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Sunflower Heart feeder Chewed apart

TerrysWorldTerrysWorld Posts: 174
edited December 2022 in Wildlife gardening
Is this a result of a Squirrel being alittle hungry.

This and other feeders of different food is some 170cm off ground, the pole is covered with a round water drain pipe to deter anything climbing. The other feeders are not disturbed.



South Monmouthshire stuck in the middle between George and the Dragon
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Yes.  Afraid you'll have to invest in a squirrel proof feeder 🙄

    They can climb up greasy poles ... little rascals  >:)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    We have found there is no type of feeder that is squirrel proof.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    edited December 2022
    I've had to resort to a purpose-made squirrel baffle (drilled half globe fitted concave side down around the pole). Seems to have worked so far.

    Unibos Large Universal Bird Feeding Station Plastic Squirrel Baffle, For Stop Squirrels Stealing Bird Feed Transparent, 40 x 19 x 40 cm New Bird Feeding Station, Clear New : Amazon.co.uk: Garden
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    We found that a baffle worked for a while, but our squirrels have now learnt to negotiate it. They seem highly intelligent, if vey annoying.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • TerrysWorldTerrysWorld Posts: 174
    Thanks,
    Got some ideas now….
    I got some large Chicken pellet tubs to do same, take off bird table with feeders and put a tub between pole and table 👍🤞
    South Monmouthshire stuck in the middle between George and the Dragon
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    We have large baffles on both our poles,  not only have they given up trying they’ve cleared off back to the woods over the road. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Yes. We put an old light shade on the upright to the feeders. The squirrel did try to get across but didn't succeed. Birds win.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I have purpose built cage feeders which the squirrels can't get into, although they try. The small birds can all get in. They mainly chew the little wooden thumb turns I use for opening the doors to re stock the food, so I'm replacing those with metal ones.

    I've also stopped using peanuts. That helps. There's plenty of stuff in the area for them to eat, so I'm certainly not supplying them.
    They've not been in at all this autumn/winter, or at least - I haven't seen them at all. As per @Lyn's post, they're in the nearby woodland etc.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Patsy FPatsy F Posts: 53
    We invested in a spring loaded seed feeder, which completely baffles the squirrels.  They had totally destroyed 3 new ‘squirrel proof’ feeders!
  • TerrysWorldTerrysWorld Posts: 174
    Thanks guys, going to try the Bucket/Tub option first 🤞
    South Monmouthshire stuck in the middle between George and the Dragon
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