Feeding the Birds - Advice from Bill

How Squirrel Proof is Squirrel Proof?

Many feeders advertised display the crossed out squirrel sign. Believe me, I have tried them all, and so have my garden squirrels. I am afraid I have to report that I have yet to find a feeder that was truly and totally squirrel proof. I don't mean that the squirrels can actually destroy the feeder completely (which they can the wood and plastic ones) but, at the very least, they will manage to cling on and nibble at some of the seed or nuts through the "ports" meant for birds only. Or they will somehow get the lids off, and snaffle the top layer of food, and allow the rain to get in and spoil the rest.

This doesn't mean I don't heartily recommend the so called squirrel proof feeders - in fact, they are the only ones I use - but I do suggest that you do a little bit of "customising" to secure the lids. I twist a length of heavy duty garden wire across between the handles of the feeder, so that it holds the lid down. Keep it tight and wound round a couple of times, and it certainly gives the squirrel an almost insurmountable problem. It will probably eventually gnaw its way through, but all you have to do is change the wire.

Why, you may ask, do the feeders not come with some sort of squirrel proof latch on the lids? Good question. Haith's don't actually make the feeders, but they will be trying to persuade the manufacturers to amend them, or maybe come up with some little lid locking device.

Watch this space... especially if you're a squirrel.