How to keep Squirrels off bird feeders
No one way you can deter squirrels on bird feeders due to many new issues developing later, as squirrels discover a new route on to a suspended feeder all the time.
How to keep squirrels off bird feeders would rely on suspended bird feeders on a pole, thus a squirrel baffle can be installed. No pole, no problem.. simply hang bird feeders off a metal bracket on a brick wall. Roof overhang parts like the soffit or guttering will guarantee a squirrel-free zone.
Admittedly, it isn't easy to deter squirrels on bird feeders because the little critters are always finding a new route or developing new skills to get around your deterrents in place.
With them staying busy all day in an attempt to access bird feeders suspended on a tree or pole, this will sure improve a squirrels resolve with their prime aim is to reach bird feeder food, even if its mean knocking bird feeders in an attempt to spill bird seeds.
I don't want your squirrels to ever come into contact with bird feeders - in order to prevent disease - thus what techniques I outline here is in an effort to keep squirrels at a distance, thus no squirrel proof bird feeders are required.
How to squirrel proof hanging bird feeders would rely on one of two types of baffles.
One baffle can be installed up to 4 feet up on a pole to block squirrels beneath the baffle; or you can suspend bird feeders under a squirrel baffle to block squirrels above the feeder... and therefore their clever attempt to descend down on feeders.
I can assure you squirrel baffles really do work if they're positioned high enough on a pole to prevent jumping squirrels.
Suspended baffle will 100% prevent squirrel access if you don't inadvertently provide a new way to access bird feeder food indirectly.
Complete with a bird feeder that hangs on a squirrel baffle would ideally be a long length of thin steel wire to absolutely guarantee no access to squirrels.
Squirrels can also be kept off a bird feeder if bird feeders are hung higher up in the yard, with no additional leverage to access them. Depend on the roof overhang like the soffit or guttering to provide you a bonus rain or sun cover.
Lastly, I will recommend you install a metal bracket high up on a brick wall - and even though squirrels can climb vertically up a wall - less rugged walls are harder to climb thus you must take full advantage if this applies to you.
Baffle to block route
As it happens you can keep squirrels well of bird feeders by blocking their route on the way up the pole in their effort to ransack your suspended bird feeders.
Suspended bird feeders only mind or else you stand no chance of keeping squirrels off bird feeders.
Well, the only thing you can rely on at this point to stop squirrels climbing feeder pole, would be to install an highly effective, upside down cone-shape squirrel baffle.
I assure you if this rather simple device is installed in just the right place, squirrels will have no possible way to get on the topside of the baffle. With squirrels able to get above the squirrels baffle, it will be game over for you.
How a squirrel baffle works while mounted to a bird feeder pole, is to re-route the squirrels to the underside of the baffle only, some 3-4 feet off the ground.
Smart squirrels won't bother as they'd know they will become trapped, your then likely to see some squirrels attempt to jump on top of the baffle instead - in a way they can continue their route to the suspended bird feeders on the end of the brackets.
Bird feeder poles aren't always that tall thus a baffle of this kind can't always be utilized effectively, though its imperative to install a squirrel baffle at a minimum of 3 feet up the pole, to prevent access to feeders still.
Mount wall bracket, hang feeder
When failing to protect the suspended bird feeders on the Shepherd's hook of bird feeding station pole, think about re-locating the bird feeder - or several bird feeders - to a new location in the yard.
Not any location mind because we need to prevent jumping and climbing up squirrels who can scale most structures in the backyard.
And while its possible squirrels can be seen to climb up the face of a brick wall, the brick wall will still be your next go-to deterrent.
Best way to hang a bird feeder in an attempt to keep squirrels off can only be a high wall.
Brick walls belonging to the yard may not be high enough or may belong to the neighbors.
Whereas the wall of the house of yours just may be what's needed to keep squirrels from accessing bird feeders, indefinitely.
Brick wall must provide you a 6-7 feet height off the ground this time with a wall that provides little to no tread for squirrels to climb up. If wall fixings or other brackets exist, then remove them or the wall bracket.
When the chosen location to hang a bird feeder on the wall is too close to a window ledge or structure, simply position the wall bracket the bird feeder is intended to hang off, further away so squirrels can't take advantage of it.
Mount your metal bracket to the brick work of the house - not the mortar as many people tend to do - with screws to provide a decent amount of clearing between the wall and the suspended bird feeder.
Anywhere under/side of roof
One way, or at least one part of the yard that will absolutely keep squirrels, including every single common backyard bird feeder pest off bird feeders, would be to prioritize suspending any bird feeder beneath the roof overhang.
Also called the eaves, this is the part of the roof that overlaps, thus creates some rain shelter while at the same time provides shade.
Great then because this roof overhang will provide a bonus rain cover and much needed shade when you intend to hang Hummingbird feeders on the soffit, in an attempt to keep the nectar-filled feeder cool in the summer.
Hummingbird feeders do need protecting from squirrels too thus the roof overhang, or more precisely the soffit, will in fact provide that protection.
Any bird feeder can be hung off a soffit although you'd want to keep bird feeders away from the Hummingbird feeder - to provide isolation to visiting Hummingbirds - who prefer to feed on their own.
Remember, a ground floor or traditional one floor home can be up to 16 feet tall, thus squirrels have no chance of climbing this high to reach suspended feeders.
Similarly, when a soffit position is out of reach or is not available on your home, then you must be able to hang your bird feeder from the gutter.
Gutters provide excellent places to hang bird feeders, and will remain safe as long as you hang bird feeders on the gutter bracket only, and preferably a metal bracket over a often made weak plastic gutter bracket.
Additional area to hang bird feeders so high up, where squirrels won't even dare to try and reach them, include: exposed rafters or the fascias facing outwards or in, with only a small bracket or screw with hook required to hang feeders.
Suspend bird feeders on steel wire
I can suggest you squirrel proof hanging bird feeders with any kind of squirrel proof bird feeder of course, but my intent here to prevent squirrels ever coming close to your bird feeders, as long as they are hung in your yard.
To do that you can suspend any bird feeder on what must be a super thin, extra long steel wire to hang bird feeders on the end.
Why it must be thin and made in steel is because this way wire will cut any clamping claws of squirrels, forcing the squirrels to avoid the sharp wire all together.
No limit to what bird feeders you can hang this way, with Hummingbird feeders to suet feeders automatically made squirrel proof with a simple steel wire.
As a reminder, the steel wire must remain long at all times or this technique becomes redundant.
Squirrels can still descend down to a suspended bird feeder unless the steel wire brings the bird feeders way beyond their reach.
Suspend bird feeders on a long length of steel wire while at the same time avoid objects or adjacent bird feeders squirrels can climb on to, in order to skip or jump on to the bird feeder you are suppose to be protecting.
Summarize
My intention here is to provide you multiple ways to prevent squirrels ever coming close to your suspended bird feeders. Squirrels do carry disease thus can spread them at the feeders... so I would prefer to avoid squirrel proof bird feeders at this time.
In an attempt to keep squirrels ever reaching the bird feeders, hang them off a bird feeder pole, so that particular pole can have a squirrel baffle installed.
Guarantee of deterring squirrels with a squirrel baffle installed 3-4 feet up the pole isn't a sure thing, as squirrels can jump or find a new route.
Don't feel you have to get it right first try because it is a matter of trial and error.
If you feel the squirrel baffle mounted on the bird feeder pole to block squirrels climbing up isn't working out for you, then move bird feeders to a tall brick wall.
Bear in mind squirrels will descend on bird feeders if they can't climb, the point of which you mount a wall bracket to suspended one or two bird feeders on - isn't positioned too close up to the structure roof.
Squirrels can climb a rugged brick wall at times and especially if that wall is littered with objects the squirrel can use as leverage.
Failing all that, let's bring your bird feeders higher up to the overhang of your house, up to 16 feet off the ground with little to no way squirrels can access.
Roof overhang can include the soffit, fascia, guttering or rafters to suspended bird feeders on.
Bonus location can provide protection from the elements like rain and snow - so Hummingbird feeders will also benefit; yet you can locate to a sunny side of the roof overhang if you find it helps attract birds to bird feeders.
Where you decide to hang bird feeders on, like off a tree branch, bird feeder pole, roof overhang or a wall bracket - suspend all bird feeders on a long length of thin steel wire to absolutely keep squirrels from accessing the feeders for good.
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