Buying Guide to Squirrel Proof BirdFeeders
Before you set out to purchase a new bird feeder that will have a better chance of being squirrel proof, you will want to consider a few things.
There are so many interesting and unique bird feeder designs out there today. The wider selection is great but at the same time confusing. What is a best squirrel proof birdfeeder out there? If you get a bird feeder home and it feeds more squirrels than birds you will be disappointed, especially if it was designed to be squirrel proof. But the best bird feeder will really depend a lot on placement in your yard and a few feeder features. So to ensure you end up with a bird feeder that you’ll love as much as your birds will, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind.
When I see a cool looking bird feeder in the store, there are a few features I look at before deciding to buy it or not. You may want to use this as a guide when deciding on your next bird feeder.
- Where are you going to place your feeder? Will it be sheltered from the rain? If not you will want to get a bird feeder that has some type of roof cover or even better a squirrel baffle on top. You never want seeds getting wet and mouldy. This puts birds at risk of getting sick. If your feeder will be sheltered from rain, like under a porch, then a cover is not that big of a concern.
- How big is the seed reservoir and is it easy to re-fill? You don’t want to be making frequent trips to the bird-feeder to re-fill it, especially in the winter or if the feeder is not hanging near the house. Also ideally you want to be able to re-fill the feeder reservoir by yourself without needing an extra set of hands.
- How large are the seed slot holes? If they’re too big, most likely you’ll end up loosing a lot of seed from spillage or squirrels will help themselves with their little greedy paws. Squirrels will quickly learn to take advantage of poorly constructed bird feeders.
- Think like a squirrel. Would I get easy access to the seed? Can I grab seed from above or jump onto a perch? This might take some brainstorming since squirrels are pretty creative. Generally if the seed is too hard to get, they might just move on to an easier steal (maybe at your neighbours bird feeder, but don’t feel too guilty, just let them know squirrelproofer.com can help)
These are some basic guidelines on choosing a wild bird feeder that is squirrel proof that will stand up better to squirrels and be squirrel resistant. For more tips check out the rest of the Squirrel Proofer site. Along with the design of the feeder, the placement of the feeder will be essential in getting an effective squirrel proof birdfeeder. Good luck and our feathered bird friends thank you.
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