker down and clean it thoroughly, but so far I seem not to have poisoned them with my poor house-cleaning habits. The musky, masculine scent is said to keep squirrels at bay so why not give it a shot? The motion is a major deterrent, and is one of many ways to keep squirrels out of bird feeders. It is pretty easy to refill this feeder with nectar due to its wide-mouth reservoir. I will definitely be buying more as gifts!! Buy a baffle. Finally about 3a.m. Thanks to its larger size, you may not have to refill it everyday. They have also chewed through three different squirrel proof feeders, bending up the metal hole covers of the weighted type then chewing on the edge of the opening to make it bigger and hanging from the barn-style weighted ones. Regarding the use of capascain Cornell Lab of Ornithology states that while they cannot digest hot pepper and seem unaffected, may still burn their eyes (we dont know for sure) and fallen seed will affect any pets you may have that root around under the birdfeeder. . So another thing, I read in many websites that actually corn and peanuts are not good for squirrels? Happy Gardens is the proud curator of tons of thoughtful, striking garden decor and merchandise. Why? Check out these humane pest control options for critter-proofing your gardens and planters. Lastly, a dome baffle--which looks like an upside-down serving bowl--effectively keeps squirrels away from bird feeders. i havent tried everything yet but the more i try the more it costs with no success. I have a good reason to hate squirrels since they invaded my house and were living in my facia and got up into my attic. Q: We love to watch the birds in our backyard, and have installed several feeders that have successfully attracted them. They ate for some time, before being joined by the Striped Skunk. I considered feeding the squirrels except they bring fleas and dig holes in my (grass free) back yard to bury peanuts fed to them by a lady a block away. You can find a spinning hook at your local hardware store, or online. Because raccoons were also invading our primary feeder and after several unsuccessful attempts to to stop them, we invested in the biggest pole baffle we could find (at Wild Birds Unlimited) and it works like a charm! There are numerous squirrel feeders designed with human entertainment in mind. There are currently 4 squirrels that are here on a daily basis at my 6 feeders. Our recommendation? This rule, though, is more appealing in theory than in practice. The biggest negative to this style is that you will have to charge and change the battery periodically. They worked on that for a while and are now back in and my son goes crazy when he hears them above his head chewing wood. Scott I was wondering what kind of camera you use to watch the birds? 1- We have a real jungle out there, theres no spot 10feet away from trees or the house. (I know. I am going to try the slonky idea. Unfortunately, my squirrels have not got the memo about not liking safflower seeds either. Thanks for the heads up about white millet. The steep curves and rounded edges of the spherical dome deter squirrels especially well. Cheers, Scott and Thank you. Also, here in Florida scents attract gators from the lake I live on. These furry critters are known to perform all sorts of acrobatics to steal a banquet of nuts and seeds, leaving less for your feathered visitors and, often, a mess in their wake.
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