Squirrel Feeders - Keep them Away from the Birds
I really enjoy the backyard squirrels and they can be quite entertaining especially if you give them their very own feeders. They will play amongst themselves and chase each other around and this alone keeps them away from the bird feeders.
You can simply get some sunflower seeds or peanuts and place them away from your birds, but why not make it a fun endeavor? Don't make it too easy for them, but give them something to do and ways to eat it. They love any nuts, seeds in shells such as sunflower seeds (which you can buy online in bulk) and especially dried corn on the cob. They will sit and eat for ages which I personally love to watch everyone happy at their feeding stations. Below are some popular style squirrel feeders but you can also check out this page to see an entire page of them!
Blue jays may mix it up a bit and larger birds as they like all the foods being offered but this adds to the entertainment factor when I am having my morning coffee! Below are a few styles of squirrel feeders that may work in your yard.
You can simply get some sunflower seeds or peanuts and place them away from your birds, but why not make it a fun endeavor? Don't make it too easy for them, but give them something to do and ways to eat it. They love any nuts, seeds in shells such as sunflower seeds (which you can buy online in bulk) and especially dried corn on the cob. They will sit and eat for ages which I personally love to watch everyone happy at their feeding stations. Below are some popular style squirrel feeders but you can also check out this page to see an entire page of them!
Blue jays may mix it up a bit and larger birds as they like all the foods being offered but this adds to the entertainment factor when I am having my morning coffee! Below are a few styles of squirrel feeders that may work in your yard.
Squirrel Horse Head Feeder - You fill up the snout of the horse head with seeds and nuts and this will at least make you laugh.
This type of feeder is definitely entertaining. You fill the head with nuts and goodies they enjoy and they will check it out. There are to curious not to check it out!
Squirrel Feeder - With this one they lift the lid to get at the goodies. They are curious by nature and they will figure this out quite quickly plus the lid keeps the elements out. They have a platform to sit on. They may have to fight with the blue jays, but most squirrels enjoy this style of feeder. You can fill with seeds or peanuts or corn.
Metal Squirrel Diner - They can't chew through this, and have to work a little bit to get the food, but as you can see in the picture, they eventually figure it out. Fill with seeds, nuts, corn or peanuts.
This combination feeder lets you give them corn on the cob treats as well as nuts or seeds in the base. So you are not totally relying on the corn cobs.
Jar Feeder - Made from western red cedar, the squirrel climbs in the side hole and then grabs the peanuts and goodies from the jar. The jar keeps the food dry and special just for the squirrels.
The jar feeders protect the food from weather and also create some entertainment. They do best affixed to a tree or post.
Twirl Corn Squirrel Feeder - This will definitely entertain you while the squirrels work to get the corn. It is fun to watch and can also entertain larger birds as well. No more worries about your small birds feeding at their station if the squirrels have this to play with. You can purchase the cobs in bulk online as well.
Squirrels love corn on the cob, especially the dried cobs which you can get at bird supply stores or online. Just click the above picture to find out more. There are good reviews on the bag of corn above.
Picnic Table Corn Time - You simply attach this little table to any tree or even the side of your deck railing (I did this and they got close enough to watch) and screw on the cob and watch them enjoy their lunch.
These feeders work best simply attached to a tree or post. They are seriously entertaining, especially the tractor one with the double ear corns.
See Through Squirrel Feeder - This is a very simple design built of cedar and the squirrel has to climb in either side to eat. There is a clear glass panel so this feeder is definitely their own. It is fun to watch them inside at any time of the year.
You can make your own homemade squirrel food or you can get some good deals online. The critter crunch above is also great for larger birds such as blue jays and red cardinals. So you can share this food between your squirrel feeders and your bird feeders.
Have fun with your backyard critters. It can be hard to only attract one species, so if you are losing too much bird seed or they are making a mess looking for the nuts or seeds or even trying to hang off the feeders, then think about giving them their very own. I found a huge difference in the amount my bird feeders went down.
Plus they were no longer scaring the pretty birds away. I made sure their feeders were in the other corner of the yard. If you don't have trees to attach these to, you can use posts or even garden hooks, but it will be worth your while. In the morning I love watching them all enjoy the yard and now the yard is at peace as everyone quietly munches away in their own corners!