If you enjoy feeding the birds in your own garden, you may want to think of some ways to stop squirrels from eating your bird seed. This can either be through squirrel proof bird feeders or just simple ways of prevent them naturally.
There aren’t many better experiences than enjoying nature in your own back garden. Birds really are just wonderful and depending on the season will very much depend on the different species that could visit your garden. It is certainly worth looking up the different seed that you can buy to determine which birds that you might want to attract.
However, with such delicious food in your own back garden, you are likely to get visits from the resident squirrels as well. With bird food being rather expensive, you are going to want to ensure that the food is protected from squirrels. There are two ways of doing this, either taking measures to secure your bird feeders from squirrels in the hope that it will prevent them from taking the food. Or, you can purchase a squirrel proof bird feeder which will offer the ultimate protection.
Tips on how to secure you bird feeders from squirrels
There are some natural ways that you can prevent squirrels from eating your bird seed or just some simply additions to your already existing food stations.
1. Set up a squirrel feeder
Believe it or not, one way to stop the squirrels from eating all of your expensive bird seed is to simply give them their own somewhere else in the garden. Lovethegarden has a great article on what you can feed the squirrels in the garden. You can also buy specialist squirrel feeders like this example on Amazon.
2. Attach a baffle to your bird feeder
Having a baffle on your bird feeding station will certainly stop them from climbing up to reach your food. However, be sure to place your feeding station away from fences or places that a squirrel could jump from.
Available through Amazon
3. Feed the birds seed that squirrels don’t like
Squirrels are not fans of all bird seed that is offered in the garden. You will need to avoid feeding your birds nuts if you don’t want your garden to be appealing and use some of the following seeds. However, if a squirrel is hungry, it may still be tempted to try the food. An alternative is to use these seeds in feeders that don’t have squirrel protection and get a protected feeder for the food that they will also enjoy.
- Nyjer seed
- Safflower seed
- Millet
- Canary seed
Squirrel proof bird feeders
Of course, there is the easy way to prevent squirrels from eating all of your bird food, and that is to get yourself a squirrel proof bird feeder.
The Squirrel Buster Bird Feeder
This is an extremely popular squirrel proof bird feeder and it is available in many different sizes and also designs to accommodate different seed types.
It works by weight. When a squirrel or a heavy bird goes on the feeder, the weight of the animal actually closes the gates where the food is supplied from. The feeders are also equipped with nice perches for the visitors that you do want in your garden.
Available through Amazon
Roamwild Squirrel Proof Wild Bird Feeder
Seeds don’t have to be the only food that you give your birds if you are looking for a squirrel proof bird feeder. This design from Roamwild allows you to feed your birds suet and fat balls and be safe in the knowledge that rodents and pests simply won’t be able to get to it. Like the squirrel buster version above, it is activated by weight.
Available through Amazon
Perky-Pet Lantern Wild Bird Feeder
This is a very attractive bird feeder that does not typically take on the look and feel of a standard feeder. Whilst a squirrel may be able to get onto the perch and treat themselves to the seed, the lock on the top of this feeder has been designed to stop them knocking it off and helping themselves to the entire contents. This model holds just over 1kg of bird seed. Ideal if you are unable to top up every day.
Available through Amazon
Gardman Heavy Duty Squirrel Proof Seed Bird Feeder
This model has the look and appearance of what you would typically call a squirrel proof feeder. It uses a cage to prevent the squirrels going into the bird feeder which smaller birds would be able to access.
This feeder has a total capacity of 500g of bird seed, 485g of peanut bites or 360g of sunflower seed.
Available through Amazon
Jacobi Jayne Plus
This design is the plus from the squirrel buster range. It has an impressive capacity of 3 Litres to help lower the amount of refills that you need to make. Even more so, as only the visitors you intend to eat the seed will actually be able to eat it.
The design works similar to the first feeder in that the door will close when excess weight is applied, this makes it impossible for squirrels to access the food within it.
Available through Amazon
Perky-Pet Squirrel Be Gone Bird Feeder
Our last feeder is the Squirrel be gone version from Perky Pet. This really is a fantastic looking feeder that works off of the weight of the bird sitting on it. If the animal is too heavy, the feeding gate simply shuts and stops access to the feed. This feeder holds a total of 3.6kg of bird seed, amazing if you can’t get outside that often to top it up.
Available through Amazon
