How to Keep Squirrels Out of Bird Feeder: 15 Effective Ways

Are squirrels turning your hen feeder into their personal buffet? If that is the case, you’re not alone! Squirrels are notorious for stealing birdseed and inflicting frustration for hen lovers in all places. Happily, there are environment friendly strategies to discourage these clever critters whereas retaining your feathered buddies well-fed.

Proper right here’s an entire data with 15 environment friendly methods to take care of squirrels out of hen feeders.

Why Squirrel-Proofing Your Hen Feeder Points

Take into consideration this: you’ve organize a great trying hen feeder in your yard, hoping to attract vibrant songbirds, solely to go looking out it overrun by clever, determined squirrels. They climb, soar, and even chew their choice to the meals meant to your feathered buddies. Whereas watching squirrels might be amusing, their persistence can frustrate hen lovers.

Squirrels not solely devour the birdseed nonetheless may harm feeders and scare away birds. Holding them out is essential to guarantee that the birds get their honest proportion whereas sustaining the feeder’s longevity. This textual content affords 15 environment friendly and humane methods to discourage squirrels, allowing you to have the benefit of peaceful birdwatching with out interruptions from these furry invaders.

Understanding Squirrels and Their Habits

Squirrels are drawn to hen feeders for a straightforward trigger: meals. Birdseed offers a rich provide of nutritional vitamins, and its accessibility makes it an irresistible purpose. With their acrobatic expertise and sharp minds, squirrels can outsmart many deterrents, making them formidable opponents inside the fight for birdseed.

Nonetheless, deterring squirrels isn’t almost retaining them away; it’s moreover about doing so with out harming the birds or the ecosystem. Discovering a steadiness between defending your feeder and respecting wildlife is significant to effectively managing this downside.

1. Elevation, Elevation, Elevation

Birds can fly, nonetheless squirrels rely on climbing and leaping to entry meals. Use the 5-7-9 Rule to outsmart them:

Place feeders on the very least 5 toes off the underside to cease squirrels from leaping as a lot as them. Protect feeders on the very least 7 toes away from jumping-off elements like timber or fences. Avoid inserting feeders the place squirrels can soar down from above, ideally sustaining a 9-foot clearance.

Whereas this will likely often seem easy, it’s not foolproof. Squirrels are resourceful and may navigate obstacles like power strains and rooftops. If elevation alone isn’t enough, preserve finding out for further concepts.

2. Use Wire to Outsmart Squirrels

Suspending your hen feeder with sturdy wire might make it extra sturdy for squirrels to reach. Proper right here’s how you’ll be able to do it efficiently:

Use a vertical wire to carry the feeder on the very least 9-10 toes from a pole and 5 toes above the underside. Choose a sturdy, weather-resistant wire out of your native ironmongery store to ensure longevity. This setup prevents squirrels from climbing or leaping to your feeder, offering an affordable decision to your draw back.

3. Purchase a Squirrel Baffle

Squirrel baffles are game-changers! These slippery, wobbling obstacles make it nearly unimaginable for squirrels to entry hen feeders. There are a selection of types to pick out from:

A wrap-around baffle creates a conical barrier that stops squirrels from climbing poles. A torpedo baffle has a bullet-shaped design that turns poles into dead-ends. A dome baffle is an upside-down bowl that’s troublesome for squirrels to grip.

These baffles are easy to place in and likewise defend birdseed from the climate, preserving it to your feathered buddies.

4. Choose Your Hen Seeds Correctly

Positive seeds are a lot much less attention-grabbing to squirrels, making them a wise choice to your feeders. Safflower seeds, nyjer seeds, and white proso millet are among the many many seeds squirrels are prone to steer clear of. Mix these with regular sunflower seeds to discourage squirrels whereas retaining birds joyful.

5. Spice Up Your Feed

Squirrels hate spicy meals, nonetheless birds are unaffected. You probably can sprinkle cayenne pepper or an similar spice into your birdseed. The compound capsaicin repels squirrels nonetheless doesn’t problem birds. Nonetheless, assure this method is protected to your hen species by performing some evaluation beforehand.

6. Put a Spin on It

Using a spinning hook to carry your feeder can deter squirrels efficiently. The spinning motion prevents them from getting a protected grip, making it extra sturdy for them to reach the seeds. You may additionally purchase a feeder designed to spin when tampered with.

7. Feed the Squirrels, Too

It might sound counterintuitive, nonetheless providing squirrels with their very personal meals can preserve them away from hen feeders. Present peanuts or dried corn in a separate squirrel feeder. This system diverts their consideration and preserves birdseed to your feathered firm.

8. Try a Slinky

Join a slinky to your feeder pole as a DIY squirrel deterrent. When squirrels climb the pole, the slinky sends them sliding once more down. It’s a straightforward, low-cost, and environment friendly decision that moreover offers somewhat little bit of satisfying to your yard.

9. Enhance to a Caged Hen Feeder

Caged feeders allow small birds to entry seeds whereas retaining greater animals out. Seek for cages with openings sized to exclude squirrels nonetheless accommodate your purpose hen species. Traditional caged feeders are every sensible and stylish, making them a tremendous addition to your yard.

10. Choose PVC or Copper Poles

Avoid using wood or metallic poles, which squirrels can merely climb. Go for PVC or copper poles in its place. These provides are too slippery for squirrels to scale, retaining them away from the birdseed.

11. Protect Your Yard Tidy

A messy yard attracts squirrels. Clear up spilled seed typically or arrange a seed tray beneath your feeder to catch particles. Sustaining a tidy home minimizes the possibilities of squirrels lingering in your yard.

12. Deter Squirrels with Cleansing cleaning soap

Some gardeners declare that hanging a bar of Irish Spring cleansing cleaning soap near feeders deters squirrels. Place the cleansing cleaning soap in an outdated sock to cease wildlife from consuming it. Pay attention to extreme temperatures, as cleansing cleaning soap can soften and create a mess.

13. Buy a Squirrel Stopper Pole

Spend cash on a squirrel stopper pole, which mixes a lot of deterrent methods in a single system. These poles normally embrace built-in baffles and a lot of hooks for feeders. They’re easy to place in and provide a near-complete decision for retaining squirrels away.

14. Arrange Motion-Activated Sprinklers

Motion-activated sprinklers spray water when triggered, startling squirrels and discouraging them from approaching. These sprinklers are eco-friendly and harmless, making them a humane alternative for squirrel administration.

15. Embody Feeders with Pure Obstacles

Plant thorny bushes or place prickly provides like pinecones spherical your feeder. These obstacles make it uncomfortable for squirrels to navigate, reducing their possibilities of accessing your birdseed.

Remaining Concepts

Holding squirrels out of hen feeders requires a combination of method and persistence. Experiment with these 15 methods to go looking out the perfect combination to your yard. With the acceptable setup, you’ll have the benefit of watching your feathered buddies with out fastened interruptions from pesky squirrels.