Unfortunately there is no such thing as squirrel-proof. I bought one labeled such from Lowe's, put it in my front yard away from the oak trees (I thought), and sat back to enjoy the many song birds that would frequent my yard. The next day I watched as a squirrel launched itself from a branch high up in the nearest tree, seemingly flew to the feeder, and missed, falling to the ground. It got up and did it again, this time successfully. Within an hour of so all of the bird feed was gone.

I have several feeders in my back yard and was always bothered by squirrels until I found a solution.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Ginger if you ever find one of those please let me know LOL

John, I like your solution, I was thinking more on the lines of a BB gun. OOPS thats criminal sorry

They are beautiful but what a nuisance, I accidently killed a couple of them when I was trying to get rid of moles. I put mole pellets in the tracts and the squirls dug them up. So now I can't even kill the moles that tear up my yard. The sqiurls are winning ERRRRR

Last week, I made a bird feeder from a gourd, painted it a soft gray-green and so far as I can tell, neither bird nor squirrel have visited it. I do have a squirrel deterrent named Sassy, but I don't think she'd bother chasing birds from the feeder.
How long before birds discover a new feeder and should I have painted it bright colors like a humming bird feeder?
cora

Try Droll Yankees products. I have one called the "Yankee Whipper" -- and have seen squirrels try their best to defeat it, with no luck! Doves can't conquer it, either.

Here is a link that might be useful: Droll Yankees Squirrel-proof feeders

I have a metal one that has a spring loaded perch. No way can a squirrel or heavy bird can get to the seed. Not sure where I bought it, Kmart, Home Depot or Lowes? Keep looking or google it.
Welcome to the forum Ginger.

Thanks everyone for their suggestions. yes, I really think it's an oxymoron also. I'm going to look up the Droll Yankee one though. I just love watching the birds.

johnjsr, I also have that kind of preventative measure, however mine could care less about the squirrels, so it doesn't work very well :)

My daughter, who managed a Wild Bird Center in Maryland sent me the following E-mail to pass on.

Try plain safflower seed. Most birds like it, most squirrels do not care for the strong bitter taste. Do not mix it; squirrels will knock it out of the way to get to stuff they want. Just like a new feeder, if you switch it could take time (up to 6 weeks) for your birds to come. Creatures of habit.
You can also place your pole 8-10' away from ANY launching point and put an Erva can baffle on the pole (this requires a pole with a removable top and a feeder base that is 6' off the ground). The can is longer than a squirrel body and 10' is out of range. But look around. See that bird bath? That azalea? That cute little pedestal you have that pot of salvia on? All too close and may need to be moved away from the pole.
The Droll Yankees squirrel proof line is expensive but very effective. They do carry a life time warranty against any defect AND against squirrel damage so some consider them worth the price, around $120. The most entertaining to some is the Yankee Flipper which features a motorized rechargeable base that flings squirrels off when activated by their weight. Birds are too light to trigger it. I've seen 4 cardinals at once feeding from a Flipper.
Another weight activated feeder I used to recommend is Homestead's Super Stop A Squirrel which retails for around $50. It was redesigned a few years ago to make the top and sides longer than a squirrel body so they can't reach around and steal the seed, but if they try to feed directly they shut down the feeding platform. Downside is lost visibility because of those longer panels. Most other weight activated feeders do not work because squirrels can hang from the feeder or nearby branch or pole and eat without tripping the spring.

I'll add this. The the squirrels didn't care for the safflower seed, some birds scattered it, but the rats loved it. I would catch them three at a time at night somrtimes. Jake also helped out on that problem. I quit using it.
john

I got my Droll Yankee 'Whipper' for $65. Shop around the 'net as usual, and you'll get a good deal, too! For a feeder that is very well built, easy to clean and fill, and has a lifetime guarantee, the initial investment just fades over time.....

The spring-loaded perches do keep the squirrels away from the seed but they don't keep them from trying so they may discourage birds. I got a set up from Wild Birds for about $100. It has a tall pole, a tubular baffle and hooks for the feeders. It's modular so you can get the pieces you want. As long as it is placed where they can't jump to the top of the baffle, it is very effective.

LMBO, johnjsr, you beat me to it. I have one of those special squirrel proofers too.

I use a pain old 4-inch PVC pole about six feet high and nowhere near anything that they can jumb from. It works for me.
Harold

My son bought me this for my birthday 2 years ago. It is really squirrel proof, loved it so much I bought another for Christmas. The squirrel's have NEVER gotten into them yet. This is the cheapest place I have found it.
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.V106023.desc.Gardener-Equipment-Super-StopASquirrel-Feeder
Hope this helps,
Tina

Where's Marcia? She has experimented with several squirrel baffles and had luck with some of them.

Kate

Here I am, Kate! Been missing in action due to a hip injury that kept me sidelined for a couple of weeks, but I'm back now!

I have been feeding birds for about 50 years and have tried every product on the market, and then some. Many work for awhile, many are just a joke. Spring loaded feeders that close when a heavy bird or squirrel gets on them will work until the squirrels figure out they can hang from the roof of it by their back legs and reach down to scoop out the seed without activating the lever that closes the feeder.

Feeders enclosed in cages with openings only big enough for small birds to pass through will work for awhile...until you find (as I did) a dead squirrel hanging from one of the holes, where it got its head stuck trying to get in. It's very unpleasant to clean up. Also, caged feeders usually don't allow any of the larger birds in...not even cardinals.

Safflower seeds are a good idea for feeders that you want completely accessible, as squirrels don't particularly like them. BUT...they WILL eat them when they are really hungry and if they can't find any other seed around. I usually keep one or two feeders with safflower in them because cardinals and titmice love them so much, but now and then, a really hungry squirrel will empty them.

Personally, I think the very best way is to find a baffle that works for you. All of my main feeders hang from "shepherd's hook" type poles. About 4 or 4 1/2 feet off the ground, I mount a baffle on the pole, just under the hanging feeder. It completely stops the squirrels from climbing UP the pole...they run up, get stuck under the baffle, and run back down again. And if you get the height right, they can't jump OVER it, either. You have to locate the pole where they can't jump to the feeder from a nearby tree, of course, but other than that they are very effective. No squirrels are getting to any of my feeders now, and I probably have at least 20 that live in my trees and yard.

There are several kinds of baffles. I use the cone shaped ones I get from PetSmart. They are relatively inexpensive (I think less than $20) and last forever. IF an industrious squirrel manages to jump high enough to grab at the baffle, it tilts and dumps him off.

There is another type that my friend uses, which is also quite good. It is a cylinder about 6" wide that fastens to the pole. If they run up the pole, they are stuck inside. And if they jump up and grab the cylinder, it's too wide for them to hold onto and they drop right off.

BTW, my squirrels have no trouble climbing up PVC pipe at all, no matter the diameter...it gets scratched and roughened quickly, and they can hold on to it with their sharp little claws. And in the same vein, forget about greasing the pole with Vaseline and the like...it melts in summer, runs down all over the ground, and they are soon running right up the pole. Not to mention, dirt and debris stick to it and the pole soon looks pretty bad.

The link below will take you to one place online that sells several types of baffles. You can see samples of both the cylindrical type and the cone shaped ones on this page. And if you have hanging feeders, there are samples of the domed baffles here, too.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Marcia (ps...I have 2 squirrel chasers, as well, but the trouble with them is, they are just as happy chasing the birds as they are the squirrels! *grin* )

Here is a link that might be useful: Baffle Samples

I own a yankee flipper as well and it has lasted many years -
probably going on 5 now against the elements which is pretty respectable.
It is a bit pricey but when you average it out based on how long it lasts
and that it's so well built it is worth it. Here is the link to it on
amazon. Yankee Flipper

Also, there is a variant that doesn't use batteries called the
yankee whipper. Instead of a spinning ring it has spring loaded perches
that collapse when squirrels get to them. Probably not quite as
entertaining as the flipper but still a good brand and very well built.
Yankee Whipper