How to adjust the Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder to keep the squirrel away?
It’s essential to adjust the squirrel-proof feeder correctly to prevent it from the squirrels and attract the maximum number of birds. Although there is a mechanism in the squirrel proof feeder to prevent the seeds from the squirrels, you also need to make sure that a minimum number of squirrels are attracted to it. Because when more number of squirrels attract towards the feeder, it can damage the feeder and makes it less attractive for the birds.
Moreover, most of the squirrel’s proof shroud closing depends upon the weight of the squirrel. This weight limit is usually equal to the weight of an adult squirrel. Due to this mechanism, we need to make sure that there is nothing helping things around the bird feeder. Because when squirrel found anything helping around the feeder, it can easily get the seeds without putting the weight on the feeder. So the adjustment of the squirrel-proof feeder is also significant.
Different ways to adjust squirrel proof feeder
There are different ways of adjusting the squirrel-proof feeder. Let’s see the different ways of adjusting the squirrel-proof feeder to prevent it from the squirrel visits.
1. 5-7-9 Rule
5-7-9 rule is related to the surrounding space of the squirrel-proof feeder. It is discussed above as well; the surrounding area of the squirrel-proof feeder is also significant to prevent the seeds from the squirrels. A squirrel can’t jump more than 5 feet, so make sure to hang your bird feeder at a minimum of 5 feet height from the ground. Make sure there is nothing helpful around the feeder in 7 feet space. Similarly, a squirrel can’t jump down on the feeder from 9 feet in height. So you can make sure that your feeder is following this 5-7-9 rule.
2. Use squirrel baffle
You can also use the squirrel baffle to adjust your bird feeder, especially when you are going to hang your bird feeder with a pole. You can also use a squirrel baffle with a small tree stem as well. Squirrels baffles are the devices which stop the squirrels from climbing up. You just need to buy a squirrel baffle and attach it with the pole or tree stem to stop the squirrels from reaching your bird feeder.
3. Use wires to suspend the feeder
The use of suspended wires is another technique that prevents squirrels from reaching your bird feeder. You just need to select two poles and attach both ends of the wire with the pole. Now suspend your feeder in the midway of both poles. Make sure the feeder is 5 feet above from the ground. For more safety, you can also take two plastic soda bottles and use them on both ends. Now whenever the squirrel reaches towards your feeder, soda bottles will roll over and prevent it from tight rope walking trick.
4. Use caged bird feeders
You can also use a cage to adjust your bird feeder by keeping it safe from the squirrels. You need to put your feeder inside the cage to prevent it from squirrels. Whenever you use this technique, make sure the birds can easily reach out to the seeds. This type of adjustment is perfect when you are looking to feed the small size birds like finches, and chickadees. This type of design is also ideal for keeping away the bully birds from the feeder. But this type of adjustment is not helpful in some areas where the squirrel sizes are too small.
5. Use safflower seeds
You can also fill your bird feeder with safflower seeds only. Although the squirrels like the maximum type of bird food, it is also observed that squirrels left some kind of seeds alone in the bird feeders. Notably, the safflower seeds are mostly disliked by the squirrels. Many birds enjoy eating these seeds like cardinals and titmice. So if you are going to feed these birds, you can also use the safflower seeds to keep the squirrels away.
6. PVC or copper pole
The pole material can also play a role in the adjustment of the bird feeder to keep the squirrels away. It is observed that the squirrels can easily climb on the wood and metal poles as compared to the PVC or plastic poles. So you can also use the PVC or plastic poles to keep the squirrels away. You can also build your own pole with PVC or plastic material.
7. Clean environment
Make sure to place your bird feeder in a clean environment. Especially when the birds get the seeds from the feeder, they leave the below-ground dirty. The spread seeds can attract the maximum number of squirrels towards your feeder. So make sure to hang out the feeder in the right environment and try to clean the around area regularly.
8. Use Irish Spring soap
You can also adjust your bird feeder with an Irish spring soap to keep the squirrels away. This can be a good repellent for the squirrels and other unwanted mammals. But make sure to check regularly to keep the area clean.
9. Spinning hook
The use of the spinning hook to adjust the bird feeder is another good way to keep the squirrels away. The spinning hook makes it very challenging for the squirrels to get to the seeds from the feeder.
10. Separate squirrel feeder
The adjustment of the bird feeder with a separate squirrel’s feeder is another way to keep the squirrels away from the bird’s feeder. You need to give the squirrels their own food so they don’t attract towards the bird’s feeder.
11. Pole design
Pole design can also play the role of keeping the squirrels away from the feeder. It is observed that it’s a little bit challenging for the squirrels to climb up on the circular poles as compared to rectangular poles. So you can also use the circular poles to minimize the squirrel visits.
12. Adding spice flavor
Adding the spice flavor with the seeds in the feeder is another way to discourage squirrel visits. Squirrels don’t like this kind of taste. But you need to make sure that the birds are not affected by it.
Watch 4 Methods of Squirrel proofing:
Conclusion
From all the above discussion, we can conclude that keeping the squirrels away from the bird feeder is not difficult. You just need to focus on any one plan from all the above ways. You can pick any one way from the above-listed ways and try to concentrate on it accordingly.
