1. Perky-Pet 336 Squirrel-Be-Gone Wild Bird Feeder
Key Features
Holds 2 pounds of bird food in total
6 different feeding ports
U-shaped perches for birds
Weight-activated
A stylish hanging squirrel-proof bird feeder, this excellent product from Perky-Pet is extremely light and would suit a range of modern or more traditionally-styled gardens. It’s an all-metal item with several feeding ports that are closed off when weight presses on the feeder. It’s truly squirrel-proof thanks to this unique feature that will stop squirrels from getting anywhere near the bird seed that you’ve chosen to put out.
Pros
Will close ports when too much weight is added
Powder-coated for better durability
Hanging mount
Cons
Weight activation may deter larger birds
Plastic insert may be chewed by squirrels
2. Squirrel Buster Standard Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder
Key Features
Lantern-like design
Great for feeding wild birds
Saves your bird seed for visiting birds
Perfect for small to medium-sized birds
What a tough but stylish bird feeder! Squirrel-proof, with a feature that allows it to automatically close access to its own ports when a squirrel climbs onto it. Yet this feeder will not harm any of the little rascals that manage to get to it, it’ll just stop them from being able to eat the sunflower seeds that you’ve stocked it with. Prevent squirrels from eating away at the seeds you use to feed small birds with this compact squirrel-proof bird feeder. For cage feeders like this one, it’s recommended that you use black oil sunflower seeds or safflower seeds due to the type of openings used as feeding areas in the design.
Pros
Includes 4 metal perches
Capacity for 1.3 pounds of seed
Hanging mount
Cons
Expensive
Design only suitable for certain bird food
3. Perky-Pet 8lb Squirrel-Be-Gone II Feeder
Key Features
House-shaped feeder for wild bird seed
Suitable for a range of small birds like woodpeckers and sparrows
All-metal construction
Holds up to 8 pounds of seed
A lovely product for homeowners who moonlight as bird watchers! This bird squirrel-proof feeder works by closing its seed ports when too much weight is added to it, which will keep your birds feeding happily while your local squirrels are deterred by its chew-proof metal design. If you’re looking for weight-sensitive perches that can hold literally all the seed you’ve recently perched (or at least 8 pounds of bird feed!), then this could be the best squirrel-proof bird feeder for you.
Pros
Cute, homey design
Weight-activated ports
Four feeding ports
Cons
May attract squirrels
Not great for larger birds
4. Squirrel Buster Classic Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder
Key Features
Ports that automatically close when a squirrel climbs on the feeder
Will help you save seed
Deter squirrels from eating all the food
Great for bird seeds like sunflower seeds
Suitable for birds that perch or cling to things when they eat, this tube bird feeder holds over two pounds of seed and will help you attract birds to your garden without the worry of squirrels eating everything that you put out. The seed ports align with the openings in the product’s shroud, providing good access to bird seeds for any of your feathered visitors. It’s a simple but effective design, which will seamlessly blend into the greenery of any garden. Give your local birds somewhere to dine with one of the Brome Squirrel Buster feeders.
Pros
2.4-pound seed capacity
Prevent squirrels from eating your bird feed
Simple design
Cons
The weight of large birds may close ports
Only recommended for sunflower and safflower seeds
5. Roamwild PestOff Squirrel Proof Wild Bird Feeder
Key Features
Welcome backyard birds to stay and eat
Store 3 pounds of bird seed
Easy to fill
Ideal for seed mixes
A bird feeder with a very unique shape, this PestOff Squirrel-Proof Wild Bird Feeder from Roamwild consists of a lantern-like top, a long bird feeder pole to store seed, and two perches on either side of the bottom of the feeder where birds can eat. Each of the ports is individually spring-loaded, so a squirrel or heavy bird sitting on one of the weight-sensitive perches won’t close the other off from smaller birds trying to eat. Roamwild also boasts that this squirrel-proof bird feeder is also suitable for deterring baby squirrels, flying squirrels, chipmunks, and large birds. This is a great bird feeder that offers more than just a squirrel solution and is sure to become one of your favorite bird feeders.
Pros
Not just squirrel-proof
Waterproof
No settings to adjust
Cons
Expensive
Only two seed ports
6. Hanizi Bird Feeders for Outside
Key Features
Circular roof provides shade
Automatic tray refill
Large capacity for seeds
Easy to fill
Advertised as a bird feeder that doubles as a great garden decoration, this bird seed feeder from Hanizi could be the perfect purchase for the bird watcher in your life. There’s an almost oriental feel to the feeder, and it’s also very minimalist, so it would suit a range of homes and gardens. Give the gift of a large capacity bird feeder to any of your friends that feel at peace watching birds fly across their lawn. There’s no metal cage here, just a high-quality plastic bird feeder that’s perfect for viewing wild birds up close.
Pros
Great for bird watchers
Open space perch
Stylish design
Cons
No protection against squirrels
Not chew-proof
7. Audubon 7458 Feeder Absolute Hopper
Key Features
No-waste seed baffle
Squirrel-proof bird feeder
Weight-activated port
Two open feeding areas for you to feed birds
Do you enjoy feeding birds and watching them flock to your garden on warmer days? This bird feeder from Audubon is an excellent solution to the regular tube feeder that you probably see everywhere else. With its double-sided feeding trays, you can attract twice as many birds at once! Don’t worry about the weight either, this feeder comes with a heavy-duty hanger to help it stay air-born, wherever you decide to place it. When a squirrel tries to climb onto the feeder and run off with some birdseed, it’ll find that the tray closes itself under the squirrel’s weight, taking away any chance the squirrel had at a meal that wasn’t theirs.
Pros
Feed more birds
No-waste baffle to stop seeding from falling
Capacity for 4 pounds of seed
Cons
Stops large birds from eating
Not chew-proof
8. Hanizi Bird Feeder for Outside
Key Features
3 ports for birds to eat from
Squirrel resistant but not squirrel proof
Automatical tray refills
Attractive modern design
Another squirrel-resistant bird feeder from Hanizi, this item has a slightly different design to the other one that we’ve reviewed in this guide. Both are similar in construction, being made of a high-quality and durable plastic that offers a large capacity for bird feed. There are some differences, such as the design of the top of both bird feeders and the shape of the seed storage. This Hanizi product offers a sleek, modern design, suitable for hanging from anywhere in your garden with its strong, metal rope. The circle shape of the bird feeder’s “roof” also gives some shade for your visitors to use on sunny days, which may mean that you get more birds coming to eat in your garden.
Pros
Provides an area of shade for birds
Aids in keeping squirrels out of your bird feed
Large seed tube for more feed
Cons
Not squirrel-proof
Not chew-proof
9. Bonus Gadget: Deluxe Squirrel & Raccoon Stopper
Key Features
No tools required
Metal plate to prevent chewing
Patented rubber clamp
Wobbles when stepped or climbed on
These next two items aren’t bird feeders, but bird feeder accessories. This Deluxe Squirrel and Racoon Stopper from iPrimio is a squirrel and rodent repellent that can help make your existing bird feeder squirrel-proof without the need to buy a specific squirrel-resistant feeder – though there’s no reason you couldn’t have both a feeder and some repellent! There are no tools needed to make this repellent work, you just need one of these dual-patented products from iPrimio and the feeder pole that you already have. The two halves of the product wrap around the feeder pole with a wire ring that holds them both together. It can be installed effortlessly in minutes, stopping rodents from climbing up to your bird feeder.
Pros
Quick installation
Simple, effective design
Deters even determined squirrels
Cons
Only works with bird feeders that have poles
Ineffective near trees and fences
10. Bonus Gadget: EasyGo Product Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder Baffle Guard
Key Features
17-inch wrap-around design
Wide base to stop squirrels from climbing higher
Smooth surface that rodents can’t grip onto
Provides protection for non-squirrel-proof bird feeders
Our second bonus bird feeder accessory is extremely efficient when it comes to keeping squirrels away from your pole-mounted bird feeder. This squirrel baffle from EasyGo is a sleek, cone-shaped design that is crafted from powder-coated steel. In order to be as effective as possible, the squirrel baffle must be mounted at least 5 feet above the ground because squirrels can jump up to four and a half feet high. The baffle, itself, is a 17-inch piece of metal that wraps around a feeder pole to stop squirrels from climbing any higher. It can be installed quickly with the provided screws and hooks.
Pros
Prevents squirrels from getting to your bird feeder
Get more bird traffic without rodents around
Create squirrel-free bird feeders
Cons
Ineffective near trees and fences
Awkward assembly
Buying Guide & FAQs:
Buying Guide & FAQs
When you're buying your first squirrel-proof bird feeder, there are several features that you may want to consider rather than just buying the first product that states that it will deter squirrels. Not all bird feeders are created equal, after all. An adult squirrel is a clever little thing, willing to continuously try to get to any food source that they think they can reach. They have a lot of jumping power, which means that most pole-mounted bird feeders are somewhat useless (unless they have a squirrel baffle or something similar attached).
A hanging bird feeder that you can put up high, out of the reach of squirrels may sound great but when in action... Well, it doesn't exactly work. To hang a bird feeder, you'd need something to hang it off of, which means that a rodent can likely get up there somehow. Squirrels chew through plastic and wood, too, which makes metal designs more efficient.
Here is a quick list of ideal features to look for in effective squirrel-proof or squirrel-resistant bird feeders:
- Either not pole-mounted or has the potential for a squirrel baffle to be added.
- Not made of chewable materials.
- Suitable for different types of bird food (you may prefer a suet feeder or you may be happy just stocking sunflower seeds for your birds).
- A good number of perches (a motorized perch ring may sound cool, but you could scare away your birds. It's also important for there to be enough space for feathered visitors).
- Suitable for different sized birds (many weight-activated bird feeders aren't suitable for larger birds, is that an issue for you?).
How Do Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders Work
The majority of quality squirrel-proof bird feeders are reliant on springs that feel the weight of a squirrel. When they reach the feeder, the adult squirrel automatically closes the ports that would have otherwise allowed them access to the bird feed that has been put out. This does mean that most feeders that work in this way aren't suitable for areas that get a lot of large birds because their weight may set off the feeder, too.
There are also caged squirrel-proof bird feeders, which are exactly what they sound like - bird feeders with a cage around them that helps stop squirrels from being able to access the bird food. Some of these caged feeders use spring-loaded mechanisms, too, so be sure to read about what you're buying by checking out the description offered alongside the product. Otherwise, you could end up with a simple wire bird feeder when you want something more sophisticated to stop your local squirrels from being menaces.
Different Types of Squirrel-Proof Feeders
There are two main types of squirrel-proof bird feeders, both of which can then be constructed into a number of designs like the seed tube bird feeder or bird feeders that look like tiny houses.
Spring-loaded squirrel-proof feeders are more expensive than caged squirrel-proof feeders because they have an internal mechanism that must be delicate enough to close when the weight of a squirrel is added, without constantly staying closed when a bird visits. These spring-loaded feeders exist in a range of shapes and sizes, some with just two ports for birds to eat from, and some with many.
Caged squirrel-proof bird feeders are usually cheaper and easier to find in pet shops. they're easy to recognize because of the external wire cage that wraps around the internal seed and bird feed storage. These caged bird feeds may also have a mechanism to close the feeding ports when the weight of a squirrel appears, or they may be a simple feeder that uses the cage as a way of stopping a squirrel in its tracks.
Ways To Keep Squirrels Off Bird Feeders
As well as buying a squirrel-proof bird feeder, you may consider purchasing additional protection in the form of a squirrel deterrent. These usually exist for pole-mounted bird feeders, but there are other ways to protect your bird feeder if you don't want to buy a baffle.
Some wildlife organizations recommend using vaseline to grease the pole of a mounted bird feeder, which can be a cheap and quick way to keep squirrels from being able to climb up to get the seeds you've put out. For non-pole-mounted feeders, you'll need to get more creative and keep the feeder as far out of jumping distance as possible. Remember that squirrels can and will climb up a tree to get to your hanging feeder, so it might just be best to give in and buy one of the best squirrel-proof bird feeders that we've reviewed in this guide.
Squirrel repellent spray is also an option, but it may not be particularly effective for your outdoor bird feeder and you should always be careful about using chemical sprays near food that you've put out for your local wildlife.
