Wildlife Gardening: Raccoon proof squirrel feeder?, 1 by e9racer

e9racer wrote:
SQUIRREL-PROOF, POLE-MOUNTED BIRD FEEDER

The picture with this post provides a general view; some close-ups will follow

My environment dictates pole-only method; hanging feeder not possible

For support system, I used

10 ft pole - 3/4 electrical conduit, for general erection
3ea connectors - 3/4" conduit-to-thread (Ace Hdwr)
1ea plumber's union - as a "quick-disconnect" to remove feeder from pole at 3/4" connector
1ea - ceramic light bulb holder (mounts at center, bottom of feeder)
10" piece - 3/4" conduit, connects to the ceramic light bulb holder and plumber's union

disk baffle - rounded top from 35-gal garbage can (Lowes), trimmed-out w/ table saw
bowl baffle - 18" plastic planter bowl (Home Depot), trimmed-out w/ table saw

feeder - cedar wood (Home Depot)

The disk baffle is mounted on 10" piece of fiberglass fishing pole (graphite won't work, it's hollow and breaks). To maintain the disk's position on the fishing pole, I used 2ea "butt connectors" (electrical item). I dis-assembled each connector, drilled out, and trimmed plastic.

Having drilled a hole in the center of the feeder's roof, slide the fishing pole into the roof hole

Then slide "matching butts" onto clear tubing (Ace Hdwr), slide this assembly onto fishing pole. Using a "modified" hose clamp to go smaller than design (a fishing pole is darned small !) to clamp the "butted ends" tighter onto the pole. On top of this sits a small brass "pipe cap" (Lowes), in which I drilled a hole to slide it onto the fishing pole to sit on the 'butt connector" assembly. The whole point of this is to ensure support for the disk, as fishing pole is not straight rod)

Used two pieces of aluminum tubing I sawed from an old TV antenna for support of the underside of the garbage can top. The aluminum tubing is extremely light-weight. To slide onto the fishing rod, I crushed the center of each tube in a vise, and drilled a center hole. The tubes rest on the pipe cap.

I then slide the garbage can top onto the pole, and "pin" the top end of the pole with a 1/2" length piece of small plastic tubing (Ace)

To constrain the bottom end of the fishing pole, I drilled a hole in the bird feeder box's horizontal wall support (across center of box). By mounting 3 metal washers around the drilled hole (finishing nails, in small holes drilled in the washers) ,,, I also provide myself an easy guide for closing up the feeder after re-opening for re-fills). I also mounted a small block of wood under the wall support, to stop the pole from going past the support)

For the cedar wood feeder itself, I did the following

- mounted a "traditional" drawer handle, outside of ledge, to accomodate feet of larger birds
- installed 2ea feeder bay walls, to allow loading of multiple feeds
- installed 3ea triangular-shaped bases for each bay, as the feeder has a flat floor, these shapes keep the feed free from rainwater and keep feed moving outward
- mounted 2ea suet baskets underneath feeder (thus, feeder's side suet holders need only hold 1/2 of a suet brick)
- drilled matching holes in roof side and box, to allow nails to pin the roof to box (in case an unwanted visitor tries pulling up the roof)
- painted 2 coats of green
- painted 2 coats of squirrel repellent on ledges and roof (cayenne pepper, dish cleaning solution, water)

Entire assembly has been operational for nearly 3 weeks ,,, not seen any squirrels atop feeder, despite fact the squirrel feeder is sitting 20 feet away on same fence railing.

I have seen squirrels occasionally refresh their memory of the 18" bowl baffle, but they don't try to overcome it.

I have seen larger birds try to land on the disk baffle, but they don't stay because their weight bounces the disk baffle, and birds don't seem to like bouncing around.

Only once needed to adjust the disk baffle. Soon after erection, it appeared a squirrel might have tried landing on it from the closest tree, and pushed it slightly down the fishing pole. But, I have not seen that since.

At this point, birds are mostly happy (mockingbirds interested, but their size seems a deterrent). Squirrels so stuffed at their own feeder, the pole-mount op has lost most of its attraction.