Feeders Wrecked

[rossbells]

Around 3 weeks ago I put a few feeders in my garden, lots of songbirds where coming to the garden everyday. Sadly the grey squirrels have discovered this as well. They have robbed everything and broke 3 feeders so far. Does anyone know of how I could eradicate these vermin without damaging anyting else.

[AshLee]

I use squirrel proof feeders. Have you tried these? I guess some are better than others anyway.

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by rossbells

Around 3 weeks ago I put a few feeders in my garden, lots of songbirds where coming to the garden everyday. Sadly the grey squirrels have discovered this as well. They have robbed everything and broke 3 feeders so far. Does anyone know of how I could eradicate these vermin without damaging anyting else.

The squirrels can't reach the feeders hanging on my two feeder poles or get onto the bird table, because they are protected by baffles. The only problem is that the poles have to be positioned away from trees and shrubs from which the squirrels could leap straight onto the food.

[Tringa]

How can you eradicate these vermin ---- load both barrels, and from my garden I would have no problem if someone loaded both barrels several times.

More reasonably -

have a look at CJ Birdfood. They have a good range of cages that stop the annoying little b*****s getting to the bird food.

Dave

[rossbells]

I cannot shoot them as I live in a built up area, but ill see what I can do as I have a good population of songbirds coming to the feeders everyday and would not want to lose them.

[Dan Salter]

If you have a local squirrel population (as i do) you can forget any type of wooden feeder.....or even seed feeders with plastic ringed seed holes.

as mentioned all should be squirrel proof metal caged feeders which are not cheap but last forever....or if you are using the clear plastic tube type for seed and stuff make sure the 'portholes' are metal and not plastic....this has eliminated most of the problem at ours.

Anything made of timber with metal mesh they will just chew away and bend the mesh back.

[Monkey Orchid]

We once made a squirrel-proofing cage for a bird feeder by getting two metal hanging baskets and wiring them together, to form a sort of wire-mesh globe which we put around the feeder. The birds could still get in and out, but the squirrels were pretty much deterred.

Some people suggest putting out an actual 'squirrel feeder' (see the link below):
Heavy Duty Squirrel Feeder

The theory is that if you provide a supply of accessible food specifically for the squirrels, they will prefer to access that rather than raiding your bird feeders. I've never tried this approach... There's a bit of me that really isn't comfortable with providing food for squirrels.

I wouldn't recommend shooting the furry critters. Not only will it upset your neighbours, but more squirrels will just move into the gap left by the deceased one. Essentially, you're providing a valuable source of food and wildlife of all kinds will simply take advantage of that. You're better off finding feeders which resist strong rodent teeth, and/or using devices such as the baffles and hanging basket cage etc to deter them, IMO.

NB - don't bother with bird foods which are advertised as treated with Capsaicin (hot pepper to you and me) to deter squirrels. We tried some of this out at the feeding station in the nature reserve I used to work at, and the squirrels didn't seem to mind the spicy seeds and peanuts at all. Maybe they thought it was the squirrel equivalent of Bombay Mix!

[Cowgirl]

Look at this cheeky blighter!

Dogs pounced up to the window barking but did it bother nah, practically stuck two fingers up & carried on eating

That is 'til I opened the front door. That'll give it the message it's not welcome around here

[solus]

Keep an old washing up liquid bottle full of water by the window and give it a good squirt every time it comes close - they don't like it much!

Vaseline smeared up the feeder pole can work too but it's a bit messy, especially if you forget it's there and grab hold of the pole.

[Cowgirl]

Thanks Solus, washing up bottle at the ready!

I have a baffle on the pole (large funnel) but the bloomin thing climbed up the house wall onto my windowsill then jumped onto the feeder tray Grrrr........

You can't tell from the photo but it's approx 6ft under the window. I bought an extra pole to extend the height of the feeder so I can watch the birds from the comfort of the settee, (which is where the photo is taken from, with phone) better than the telly!