Feeding birds not squirrels!

[Toughie]

Anyone had any luck with squirrel-proof bird feeders? Nothing against the squirrels but the clever things seem to empty the bird feeders before any bird has had a look in...

What would happen if you put a tray of nuts out for them?
Maybe they’d eat that and leave the seeds for the birds?

Hadn’t thought of that. Good tip!

@MrsJunglelow

What would happen if you put a tray of nuts out for them? Maybe they’d eat that and leave the seeds for the birds?

They eat the nuts first and have the bird seed for dessert

OP, very few that claim to be squirrel proof actually are. I'll have a look and see if I can find one that a friend was raving about on FB a while ago.

I’ve ordered a roam wild bird feeder, due for delivery tomorrow, it’s supposedly squirrel proof.

Feeding birds is an expensive hobby - the amount of bird feeders I've had to junk now because it's more expensive to keep them filled (squirrels or starlings) is nobody's business.

Mind you, all my birds seem to have disappeared at the moment. :(

Our caged feeders do the trick. They also keep all but the most persistent of corvids off the fat balls.

Bamboozled is 100%correct. Let me know if you find a solution.

Meanwhile, enjoy this video of one man's attempt to deal with the issue:

My DCs love that video. It had them hooting with laughter in deepest lockdown last time round

I really enjoyed that squirrel video

Amusing as hell!

Yes definitely fighting a losing battle but wondered if there was something better than my basic feeders.
Squirrels round here one step away from knocking on our patio doors ....

I have a lot against grey squirrels. The only less welcome visitor from the US is Donald Trump.

[quote ICouldHaveCheckedFirst]Bamboozled is 100%correct. Let me know if you find a solution.

Meanwhile, enjoy this video of one man's attempt to deal with the issue: [/quote]
Love it!

@Toughie

Yes definitely fighting a losing battle but wondered if there was something better than my basic feeders. Squirrels round here one step away from knocking on our patio doors ....

Ours march into the flat and head for the kitchen We've always had dogs and now we're dogless and living in a flat, I decided to go for a cream carpet. I didn't realise that muddy pawprints were still going to be a problem!

Get a squirrel feeder and cheap peanuts and keep it full they leave my bird food alone Now I’ve done that

Just seen you have Greedy squirrels maybe the squirrel proof feeders? That almost have a cage round to let birds in

Get a feeder with a cage around it. Also keeps the rats and pigeons off.

I have Hot Pepper flavour suet pellets. The birds can't taste the capsicum, but the squirrels can, and avoid (unless they are Hardcore, which the ones round me fortunately aren't )

I also have them in a feeder with a cage round it...

I always wonder whether the chilli would irritate the birds' guts, even if they can't taste it.

OP: "Squirrels round here one step away from knocking on our patio doors ...."

You must live next door to me!

May look out for the pepper suet balls TheFog, good tip.