OT: Bird feeder squirrel proof?

[nospambob]

Squirrels climb/jump/anything to get to seed designed for the birds. Considering mounting a feeder hanging from PVC mounted to the deck railing. Will probably be 5' above the deck railing and AWAY from any nearby tree or roof to preclude their leaping to it. Is this thinking viable? Haven't started looking for availability of parts needed and thought if it has been tried and failed I'd prefer to know now rather than join the unhappy crowd. Our lawn guy bought a feeder that shocks the squirrels but we don't envision that option just yet.

[m Ransley]

I used 3/4 pipe with pipe flanges threaded on at top and bottom, the flange has 4 screw holes I screwed into the deck and feeder, I used a

2ft piece of 4" pvc near the top wired on, squirrels cant get to the feeder. These squirrel bird feeder deterents for pipe are sold everywhere.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

No.

They will just walk up the PVC and munch away. Some of the tapered caps seem to help, but they also have to be high enough.

[Tom The Great]

I've found that unless you want to spend a lot of money on a Squirel proof feeder, just adding hot peper to the feed discourages the squirrels.

They usually sell packets of squirrel deterent where you can buy seed.

I've heard that regular red peper power added to the seed should work, but not sure how much.

hth,

tom @

[m Ransley]

Squirrels Can not walk up 4" pvc. 4" is necessary. They can get up 3" or smaller, 4" they can`t grab around. "Squirrel Proof" units sold for 15$ are 4" and 2ft long made to attach near the feeder.

[jah213]

I have had best luck over many years of bird feeding with a 2-pronged approach:

First, a squirrel baffle consisting of a large tube over a smaller tube. Large tube needs to be 4+ inches in diameter, about 18 inches long, and mounted to small tube with a bracket that will allow the larger tube to swing back and forth (think of a coffee can inverted over a broomstick to get a visual of what I'm talking about). Squirrels can climb the small tube but can't get around the larger, unstable tube. Of course, this assumes feeder is mounted high enough from the ground and far enough from the roof to preclude squirrels jumping onto it.

Second half is to provide squirrel feed elsewhere, far from the bird feeder. In my experience, there's little they like as much as birdseed, but corn and other wildlife feed offered in an easily accessible spot is often enough to swing the balance away from trying to defeat a more difficult birdfeeder setup.

Jo Ann

[George E. Cawthon]

My bird feeders are supported on commercial solid iron (about 5/8") or 3/4" electrical conduit. I put a cross piece near the bottom of the feeder to support a cone of aluminum flashing, about 12" long and 10" in diameter. The cone can flop around some. Squirrels can't get past it and some get mad and bite the edge of the cone (must taste really good). The only problem is that the cones are highly visible and could be more esthetically pleasing. Guess I could paint them but that might give the squirrels some traction.

I think I'll try your 4" pvc in a black color and see how that works.

[Marina]

" [e-mail]" wrote in news: [e-mail]:

I tricked the squirrels by wrapping plastic wrap (the kitchen type) around the tree limb. It's too slick for the squirrels to hang on the branch. Then a lot of birds came around and one of the neighborhood cats would sit on my car and watch for birds to attack. The cat put scratches on my car so I took down the bird feeder.

[mm]

I bought the bullet and got a squittel proof one, metal, when the squirrel sits in front of the seed window ledge, the ledge goes down and another part covers the place where the food is. It was pretty expensive, 30 dollars?

I had tried other stuff, but I wanted the feeder close enough to the sliding glass door so I could easily see the birds. It's about 4 feet away now.

[m Ransley]

I measured the pipe that keeps squirrels off my feeder, I thought it was

4" but instead it is 6". I dont know if they can grab 4" pipe, but 6" works

[Doug Miller]

[tom]

These work. I have 2 of them.

------------------------------------

[Jeff Wisnia]

I've had one of those for about 6 years now. I mounted a small solar panel to the top to keep the NiCad batteries charged so I don't have to use the wall wart charger which came with it.

Fun to watch it around this time of year when the new generation of squirrels has to learn the hard way that they can't beat The Yankee Flipper.

Jeff

[jah213]

Be careful with the kind where the weight of the squirrel causes causes the ledge to close down over the seed. I have had two instances where birds (goldfinches, specifically) were decapitated by the plate coming down. I didn't see it happen either time, so don't know if they had their head stuck in there when something heavier hit the perch or what. Just had to remove the stuck, headless bodies...ick.

Jo Ann

[Tom The Great]

After watching the videos, I think I'll have to get myself one. Too funny.

:D

later,

tom @

[Stretch]

mm said "I bought the bullet and got a squittel proof one, metal, when the squirrel sits in front of the seed window ledge, the ledge goes down and another part covers the place where the food is. It was pretty expensive, 30 dollars?

I had tried other stuff, but I wanted the feeder close enough to the sliding glass door so I could easily see the birds. It's about 4 feet away now. "

I got one of those at Lowes for about $25.00 last year. Got one from my Dad for free. They work great! The squirrels still try them but get frustrated when they get no seed ant go away. It is fun to watch the squirrels get shut down.

Stretch

[Jim Yanik]

"Stretch" wrote in news: [e-mail]:

"America's Funniest Videos" last night had a clip of a squirrel on a bird feeder hanging onto the circular perch that was on bearings and spinning around while the squirrel held on for at least 25 revolutions before letting go and getting flung away.The squirrel was literally horizontal while spinning.

That was pretty humorous,amazing that the rodent held on for so long.

[mm]

Squirrels! They work with squirrels, too? I just got it because of the squittels.

I saw that too. Couldn't decide whether to watch the squittel, or the gymnasts falling down.

They're tough!

[bonniejean]

This is the only squirrel proof feeder I've owned. Pricey but they have worked for the three years I've had them.

The only thing I don't like is that birds the size of cardinals can't get in. I guess if they could, a squirrel could squeeze through too.

bonnie

[Tom The Great]

Yeah, I was looking at the same type of feeder. Expecially since you can pole mount it:

but now that I've seen the yankeeflipper, I'll get a plant hanger pole.

I hope to see some antics like those in the yankeeflipper's movie.

;)

tom