<p>I would appreciate any ideas on birdfeeders (or birdfeeding techniques) that defeat squirrels. We have a bunch of very smart squirrels here who even manage, semi-prehensile, to hang down from the tree branches and reach out and grab the seeds in the feeders. Anyone have any success with defeating squirrels and feeders?</p>
<p>Hi - we have our feeders on a rope between two trees. They are fairly high up. My husband manages feeding with a pulley system to bring the feeders down. It’s done a good job of thwarting the squirrels for about a year now.</p>
<p>You need to get it at least 5 feet away from any tree branches and put a baffle on the pole so they can’t climb up and get any. Or, you could only put out niger seed - the kind that attracts only goldfinches. </p>
<p>When you’re feeling discouraged, go on y o u t u b e and search for “squirrel obstacle course” or “squirrel catapult” for more ideas on how to deal with them!</p>
<p>Read the book Outwitting Squirrels. It’s funny and has what I consider accurate descriptions. They evaluate different feeder options. The only one I know of is a feeder on top of a tall pole with a large squirrel baffle nowhere near trees.</p>
<p>My Mom has this feeder and it really is squirrel proof: <a href=“http://www.duncraft.com/Duncraft-Squirrel-Proof-Selective-Feeder”>http://www.duncraft.com/Duncraft-Squirrel-Proof-Selective-Feeder</a> I have this one which is somewhat squirrel proof. <a href=“Best Price Heritage Farms Electric Blue Absolute II Bird Feeder HF7537 BEST PRICE!”>http://www.backyardbirdwatcher.com/product8778.html</a> I’ve seen squirrels hang next to it and somehow get food out.</p>
<p>We have one like the second one walkinghome linked and the smaller red squirrels have manged to figure out how to get seed from it, while the larger gray squirrels have not. I have taken to bringing it inside every night though because it attracts raccoons to our deck.</p>
<p>I’ve seen that second one, where the perch is designed to have the heavier weight of the squirrel close it, being sat upon by a squirrel who figured out to put one foot on, one foot off, while he munched away at all the seeds!</p>
<p>I’d like to hijack this thread. I’ve adjusted to squirrels eating from “squirrel proof” feeders. Gave up after several attempts both up north and here. On a post with hooks near a tree that’s near the back of the house. The amount they can get isn’t too bad, the cayenne pepper I doused the seed with didn’t phase the squirrels. Big problem recently is a raccoon who likes the safflower seed the squirrels ignore (they eat the sunflower seeds only). Tried spraying the feeders and tree with Liquid Fence plus used hornet spray (used in old house by pro after raccoons removed). We even have some daytime shots of a rain drenched critter! rainy season in Florida. Do I need a “squirrel proof” feeder for the safflower as well? We like the family of cardinals plus some occasional other birds and feel badly that their food supply has been taken by a voracious raccoon- I refuse to fill a large capacity feeder daily. </p>
<p>Well my Mom says I need to start thinking of my feeders as bird AND squirrel feeders. I REFUSE to do so! The only feeders I have that the squirrels cannot access are both made by Brome. (who by the way happily and freely replaces broken parts) I have the Squirrel Buster Plus with the cardinal ring, The Squirrel Buster Classic and the Squirrel Buster mini. The rest of the feeders are protected from above with a mandarin squirrel away baffle and from below on my poles I have large raccoon baffles which seem to work better than the pole baffles for squirrels.</p>
<p>Now if I could just keep the yellow jackets out of my oriole jelly and the raccoons away from my suet…grrrrr</p>
<p>Ain’t gonna happen. </p>