Squirrels can be cute, but when it comes to feeding birds, they can be the biggest pain in the garden. Luckily, squirrel-proof bird feeders can help!
If you don’t mind feeding your backyard squirrels, no problem; any regular bird feeder will be fine. Even the feeders with camera. However, if you would rather support your local bird population, you’ll need squirrel solutions.
The arboreal rodents will be there as soon as you install feeders, and before long, your backyard will be a regular stop on the neighborhood squirrel buffet circuit.
For that reason, it’s better to stop those hungry rodents with squirrel-proof feeders right from the start. See this article to learn about ten easy squirrel-stopping options.
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10 Best Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders
Perky-Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone
This brown squirrel-proof bird feeder is 17.5 inches long, can carry four pounds of standard birdseed, and has four feeding ports. With that in mind, there are only four perches. However, squirrels won’t be able to feed from it.
This feeder thwarts them with weight-sensitive perches and small, flexible feeding ports. Although small birds can stand on the perches and feed, heavier squirrels cannot. Once they grab on, their weight pulls the perch holder down and closes access to the feeding ports.
Not to mention, the flexible feeding ports can only be accessed by bird’s small beaks. This feeder also has a screw on top that squirrels can’t remove but that you can take off for easy cleaning.
Since this feeder has small feeding ports, it’s more suitable for finches and other small birds. However, thanks to its design, they won’t have to worry about sharing it with any squirrels.
Droll Yankees Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder
The Droll Yankees Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder has a basic tube design with an easy-to-remove top and a perch with four feeding portals on the bottom. Although it might not look like much, this is a two foot plus tall, heavy-duty feeder made with durable metal and UV-resistant, strong polycarbonate parts.
It can hold up to five pounds of sunflowers and other birdseed, is easy to hang, and just as easy to clean. Like several other squirrel-proof bird feeders, this one also uses a weight-activated perch. However, instead of shutting off access to the birdseed, it literally spins the squirrel off the feeder!
Related: What kinds of seeds do birds eat?
The perch is connected to a calibrated motor that runs on a rechargeable battery, and activates with the weight of a squirrel. Even larger birds can perch and feed but if a squirrel reaches the perch, the motor activates and it quickly spins until the squirrel falls off.
Heritage Farms Woodlink Squirrel Resistant Bird Feeder
This dark blue, stainless steel bird feeder looks sort of like a small house. Around 16 inches long, and about a foot high, and a foot wide, it holds an impressive 15 pounds of bird seed.
Unlike feeders that have not been squirrel-proofed, this one keeps them away with a long, weight-activated perch.
While several small birds can feed at the same time, the weight of even one squirrel will close the feeding portals.
The weight of large birds can also shut off feeding access. However, the weight capacity of the perch can be adjusted for them. Since several small birds can perch at once, you will also need to see how many the feeder can host and adjust it accordingly.
One possible downside to this squirrel-proof feeder is it is too heavy to hang. However, strong rope can help, and it also comes with its own 5-foot mounting pole.
Squirrel Buster Mini Squirrel-proof Bird Feeder
This foot-high, tubular feeder might be small, but is made of durable metal parts built to last. Its green color is perfect for any garden and it is easy to hang from all sorts of places.
The top of this feeder is easy to remove and connected to a narrow metal tube difficult for squirrels to grasp. However, it mostly prevents squirrels from eating birdseed by using a weight-activated perch.
While four small birds can perch and easily feed at the same time, squirrels are too heavy. If one of those arboreal rodents reaches the feeder, its weight pulls the perches down and covers the feeding portals.
No matter how much it tries, the squirrel won’t be able to reach the seeds and it will eventually give up. Although you might need to fill it with 1.3 pounds of sunflower and safflower seeds more often than bigger feeders, it will keep the squirrels from eating your birdseed.
Metal Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder
This metal bird feeder is about a foot in length and has a rectangular shape with a square top. The outside of the feeder is a metal lattice that keeps squirrels away from birdseed.
Four birds can feed at the same time from feeding portals big enough for chickadees and other songbirds this feeder is suited for. It’s also easy to clean and holds 2.5 pounds of sunflower seeds and other bird seed.
Learn more: How To Keep Squirrels Out Of Bird Feeders
This feeder keeps the squirrels at bay with weight-activated perches. Although small birds can flit in, land, and feast on bird seeds, squirrels cannot.
If a squirrel manages to reach the feeder, its weight pulls the outer metal part down and shuts off access to the birdseed. The metal parts also keep the rodent from making holes with its teeth. Some of the larger birds can also activate the weight-sensitive perches but there will be plenty of small birds to watch!
Squirrel Solution200 Squirrel-proof Bird Feeder
This squirrel-proof bird feeder is a long, two foot tall, rectangular feeder with a clear tube that can hold 3.4 pounds of birdseed. It also has a small metal roof, and a metal lattice with six, spaced feeding portals.
Its dark, blue-green color and metal leaf design lend a nice touch to any garden. The metal lattice on this durable feeder also acts as a weight-activated shroud that prevents squirrels from feeding.
As with other weight-activated squirrel solutions, the squirrel’s own weight closes off access to the feeding portals. However, on this feeder, the squirrel doesn’t have to reach a perch to activate it. Whether the squirrel grasps the metal lattice on the top, bottom, or side, its own weight makes it impossible for the squirrel to feed.
This feeder works well with standard birdseed but especially sunflower and safflower. It also comes with a custom funnel for easy filling.
LCSEVEN Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder
This small bird feeder has a clear plastic tube with a dark green, metal top, and a metal, dark green, outer coil.
It also has a dark green, metal bottom with four simple perches in front of four feeding portals. It’s about a foot and a half long, and can hold 1.3-1,5 pounds of birdseed. This bird feeder is also pretty easy to fill and hang but some have found it difficult to clean.
The metal parts make it tough for squirrels to chew into the feeder, and the metal outer coil also keeps them from reaching the seed tube. If a squirrel reaches this feeder, the metal coil also acts as a spring that lowers down to partially cover the feeding portals.
Unlike most other weight-activated squirrel solutions, it doesn’t cover them completely but still does enough to make it much harder for the animal to reach the seeds.
Bird Feeder for Outside Hanging (Squirrel Proof)
This bird feeder is a good-sized, rectangular metal structure that looks a bit like a two-story house. It’s durable, has a small, sloped roof, and perches for eight big feeding ports. Since this feeder can also hold 6.5 pounds of birdseed, it works well for backyards that have large numbers of feeder birds.
The size of the feeding ports also makes this feeder a good choice to feed Blue Jays and other similar-sized birds.
However, it is not all that squirrel-proof. While these arboreal mammals won’t be able to chew through the metal parts, they won’t have to. As long as they can reach the feeder, squirrels can sit on the lower perch and eat to their heart’s content.
The only way to keep squirrels from eating your birdseed is to hang it at least 8 feet away from any place a squirrel can leap from, and install a squirrel baffle on top.
Didforu Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders
This tubular bird feeder is a bit more than a foot tall, has a small metal roof, and a metal base. It also has metal circles around it and a few metal leaves that give it an elegant touch.
All the metal parts are dark green, and the four plastic feeding ports are red. Each port also has a small but useful perch. This feeder is pretty easy to hang from and holds two pounds of standard birdseed.
Four birds can feed, including small species and larger birds like Blue Jays. However, it can also be visited by squirrels. The metal coils prevent the arboreal rodents from chewing holes in the feeder and they do have trouble getting at the seeds.
However, if a squirrel can reach from the feeder from a nearby perch, it won’t have any trouble eating your birdseed. The best solution is to hang the feeder at least 8 feet from any possible spot a squirrel can jump from.
Squirrel Proof Wild Bird Feeder
This seven-and-a-half-inch tall bird feeder has a wide, columnar shape that can hold four pounds of birdseed. It is painted in an easy-going shade of green, has a small roof, and has six openings where birds can feed.
Goldfinches, cardinals and other species can use the perches while feeding. Small birds like chickadees can also take small seeds while perched on the metal latticework.
Although the arch-shaped feeding ports are designed to keep squirrels from reaching seeds, they don’t seem to work well enough. Some people have loved this feeder, but others have noted that it is definitely not squirrel-proof.
Squirrels won’t be able to chew through the metal, but they can definitely use this feeder for an easy meal. To keep that from happening, you’ll need to use a baffle and install it more than 18 inches from any surface. It might also be a bit tricky to clean, but the feeder does come with its own cleaning brush.
Tips of How To Choose A Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder?
If you love to feed birds, choosing a squirrel-proof bird feeder is a really good idea. If not, you could end up feeding more mammals than birds. To save money on birdseed and a lot of frustration, get a squirrel-proof feeder right from the start.
Related: Do squirrels eat bird eggs?
To pick out the best squirrel-proof bird feeder for your needs, think about the size of the feeder, how durable it is, squirrel-proof features, and how much seed it can hold.
Are there lots of birds in your backyard? If you want to feed them all, a larger feeder will be better. If not, go for one of the smaller feeders. Check how durable the feeder is, if it is rustproof, and if it can withstand chewing by squirrels.
Next, see how it keeps squirrels away. Most weight-activated perches work well, and, as long as you can hang it 18 inches from other objects, that will help too.
Last but far from least, you have to take price into account. A few of the very best feeders cost the most but if they are outside your budget, other lower-priced feeders will work. Just make sure the feeder is the right size, durable enough, and has features to keep squirrels away.
Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders – Frequently Asked Questions
Is there truly a squirrel-proof bird feeder?
No, given the right conditions, squirrels can get seeds from any feeder. However, there are some feeders that are mostly squirrel proof. Hang these feeders more than 18 inches from other objects and very few if any squirrels will reach the birdseed.
How do I keep squirrels off my bird feeder?
The easiest way to keep squirrels off a bird feeder is by getting a squirrel-proof feeder, using a squirrel baffle, and installing it more than 8 feet from the nearest object a squirrel could jump from.
Is there a way to make your own squirrel-proof bird feeder?
Yes, with some engineering, you can make your own squirrel-proof feeder. A baffle on top will help but it’s much easier to buy a good squirrel-proof feeder.
Why do people with bird feeders hate squirrels so much?
People with bird feeders hate squirrels so much because the mammals can eat a lot of birdseed, and can scare the birds away.