rainmaker

Who has the hot tip on keeping tree climbing rats out of the bird feeder.
.22 snake shot just runs them off for about 30 mins.
Grease keeps them at bay until they wear it off 1/2" steel rod ( sheppards style) holds the feeder.
Hate to start offing them but they are eating the feeder itself and spill seed everywhere and keep the birds away.

yarcraft91

God Bless You, you poor soul! You are about to embark on one of man's greatest challenges- outwitting hungry squirrels. That's the reason my wife got me this t-shirt.
http://www.whatonearthcatalog.com/wh...RT_VK6891.html

Some of the standard advice:
- Lace the bird seed with capsaicin. Squirrels might hate it, birds have no receptors for capsaicin so it doesn't affect how the bird seed tastes to them.
- Use a smooth steel pole to hang the birdfeeder and spray it liberally with silicone oil.
- Get a "squirrel-proof" bird feeder- Google it. Trust me though, the squirrels find a way.

Please report back on your adventures. Photos and videos are appreciated.

WPBTH

some good reading here

http://www.thehulltruth.com/dockside...ty-limits.html

HarleyFLHP

Get a Jack Russel Terrier. My girl loves to chase them out of the yard or tear them up.

cedarholm

Squirrel Buster feeders. I have three. They work.


http://bromebirdcare.com/

GerryRM3

1. Move the feeder to within 15 feet of a window or door that will open easily and quietly.

2. Buy a good pellet gun.

3. Practice with that Pellet gun till your proficient.

4. Fill that bird feeder and wait for squirrels.

5. When they have their cute little noses in the feeder kill the bstds.

rainmaker

I like that Brome squirrel buster. Gonna have to invest in one of them. $50.00 on Amazon, not too bad...
Thanks Cedarholm and everyone else.

Dead Horse

50 dollars for a bird feeder -- fook that - 410 shotgun -

monobill

This works as well as several others from youtube,

TBA Tackle

.177 cal break barrel pellet gun!

KJS

We have an ongoing contest at our house on who can kill the most. Keep a score sheet on the refridge. Pellet gun is best. I got one yesterday with the 20 gauge. We have a column for the "anonymous car" that has gotten a few too. Our neighbors have joined in as well. Happy hunting, they are tough little critters.

trainxxman

This is the answer. I have two and use with the baffle on the pole. Squirrels and raccoons cannot get past the baffle and the feeder must be 6 feet past anything so the squirrel cant climb or jump over the baffle. No more problems the large birds squirrels etc all eat the seeds on the ground now only.

http://www.wayfair.com/Audubon-Woodl...5-AJO1007.html

VanderLaan

Not sure what the brand name is, but my deck feeder has a hinged cover that is strong enough to support a few birds, but closes off the feeding holes when a squirrel steps on it. It has side shields so the squirrels have to reach out to the "landing strip" to get to the seed. Mine has a metal hook on the cover and it hangs from a short shepherd's hook.

Found it. "Super Stop a Squirrel Feeder" by Homestead (?).

http://www.duncraft.com/Super-Stop-A...Feeder?ref=CJ#.

lobsterboatman

I marinated sunflower seeds in Tabasco HOT Sauce, and put it in a pie tin on the lawn just to watch their reaction. Thought it would be a Great Mid Winter treat for me just to watch them critters dance around.
Might as well put out fried chicken at the million man march ! Could not get enough of the hot sauce.
Gonna try watermelon marinated in Grape Nehi Soda this year. Can't imagine what will be at the bird feeder.
Probably just a few RACcoons ! JMO !!!!!

Sea_N_Sea

I am fond of the contest idea myself.

cdx

Put out a pot of boiling hot gravy as a warning. If they don't take the hint, fill the pot.

Fordy

coat the feeders stand/pole with Vaseline. Old but effective trick Gramps taught me

Double tyme

I take a different approach. I don't live in an area conducive to shooting guns out the front door.

Find a tree with an overhanging branch, and drill an eye hook into it. You may need an extension ladder for this. Set a j hook at chest level of the same tree. Run para cord or mono leader up through the top eye hook and attach your bird feeder 10' from any other branches and 6' off the ground. Tie two overhand loops in the Tag end, one for when its elevated, one for filling the feeder. Leave enough extra line where you can easily lower it.

This is the only thing that works. I've tried everything else.

phillipgo

Baffles are the answer to your problems. I've used the top of 5 gallon buckets cutting the ridge off them and hung them above small feeders allowing them to tip when one of those critters got on. Slides right off to the ground. You have to make sure they can't jump from something to get on the feeder from the side.
I currently have a feeder on top of a 4x4. I bought a baffle for that. the post if far enough away from trees so the can't jump on the feeder and the baffle prevents them from climbing up.
I've tried tons of things over the years and those two ways seem to work the best.

mfix

cyan pepper on the seed wont affect the birds. but will drive the squirrels nuts.