Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders
There are a wide range of squirrel proof bird feeder option available today. Here is a look at some of the different ways that we attempt to squirrel proof feeders.
Block the Squirrels Access
Caged Feeders - This is pretty straightforward. These are bird feeders that are common in use, often tube feeders, that have cage or screen around the body of the feeder that keeps squirrels, or sometimes even larger birds away from the portals of the feeder. It's important that the screen is made of a sturdy material, as squirrels are often quite persistent and are capable of easily chewing through cheaper plastic feeders.
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Squirrel Baffles - If you have a pole mounted feeder, you may want to add a baffle on the pole to limit the squirrels access to the feeder. Alternatively you can add a baffle to the top of a hanging feeder as well. Just remember that squirrels are great leapers, and if either of these is near a tree or bush you may find that the squirrels will simply bypass them by jumping directly to the feeder.
Weight Activated Feeders - Related to this are the weight activated feeders. These are often a type of platform feeder that has a small door that can close over the feeder portals. The weight of a larger animal like a squirrel will cause the trap door to close. You need to closely examine the construction and placement of these, as a clever squirrel will sometimes hang from the roof or sides of one of these and avoid having its weight close the door.
Physically Removing the Squirrels - These have become popular over the last few years. Often these are motorized and battery operated. The weight of the squirrel will trigger a switch and cause the feeder to spin fast enough to throw the squirrel off the feeder. Droll Yankees has several motorized feeders in various sizes to fend off the squirrels.
These are usually tube feeders, but you can find a motorized baffle like the Contech Squirrel Stop that has the motor in the baffle so you can hang your favorite feeder below it.
Squirrel Repellant Bird Food - One easy way to keep the squirrels away is to use bird food that they don't like. Pepper is one powerful repellant, the squirrels (like most mammals) find the heat of pepper offensive, but the birds are unaffected by it. This has lead to bird seed mixes that have enough pepper to repel the squirrels, and another popular option is pepper suet block and pepper suet balls, that have pepper mixed into the suet block. One other more traditional bird food that squirrels aren't too fond of is safflower.