Build a bird feeder

I guess you must have succeded since the bird feeder has already attracted the goldfinches.

Thor

There's definitely a niche for bullet/squirrel proof bird feeders

The problem I found was the weight restricts which bush you can hang it on

...I suppose that leads onto building an adjustable height hanger for a bullet proof feeder...

I presume you are having squirrel problems, they are quite clever at biting out the base or even pulling out the pins that hold the base in place.

One, fit a swivel so that the squirrel gets flung off the feeder which will rotate under it's weight. Two, perhaps make a round ball shape wire guard that the squirrel cannot get through. Three, shoot the damn things!

There's probably an easy repellent which works for squirrels but I know not what

Male urine (Monkey testosterone) works for foxes and badgers, fill up a bottle, chuck it liberally round the garden and they magically stop digging up your garden and pooping on your back step

Edited By Ady1 on 20/06/2017 08:26:56

Squirrels seem to have exceptional gnawing abilities

A friend had them go through a brand new flashing plate on the roof so they could build a nest in his loft, so even that zinc plate stuff (soft alloy?) can't stop them

I'm having an ongoing battle with the little blighters myself.

They've happily gnawed through the wire mesh of the steel peanut feeder and eaten the plastic feeder holes off the seed dispensers.

I've duplicated the latter with fittings made from some leftover 22mm copper pipe, which has slowed em down a tad, though there's still deep gouges in it.

Next solution was to take the pole off the feeder hangers, and suspend it from a wire hanging out of the neighbour's tree. That failed, they can jump further than I thought. Ho Hum

One much vaunted solution is to add hot chilli powder to the peanut and birdfood mixes; apparently birds don't have chilli receptors, but squirrels do, so I tried liberally coating everything with extra hot chilli oil. The Buxton sub species seem to love Mexican peanuts; I think I'm up to plan G now.

I did make a solid oak bird table with a slate roof, and have slowed them down a bit by blocking the open sides with galv wire mesh, but a couple of times, Jane's found one trapped inside; presumably squeezed in through the mesh, gorged itself stupid and then was too big to escape.

Maybe time to try a longer pole and a Slinky.

Edited By peak4 on 20/06/2017 10:00:08

.

There is.

Lead in .22 ins diameter moving rapidly.

Nick

I had a friend ,living in the middle of nowhere, who fed red squirrels every morning. He was taken ill and to hospital. The squirrels had eaten through the timber window frames and into the empty house within two weeks. Reds are protected. My problem is crows and magpies steal everything. Got netting everywhere but they are very bright. BTW male urine is scattered every night but has no effect on foxes and badgers, seems to work for deer.

BTW male urine is scattered every night but has no effect on foxes and badgers, seems to work for deer.

Works great for us, maybe it depends on the monkey

Squirrels are heavy for their size because they're solid muscle so a weight driven system like that hilarious slinky video above could be the best solution

A possible ME article of the future...? (if the editor ever gets home)

Ady-who are calling a monkey ? I see you live in the south, full of grey things, fed by the tourists.

One of the best deterrents was a metal disc with the seed basket under it, the squirrel would get on the metal disc and it's weight would start it turning until centrifugal force took over. Squirrel flying through the air in all directions.

As said, a metal projectile solves the problem except for disposal.

Clive

Stop being rude about us southern grey haired pensioners, I do not get fed by tourists either!

Edited By V8Eng on 20/06/2017 12:34:08

Chilli powder, birds can't taste it.

N.

+1 for sending them a lead snack .

It is no coincidence that all three of my air rifles are zeroed at the peanut feeder range .

That's what local councils introduced wheelie bins for!

After squirrels repeatedly gnawed holes through the plastic base on a bird feeder I replaced the plastic part with a home made metal one. Pleased with myself, the next morning I looked out of the window to see a squirrel in the final stage of separating the whole thing from the tree by chewing through the rather thin twig the wire suspension was looped over and running off with the whole feeder.. I never did find it. These amusing varmints get most of the nuts from my hazel trees every year too by pinching them well before they finish ripening. They seem to be cleverer than me. Colin

How about supporting the feeder on 2 metal posts close to each other, but insulated, and connected to an electric fence pulser

A hedge with ripe hazelnuts has become a thing of the past, sadly.

Neil

I have tried the electric fence idea but the squirrel just hung on eating the nuts and jerking each time the feeder was impulsed