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Bird feeders

B3B3 Posts: 27,494
in Talkback

Can anyone recommend a genuinely squirrel-proof bird feeder?

The only thing that ever really worked for me was looping one thorough the washing line as far away from the fence / trees as possible but the 'undergardener' kept cracking his head off it when he walked down the path. 

In London. Keen but lazy.
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Posts

  • Snow MaidenSnow Maiden Posts: 862

    I've got the ones that comprise of a wired mesh ball shaped case that houses a cylinder container for the food, sorry not good at explaining it!! You can get them at GC or pet supply stores, have always worked well and it can be quite amusing watching them try and get in, but after a while they stop coming once they realise they can't.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Yes - mine! image

    http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w595/fairygirl55/DSCF1190_zpsz1fwoovg.jpg

    Same principle as flowers describes above, but big enough to accomodate a fat feeder too...and I don't mean the great tit  image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,494

    Is it attached to a hanging basket hook?

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Fixed to the fence B3. It's not very heavy. The hook is just for hanging the feeders from, although the top is made of netting, rather than the wire mesh the rest of it is made from, and  the hook helps to hold that in place at the back  image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
    B3 why don't you get a squirrel feeder from cj wild bird foods and wild wild animals, there's a metal one which will last longerimage
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618

    I use a baffle cone on a pole to stop them shinning up. I also have a squirrel buster large seed feeder on a hanging basket bracket. The bird cage type keep larger squirrels out but I found that the babies could get in.

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,494

    Thanks F. 

    L You're right about the metal ones. I had one with a plastic loop on top and the squirrel just bit through the loop and it fell scattering the contents - job done. They just hang off the metal ones and tuck in.

    I don't want to spend a load of money on a cage one that doesn't work. Looking at some pictures on the net of the little barstewards getting into them, they don't seem to work either.

    I was wondering about something involving a length of string and a shotgunimage

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    I don't feed peanuts either. There are peanut nibs in the food/seed mix I use.

    I rarely get squirrels coming in now - and there's plenty of them around here image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,494

    Fairy. I'm a bit concerned about the weight of the squirrel on top of your contraption. Would shelf brackets be an idea?

    Fidget. Which way up does the cone go or do you use two? A globe effort might do too 

    I'm inclined towards the Heath Robinson approach so your input is very welcome.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    I intend making it more robust next year B3. I'll make a proper timber frame etc. I expect you could use brackets though. Squirrels aren't that heavy though.  It was a 'needs must' situation - the starlings are more of a problem than squirrels here. The little birds had no chance of any food once they got stuck in. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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