Squirrels are vicious creatures who target bird feeders. If you’ve got a local squirrel population that’s driving you nuts, it might be time to take decisive action.
And, although you could try to let the little guys go hungry, that also means putting your neighborhood’s songbirds in the line of fire.
The solution is to make a squirrel feeder.
There are plenty of ready-made squirrel feeders out there, but they’re usually expensive. If you’d like to make your own, I’ll show you how you can make a simple squirrel feeder in just a few minutes. And for free!
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Erva Durable Bird Proof Squirrel Feeder | Best Overall |  |
| Accoutrements Horse Head Squirrel Feeder | Budget Pick |  |
| Birds Choice Squirrel Jar Feeder | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Erva Durable Bird Proof Squirrel Feeder
Pros:
- 100% squirrel proof
- No rattle attracts birds
- Easy to fill and clean
The Erva Squirrel Proof bird feeder is one of our recommendations for best squirrel feeders as it provides some of the most innovative designs on the market today in regard to keeping squirrels out without having to operate a hand-crank or securing rope around a tree. Basically, you have the ability to easily feed squirrels while keeping them away.
It’s not just for keeping squirrels away though; it can be used for birds as well. It can support four standard-sized bird seed/suet hoppers, and can hold almost a pound of food. The seed ports are adjustable to release different amounts of food. You won’t have to worry about expensive bags of seed either. Seed is easy to refill and remove.
The Erva Squirrel Proof bird feeder is sturdy and can handle even heavy snowfall. It’s powder-coated metal is weather-resistant and has been proven to stand up to squirrel damage and vandalism.
2. Picnic Table Squirrel Feeder
Pros:
- Squirrels are your friends. Friends feed each other.
- Perfect for larger birds like Blue Jays and cardinals
- Heavy-Duty design
- Easy to use
- Bird Suet is a natural food made from seeds and animal fat
- Strawberry foraging area
- Maximizes suet consumption by both squirrels and the birds they share their feeder with
This is one of the few feeders that tricks the squirrels to go after the suet instead of the seed. The suet is secured inside the feeder and squirrels have to nibble through a squirrel guard to get to it. As the squirrels are eating, they’ll attract more birds because suet is an important winter food for many species.
The feeder is easy to fill. Just remove the top, and pull the cage out. And fill with your finest suet. The cage will slide a bit like a drawer, so it’s easy to fill from the top, and doesn’t require you to turn it over to access the suet.
The Squirrel Feeder is built to last. It’s made of forstner planks for a long-lasting finish.
3. Woodlink Squirrel Diner Feeder Model 75590
Pros:
- Can support over 10 lbs of weight
- Tilt-out design for easy cleaning
- Easy to mount to a tree
Cons:
- Will attract every animal in your neighborhood
- Heavier squirrels may need to use both hands to raise the feeder up
The Woodlink Squirrel Diner Feeder is a smaller squirrel feeder compared to most on the market. What it lacks in size it makes up for in appearance. This feeder resembles a miniature diner with green roofs and wheels.
This capacity of this feeder is limited to only 2.5 lbs of corn and sunflower seeds. This feeder will stop any squirrels that are out to eat all the bird food.
The unique lid design for this feeder allows you to simply tip it to one side for easy and quick cleaning. The ribbed design also helps to funnel the food to the squirrels.
4. Birds Choice Squirrel Jar Feeder
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Keeps squirrels at bay
The Birds Choice Squirrel Jar Feeder is a uniquely designed squirrel feeder that keeps the little critters away from your main bird feeders.
The Squirrel Jar Feeder features a plastic jar with a patented lid with an opening just large enough for grey squirrels to be able to access the seed but not large enough for other critters to get in.
There is a metal wire running around the top of the jar that provides additional strength and makes the feeder difficult to knock down.
5. Accoutrements Horse Head Squirrel Feeder
Pros:
- Large to accommodate a normal bread slice instead of nix seed
- Easy to mount to a pole or a tree
- Doesn’t require a whole lot of assembly
- Stays put in the wind
- Protects your bird feeder
- Has an adorable look
- Doesn’t tip or topple over easily
Cons:
- Birds can poop in the holes
- Only holds 5 ounces of bird food
This large capacity squirrel feeder is made of metal and holds eight cups of bird seed. Its narrow entry hole bars a squirrel’s entry into the feeder, but the wider part of the feeder holds plenty of bird food; preventing the squirrels from eating and leaving your feeder well fed.
The feeder mounts easily to 2-3 inch diameter branches for a hassle-free assembly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do you stop squirrels from jumping on bird feeders?
If you’re like most bird lovers, you’ve definitely had your share of encounters with squirrels. Give them enough time, and they’ll climb the tallest trees and jump onto your bird feeders. They’ll eat, poop, and jump around like it’s the best thing since sliced bread! Most bird lovers tend to agree that no matter how cute they are, squirrels aren’t the friendliest creatures.
What is the best squirrel feeder?
The best squirrel feeder is the one that works best in your yard! The feeders on the market vary wildly in price, size, and purpose. For the purposes of this post, I’m talking about feeders you’d use to keep squirrels from eating the food meant for your backyard birds.
Almost every squirrel feeder on the market claims to be “squirrel proof”, but what you need to do to verify that is read the reviews. Place multiple squirrel feeders in your yard, mount them on poles of different heights, and then let nature take its course. If they don’t work as advertised, send them back and try something else.
You may even want to mix up the placement a bit to make it more difficult for the squirrels to determine which feeder is best suited to their needs.
Where is the best place to put a squirrel feeder?
Below are four good locations for a squirrel feeder:
What do squirrels hate the most?
Squirrels in the wild aren’t faced with as many challenges as they are in urban areas. They have to compete for territory with other squirrels, avoid predators, and stay on the lookout for food. It’s their thriving population in urban areas that creates the most problems.
When they get into your feeders, they can be disruptive to birds as well as destructive to your feeders. So it’s important to get a squirrel feeder.
How to choose the best squirrel feeder?
Don’t expect it to be effective immediately. It takes time to break squirrels of their bad habits. It may take a few months for your squirrels to grow accustomed to their new feeder.
How to set up a squirrel feeder?
Conclusion
Squirrels are voracious feeder thieves, and they have been for centuries. The only “modern” addition to their diet is the birdseed we put out for the birds. We think that sometimes we need more squirrel feeders and more squirrel deterrents to send a message to keep them away from bird feeders.
This is a list of the 5 best squirrel feeders of 2022:
- Sun Seed Squirrel-Be-Gone, Pole Squirrel Feeder
- Stainless Steel Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder, All Season
- BERG Stainless Steel 6-inch Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder, Large Capacity
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Erva Durable Bird Proof Squirrel Feeder | Best Overall | |
| Accoutrements Horse Head Squirrel Feeder | Budget Pick | |
| Birds Choice Squirrel Jar Feeder | Upgrade Pick | |