| Squirrel proof bird feeders allow your birds to | | | | food inside the feeder when flying overhead. |
| co-exist happily with the squirrels by stopping the | | | | Metal cages are becoming more popular lately and |
| squirrels from stealing the bird seed from your | | | | can be retro fitted to some bird feeders as well. |
| bird feeders. | | | | Essentially they consist of a tubular feeder which |
| Before investing in squirrel proof bird feeders you | | | | has an extra cage around it. This allows the birds |
| can try a few techniques to encourage the | | | | to use their beaks to reach the seed however |
| squirrels to leave your feeders alone. Position your | | | | the holes between the wires are not large enough |
| bird feeders in areas well away from trees to | | | | for squirrels to bite through. |
| stop the animals jumping on to your feeders and | | | | The most advanced, expensive and entertaining |
| ensure your feeder is at least 5 foot off the | | | | options are the motorized or weighted devices. |
| ground (although squirrels have been known to | | | | The weighted devices either close the feeding |
| jump up to 8 feet off the ground!). If these tips | | | | hole or tip the perch over when something |
| don’t discourage squirrels, there are two | | | | heavier than a bird perches on them. Most bird |
| options either purchase an attachment to make | | | | feeders are used by small birds, however if you |
| your existing bird feeders squirrel proof or buy a | | | | have large birds using your bird feeders just |
| specially design squirrel proof bird feeder. You will | | | | check their weight won’t cause the feeder to |
| usually have more success if you buy a squirrel | | | | close or tip over. Some of the motorized devices |
| proof feeder rather than trying to retro fit a | | | | even start to spin around when a squirrel tries to |
| device to your existing bird feeders. | | | | use them, this doesn’t harm the creatures |
| There are now a wide variety of good quality and | | | | but soon stops them coming back and trying |
| effective squirrel proof bird feeders available on | | | | again! |
| the market and they come in a range of styles | | | | Another option is to buy a purpose built squirrel |
| and shapes. There is a squirrel proof version for | | | | house and squirrel feeder and encourage your |
| almost every type of bird feeder. | | | | squirrels to use this rather than your bird feeders. |
| Some of the simple designs feature a dome | | | | Of course this may encourage more squirrels to |
| shaped device over the top of the feeder. This is | | | | use your garden but many bird lovers find this is |
| used in bird feeders that are designed to hang | | | | an effective option and allows both species to |
| from trees and ensures that squirrels are not able | | | | co-exist peacefully together. |
| to grip on the bird feeder and simply slide off | | | | When choosing squirrel proof bird feeders look for |
| before they can reach the food. They tend to be | | | | materials that are guaranteed again squirrel |
| quite large and can put off certain birds from | | | | damage and are built from quality, durable |
| using your feeder. Clear Perspex baffles are the | | | | materials. |
| most effective as birds as still able to see the | | | | |