Had a tough battle with the squirrels sneaking into your yard and stealing food from your precious birds? Have they been costing you a lot and disturbing the peace in your garden?
Now, the good news is...
We’re here to help with our squirrel-proof bird feeder reviews to make sure you get the best choice and know everything you need to in deterring them!
Our best overall is the Squirrel Buster Classic squirrel proof bird feeder, give it a read to find out why.
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Squirrel Buster Classic Bird Feeder |  Editor's Pick |
Great Features
|
Check Price On Amazon |
| 2. Perky-Pet 336 Squirrel-Be-Gone |  Best Budget Buy |
Weight Activated
|
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| 3. Droll Yankees YF-M Yankee Flipper |  Large Capacity |
Motorized
|
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| 4. Squirrel Buster Mini Bird Feeder |  Smallest Size |
Great Ventilation
|
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| 5. Squirrel Solution200 Bird Feeder |  Most Durable |
RoxResin Coated
|
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The 5 Best Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders Reviewed
1. Squirrel Buster Classic - Best Overall
The Squirrel Buster Classic is an innovative and completely humane feeder that uses weight-sensitive perches. These close the seed ports and deny the squirrels access once their weight is applied to the perch.
With its negative grip tube, squirrels won't be able to try their clever tricks to access the feeder as it prevents them from grabbing the wire hanger.
It can hold up to 1.4 quarts of wild bird seed and mixes keeping them fresh and away from moisture or molding with its seed ventilation system. This uses transparent seed tubes to trap solar energy, and conventional ones to circulate the air inside the feeder.
The model is easy to fill with its maximum-seed-level indicator that prevents overfilling. It also dismantles for easy cleaning. This is not dishwasher safe, a scrub of dish detergent and warm water with a rinse of white vinegar diluted in water would be enough.
The drawback of this feeder is that when a squirrel jumps on it, the feeder shakes, and a few of the bird seed mix falls on the ground.
Clearance is important for the effectiveness of this feeder. Allow at least 16 inches (40 cm) of clearance around the feeder to prevent squirrels from jumping on it. If you can't do this, you can anchor down the feeder to prevent it from shaking.
Pros
- Humane
- Has a negative grip tube
- Chew and rustproof
- UV resistant
- Uses a ventilation system
- Dismantles for better cleaning
Cons
- Releases a few bird seeds when shaken
- Not dishwasher safe
Takeaway
The Squirrel Buster Classic has almost everything to qualify as the best squirrel proof bird feeder, its downfalls have easy and practical solutions that will not cause that much of a hassle.
2. Perky-Pet 336 Squirrel-Be-Gone - Best Budget Buy
This Perky-Pet 336 Squirrel-Be-Gone Wild Bird Feeder is an all-metal weight-activated caged squirrel proof bird feeder. It closes off its 6 feeding ports to resist squirrels.
It has a rustic leaf design and is fully powder-coated for rust resistance. It is also chew-proof as it is completely made of metal and has a built-in hanging wire so you can hang it anywhere you wish.
With its six feeding ports and U-shaped perches, multiple birds can enjoy the comfort and share the feeder. It also has a 2-pound seed capacity so that they can feast on it for longer periods.
It is a good idea to clean a feeder like this every two weeks with a solution of mild soap and water. Do not place this in a dishwasher for cleaning.
Inside this squirrel proof bird feeder is a plastic tube that holds the food and the metal bar where the feeder hands. But since it is made out of plastic, persistent squirrels chew on the bottom uncaged part and make a hole for the seeds to fall from.
A good solution to this is to cover this part with wood or a piece of metal. It is only a small space to cover that will help you avoid this drawback.
Pros
- All-Metal Exterior
- Weight activated
- Rust-proof
- Chew-proof
- Multiple feeding ports
- Built-in drain holes
Cons
- Not Dishwasher safe
- The bottom of the plastic tube is prone to squirrels
Takeaway
For the price, Perky-Pet 336 Squirrel-Be-Gone is surprisingly good, not to mention its huge storage and multiple feeding ports. Since you’ll be saving money from this, buying tiny pieces of wood or metal to cover the bottom won’t be such a hassle, would it?
3. Droll Yankees YF-M Yankee Flipper - Best Seed Capacity
The Droll Yankees YF-M Yankee Flipper is a motorized feeder with an amazing seed capacity of five pounds and has four feeding ports.
It is constructed with a heavy-duty metal base and refilling cap to avoid squirrels chewing on them and creating holes.
To assure that it is squirrel proof, this feeder also has an internal baffle to avoid seeds from flowing freely out of the ports and pouring onto the ground. This also evenly dispenses seeds on its four feeding ports.
It is squirrel proof as once a squirrel hops onto its perch, it will automatically start spinning and won't stop unless the squirrel has let go of the perch. When spinning, a stainless steel hanging wire reduces its motion to prevent the seeds from spoiling.
An issue with the spinning function of this squirrel proof bird feeder is that its momentum can cause the base to rotate and come off. This could be because of loose construction.
Pros
- Can hold five pounds of birdseed
- Four feeding ports
- Heavy-duty metal base and cap
- Chew-proof
- Has an inner baffle
Cons
- Needs batteries to be constantly replaced or recharged
- The base needs more securing
- Requires clearance
Takeaway
YF-M Yankee Flipper squirrel proof bird feeder is best if you are in an area filled with wild birds since you can feed multiple birds at the same time without having to refill the feeder repeatedly.
4. Squirrel Buster Mini - Best Mini Squirrel-Proof Tube Feeder
This Squirrel Buster Mini automatically closes its seed ports when the weight of a squirrel is applied to it. It completely prohibits squirrels without causing them any harm.
It is an all-metal feeder making every single piece of it chew-proof for longevity. Aside from that, the material used for this model makes it waterproof and rust-proof.
This squirrel proof bird feeder also has a seed ventilation system that uses seed tubes to vent out hot air, replace it with fresh air, and trap solar energy. This causes the bird food to remain fresh, dry, and far from decay.
So if it is positioned near obstacles and is without enough clearance, squirrels can easily jump and access other parts of the feeder. This will defeat its purpose, so ensure to provide 18 inches (47 centimeters) of clearance.
When squirrels hang from the feeder and jump off of it, the feeder tends to spring back, unhook itself, and fall to the ground. To avoid this, make sure to secure the feeder’s hook; you can use duct tape or another wire.
Pros
- Weight sensitive
- Harm-free
- Chew-proof
- Water and rustproof
- Properly ventilated
Cons
- Requires clearance
- Springs back and tends to unhook
Takeaway
For an affordable mini feeder, Squirrel Buster Mini tube feeder can assure you that it is squirrel-free and highly durable.
5. Squirrel Solution200 - Most Durable
The Squirrel Solution200 is an all-metal feeder that uses weight-sensitive perches to keep squirrels away from your bird feeder. Their weight automatically closes the seed ports while the weight of the birds leaves them open for them to feed on it.
Its parts are coated with RoxResin, which makes it waterproof and chew-proof. It is also UV stabilized, which means it resists harmful UV rays that can cause discoloration.
The entire feeder is fully caged, avoiding any weak points that can be a way for the squirrels to break or chew on it. Its six feeding ports are also protected with a metal cover.
With its seed ventilation system, this squirrel proof bird feeder ensures seeds will remain fresh. This is good because as it avoids them from moistening and molding, it also prevents your feeder from being a breeding ground for bacteria and spreading diseases among animals.
The package includes the disassembled parts of the feeder that requires no tools for setup. It can be easily put together and dismantled by hand. It also has a free seed funnel for easy refilling.
However, when full, the weight of the seeds applies pressure and causes a few bird food losses that will spill onto the ground. A solution to this would be to not fill it up, but only halfway.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Water and rustproof
- Made of all metal materials
- Free seed funnel
- Fully caged
- Multiple feeder ports
Cons
- Requires clearance
- Seeds spill when filled
Takeaway
This feeder will assure you that squirrels won't be able to chew on any of its parts to break it, and if you’re fine with refilling it every other day, then this might be the one for you.
What Bird Feeders Are
A bird feeder is an outdoor device that supplies bird foods to neighborhood and wild birds. With a bird feeder, you can watch birds from the comfort of your own home through a window.
Not only does this material save you the energy of getting up and feeding them manually, but it can also attract numerous birds of various species.
Why It Is Necessary To Squirrel Proof Your Feeders
Squirrels may be cute; let's not deny that.
And it is just so wonderful to find them nibbling on food; in fact, you may even want to feed them.
But the thing is, they will damage your property, and that’s for sure. Once they get used to feeding in your backyard, they won’t stop. They’ll even invite their other squirrel friends. The moment you run out of food supply is when things get messy.
The presence of squirrels in your backyard discourages the birds from coming over. This is because squirrels can be pretty territorial, and they will attack the tiny birds who are trying to share the feeder.
Purchasing Squirrel Proof Feeders That Work
Types Of Squirrel Proofing
Weight Sensitive Perches
These are very popular, safe, and humane. So, how do they work?
There is a massive weight difference between birds and squirrels. Almost all backyard birds weigh below 5 ounces while the common squirrels weigh somewhere 14 to 30 ounces.
This technique takes advantage of that weight difference to prevent squirrels from taking over your feeder. Once the weight of the squirrel is applied to the perch of the feeder, the feeding pot will automatically close itself.
There’s no need to worry about larger birds or birds heavier than 5 ounces. The springs can be adjustable to a specific weight.
Cages
These guarantee you 100% squirrel proofing.
The openings of these squirrel-proof bird feeders are large enough for smaller birds but small enough for squirrels, preventing predator birds from feeding on them.
The only downside of this squirrel proof bird feeder is that if you’re feeding bigger birds like blue jays or cardinals, you need a cage with wider spaces in between bars, which may allow tiny squirrels to force themselves inside and get stuck there.
The best squirrel-proof bird feeders mostly use full caging to prevent any weak points that squirrels can't chew on and destroy.
Spinning Feeders
These are battery-powered squirrel proof bird feeders with motors to spin the perch when a squirrel's weight is applied to it.
As they spin, the squirrels try to hang on to the perch for as long as they can, but they will eventually let go and fly off. When they do, there's a chance that they’ll hit a hard surface or something that can injure them.
Electric Shock
Instead of spinning them around, these give off a mild shock to the squirrels. There are claims that they don’t harm them, but there are still a lot of other options than shocking them.
Features
Dishwasher Safe
Wild bird safety is a serious matter that should be considered by those who own bird feeders and baths in their backyards. These can create and promote the spread of diseases among birds and pass them on to other animals.
Hot water, dish detergents, and some heavy cleaning can completely sanitize your squirrel proof bird feeders or any other bird feeder for that matter. Unless you wish to go through all of this work two to three times a month, then it is best to get a dishwasher-safe feeder.
Adjustable Perch
Perches are not very universal. Some birds prefer shorter perches while others prefer longer ones, some require thick perches, and some don't. It all depends on the type of birds you’re feeding, plus the fact that you have to check if they are squirrel-proof bird feeders —since you're looking for one.
If your feeder perch is inconvenient to the birds, they will feel discouraged from feeding in your backyard.
Ventilation
Tightly sealed feeders without enough ventilation can not only dampen and decay your seeds but also breed bacteria and be a source of bird disease.
Ventilated feeders allow air to rise and escape from the top vent while replacing them with fresh air from the bottom of the feeder. This keeps the bird food fresh and smelling good.
Humane And Battery-Free
Most of the popular squirrel-proof bird feeders require batteries and motors like the ones discussed above. These drain the battery quickly and cost a portion of your electricity.
It is best to stay humane and have long patience with these rodents than to harm them. If your bird feeder isn't deterring them enough, there are a lot more alternatives you can try out.
By the way, you may also try using a suet feeder that's squirrel proof. Suet feeder products are not covered in this review, but I can recommend the Brome squirrel buster feeders that are truly squirrel proof. Check them out!
Maximizing Your Results
Attach Obstacles
Lines
Instead of using a pole mounted on the ground, you can hang your squirrel-proof bird feeders using numerous materials that can easily deter squirrels.
You can use PVC pipes or any similar plastic tubing over the wiring so when squirrels try to walk on them, they’ll spin. Fishing lines and very thin strings can be used too since they are too thick for squirrels to balance on.
Squirrel Baffle
Baffles are highly recommended in deterring squirrels.
If you don't want to hang your feeders, you can give a squirrel baffle a try.
These are cone-shaped metal that has a smooth surface so slip the squirrels down as they try to climb on your feeder poles.
A Slinky
A DIY way would be to fasten the springs of a slinky to the bird feeder pole mounted, so when squirrels try to scale it they’ll just end up back on the ground. It is advised to purchase metal slinkies as they can easily chew on the cheap plastic ones.
Here’s how it works:
Remember that these don’t do the job alone, which is why they are only used to enhance the effects of your squirrel proof feeder.
Positioning Your Feeder
This may seem like an obvious thing, but a lot of people forget this when setting up their feeders. Squirrel-proof feeders do their job, but they need a little help.
Squirrels can jump as far as 10 feet, horizontally, diagonally, and vertically. So if your feeder is too near to your home, trees, bushes, or anything that can act as a jumping ledge, you’ll just be defeating its purpose.
The best squirrel-proof bird feeder pole mounted would be at least 5 feet long for baffles and other obstacles on it to take effect.
Use Spices
Squirrels hate spices, in fact, they totally despise them. They hate the smell, the taste, and the sight of these.
Peppers, capsaicin, and other tough spices can deter the squirrels without harming the birds. There is even capsaicin-coated bird food available in the market.
Keep Your Yard Clean
Keeping the ground clean and free of any droppings or food that fall from the feeder can avoid the attraction of these rodents. Any debris can invite them and make them feed on the source. That's a little help to make your squirrel proof feeder work much better.
Conclusion
Our best squirrel-proof bird feeder is the Squirrel Buster Classic Feeder and our best budget option is the Perky-Pet 336 Squirrel-Be-Gone Feeder.
The Squirrel Buster feeder presents great features that offer durability, comfort of use, and enough squirrel deterring.
With its rust-proof all-metal exterior, squirrels won’t be able to chew on your feeder. And what makes this better is the UV-resistant material that keeps your feeder looking brand new.
When it comes to food safety, it has ventilation where bird food remains fresher and easily dismantles so you can clean it thoroughly.
