Duncraft 171 Squirrel Proof Selective Feeder
Posted by
MEezwan at Thursday, January 21, 2010
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container in a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation. The shell includes a perch platform, a counter-balance, and a window opening that permits access to the feed ports by small birds. When a rodent animal or large bird climbs or lands on the feeder, the rotating shell dislodges the unwanted visitor and closes access to the seed tray.
If you have squirrel problems, a squirrel proof bird feeder may be your best solution. There are several species of ground squirrels and tree squirrels in North America that can create problems for bird enthusiasts. The Fox Squirrel and the Eastern and Western Gray Squirrels are species of tree squirrels that are most commonly involved with causing problems for home owners and bird watchers.
Squirrel proof bird feeders come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles. They range from the simple baffle-topped feeders, to the weight activated hopper feeders like the Homestead Super Stop-A-Squirrel. For the serious backyard birder there is the Droll Yankees' Yankee Flipper that uses a battery operated device, activated by the squirrel's weight, to (harmlessly) propel the squirrel off of the feeder.
One of the major problems bird watchers have with squirrels is that the squirrels take over the feeders and scare the birds away. But that's not the only problem. Depending on the season and what's available locally, the squirrel's diet is made up mostly of nuts, fruits, plant buds, seeds and flowers. However, squirrels are not vegetarian. They also eat bird eggs and nestlings that they will snatch right out of birdhouses. They may pounce on unsuspecting birds at feeders also.
There are two clear strategies for solving the problem of keeping squirrels away from your feeders and birdhouses. You can prevent the (cute) pesky rodents from gaining access to your treasures, or you can give them a better, alternate place to dine.
Let's tackle the preventative strategy first. There are some very simple ways to keep your birdhouses and feeders safe from squirrel damage. And let me add here that it is imperative to keep your birdhouses safe from possible predation. You can build your own predator guard from my plans or you can purchase squirrel baffles, which come in a variety of styles, sizes, shapes and colors.
What you want to do is to keep squirrels away from your feeders and birdhouses right from the start. Squirrels are very persistent and once they find an easy source of food, they will try to overcome any obstacle you may put in their way.
Squirrels are extremely agile and can leap eight feet or more and climb almost anything. For this reason alone, if you have squirrel problems in your yard, keep your bird feeders and birdhouses at least eight feet away from any tree limbs or man-made structures and install baffles on the supporting posts.
If you must hang your bird feeders in trees, you will want to keep them away from the main trunk and equip them with a dome baffle or simply use a squirrel proof bird feeder that is designed with a dome-type top.
Another popular style of squirrel proof bird feeders is the caged feeder. The caged feeders consist of an inner feeder that contains the seed, surrounded by a wire cage that prevents squirrels from getting to that seed. They simply put the food out of reach for the hungry squirrel.
Even the most persistent squirrels should be thwarted by any of these squirrel proof bird feeders or baffle feeder combinations. So let's consider the second strategy of giving the squirrels a better alternative than your bird feeders or birdhouses for their banquets.
This strategy involves setting up a squirrel feeding station somewhere away from your bird feeders with the food stuffs that squirrels really like. There are several different squirrel feeders that not only let the squirrels enjoy the nuts, sunflower seeds and fruit they like the most, there are some that let you watch their antics as they feed on one of their favorite foods, corn on the cob.
So whether you love squirrels or hate 'em, these are some solutions to the "squirrel dilemma" that many birders face. You may even have some new thoughts on how you can live with squirrels and keep your bird feeders and birdhouses off limits to these cute, furry critters.
Larry Jordan has been bird watching for many years and building birdhouses for over 26 years.For more information on bird watching, bird houses, feeding wild birds, birds in the news, bird conservation, and some great bird photos go to The Birder's Report and sign up for his newsletter or his RSS Feed.If you are looking for quality bird and birding products, please visit his online store at Birds In My Yard for some great deals and great service.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/win-the-squirrel-war-with-squirrelproof-bird-feeders-686794.html
Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders
So many people hate when all bird seeds are been emptying by squirrels. Many ways have been applied by bird lovers to make squirrel proof bird feeders. Question is? Are their methods really making it? Let’s take a look how they make squirrel proof bird feeders.
How to Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders?
Answer 1
Buy special squirrel proof bird feeders like Broome squirrel-Buster Plus and Droll Yankees Yankee Whipper.
Answer 2
It is important to know how the feeder is mounted and if the squirrels are climbing up a post or jumping from above. If they are not climbing a post, about the only thing you can do is move the feeder. If the feeder is mounted on a post away from overhead access, you can cover about 36 inches of the post with aluminum or any metal that the squirrel cannot get its claws into to climb. Make sure the metal is high enough up that the squirrel cannot jump higher and get a hold above it.
Answer 3
Putting chili pepper flakes will help keep them away from the feed. Make a steel box that was probably 20" deep, put that upside down on top of the pole, and then secure the feeder to the top. They can climb the pole but then can't get around the box. For this to work though, your feeder has to be away from the trees, since they can jump onto it.
Answer 4
A piece of PVC pipe slipped over the pole on freestanding feeders works well. It is slick and they cannot climb it. Needs to be 4 or 5 feet high.
Answer 5
Buy that one with weight sensitive spinning wheel. Only squirrels will be thrown off.
Answer 6
Use an electric fence for livestock. They don't go near the pole, just clean up the ground around it.
Answer 7
The location of your bird feeder is very important. Make sure your bird feeder is well made-It’s all about quality. The best place for a bird feeder is out in the open, at least ten feet from any tree branch, deck or any other squirrel launching object. Make sure your bird feeder is hung in a safe place.
The squirrel proof tube bird feeder is both functional and beautiful. Used as the post on which a bird feeder is mounted, it makes it impossible for squirrels to get any traction.
Answer 8
Whether your feeder is on a pole or suspended by rope lather it down with WD 40, cooking oil or lard, you can also place
Answer 9
Put SAFFLOWER seed in the feeder. Squirrels do NOT eat safflower seed, but birds love it.
Answer 10
We have a lot of very sly squirrels in our area as well and we've found that if we hang the bird feeder from wire they can't get to it. Just make sure that the wire is at least 12 - 18 inches long and this should solve your problem.
Never put them in or by trees and make sure to put it up very high on a pole that squirrels or any other animal can’t climb
Stand and guard it :)
Squirrels are intelligent. Just feed them. Make squirrel feeders. :)
Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders