A properly squirrel proof bird feeder ...

[WellTidy]

... that doesn’t spill feed onto the ground and attract vermin - does such a thing exist please?

We have loads of squirrels in our garden. Our neighbours have a huge hazel tree which the squirrels love, and they are a large presence pretty much all year round.

I would love to be able to feed the small birds, and not the squirrels, at he same time not attracting rodents.

We have a weeping ash pretty much outside our kitchen window, which I would be able to attach a feeder on, as long as it ticks all my boxes!

www.gardenbird.co.uk/bird-feeders/squirrel-resistant-bird-feeders.html I have bought from here before

Thank you. I like these, but do they cause uneaten seeds to fall to the ground below, which would definitely attract rates to my garden?

That's how the blackbirds and the robins get their food. Birds always chuck stuff on the ground when feeding

We have this one - works a treat

Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder - Squirrel Buster - Marauders off! Guaranteed Squirrel and Large Bird Proof / Metal www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BXLF3WU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4hs.Cb9MQ0Q3P?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

We use the cage feeder type, nothing special just a cheap Wilko one. Between the squirrels and the pigeons the little birds wouldn't get a look in otherwise. The blackbirds and robins deal with the seeds that land on the ground, but you could spread something underneath to catch spills if you don't like leaving them there overnight.

Based on the squirrels in our garden, you wouldn't be able to hang anything from a tree and call it "squirrel proof". We have a "tit" feeder with small gaps so nothing bigger than robins can get in, on a stand with a squirrel baffle on it. We still have to put it more than 3m away from fences etc cos the blighters jump onto the top.

Metal bird table so harder to run up it, squirrel ball bird feeders hanging on it, a squirrel baffle around the pole (like an upturned plastic bowl) and vaseline the pole below it, and finally - single sorts of seeds in each feeder (birds are fussy buggers and tend to only like one sort each, and chuck the rest over their shoulders to get at it. Only one seed/nut in each means less chucked on the floor).

Sounds a bit military, but i have tons of little birds and no squirrels or rats since i implemented the full set.

single sorts of seeds in each feeder

shelled sunflower seeds are popular with many birds (including goldfinches) and doesn't leave much residue.

The other big favourite is mealworms - I'm not sure if squirrels would want those?

We've got the Squirrel Buster that HappyintheHills linked to, on a Gardman stand with a baffle on it. The buggers still try and leap onto it but 9 times out of 10 don't make it. The squirrels, along with pigeons, blackbirds and robins will generally eat up the seeds that fall on the ground so it works quite well.

Can I pick the brains of you all while I'm here - I'm trying to deter a magpie. Usually he sits on top of the stand and eats the lions share of the Birdy Butter or flaps about and tries to cling onto the fat ball feeder, both of which I've tolerated. However today he pounced on a baby blue tit and ate that . I know it's natures way but I'd rather not have it on my bird feeder! Any ideas?

I've not had magpies causing bother on my feeders but I had a family of jackdaws devouring the fat balls last year - using a 'cage' type feeder which only the little birds can enter made it not worth their while bothering.

Maybe if you tried that type of thing on your stand put something else that the magpie would like in a different part of your garden it wouldn't be such a pest?

Thanks, I think you're right. I've got to make it less attractive to them. I'll order a caged feeder for the fat balls at least.

We had a cage feeder and one day I found the resident bastard squirrel wedged inside it helping himself to the sunflower seeds with both paws.....

I wonder if he'd done a Winnie-the-Pooh - got in thin and fattened himself up!

I wouldn't put it past him, Errol

Coincidentally, I'd ordered the squirrel-proof feeder as recommended upthread. It's arriving tomorrow. That'll learn him.