Squirrels on bird feeder

[jennserg]

I finally gave up on regular bird feeders and bought a finch feeder and a humming bird feeder. I put them on shepherd's hooks outside my back window. The squirrels don't even bother.

[tibbar]

I have 2 feeders that Squirrels can't eat from. I took a 8 foot 2X4 and stuck it in the ground a couple feet. I then attached scrap 2X4's about 7 inches long to both 4 in sides. I then set a large clay flower pot upside down on top of the 2X4 then set a clay saucer on top of the pot and filled it with seed. the Squirrels can climb the 2X4 but their claws can't get any grip on the slick clay pot.

I had trouble with doves eating everything so I built a wire cage to set 1/2 way down the clay pot and now the doves can't get to the food at that feeder, they eat at the other one and on the ground picking up what the blue jays toss out. If the wire cage sets on the clay pot's lip the Squirrels can get a toe hold so I raised the wire cage and problem solved. This has been working for a few years.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff216/tibbar3/PICT5797.jpg (broken link)

[sushiqueen]

I am using hot seed now. I was reluctant to use it but I finally resorted to it after the squirrels burned through many bags of seed. We live next to a wooded area so we have many squirrels. They will eat an entire tube of seed in one day. I would put out the seed and it would all be gone, the tube on the ground, in one day. I even thought my feeder was squirrel proof. It is a pedestal feeder with a vinyl pole, far from any trees, but the squirrels have figured out how to climb up the slippery pole, and some can even jump far from the nearest tree branch.

Hot seed - I don't think the birds like it as much as regular seed. I have definitely seen a drop in the number and variety of birds. I used to see cardinals, doves, bluebirds and woodpeckers on a regular basis. I still see birds but not as much. The squirrels still come by and sample the seed. They don't appear to react - however - the seed does not get depleted as quickly - so they are definitely looking for other food sources.

I am going to try safflower seed next. I didn't know about that one. I don't like using the hot seed because the birds don't seem to like it, plus I feel pretty mean to make a squirrel's mouth burn on a hot day.

[Ellwood]

I bought a packet of powder (can't remember the name) contains chili powder, at the bird store which I added to the bird food. It doesn't effect the birds, but WOW, those squirrels ran around like they ate a hot pepper!