Squirrels have developed a bad reputation for stealing food from bird feeders. For the squirrels, it must be tempting to have seeds sitting in an feeder that is completely accessible to them. You can deter the squirrels away from your bird feeder by positioning a squirrel feeder in your yard. There are many different styles to choose from.
The basic squirrel feeder closely resembles a bird feeder. It is constructed from wood, with a perch for the squirrels to rest on when they eat. The front and sides of the feeder are trimmed out in copper, preventing the squirrels from eating the feeder as well. This feeder has a hinged lid, allowing you to add corn and seeds as necessary.
The squirrel diner is a tree-mounted feeder, made from powder coated steel. This material makes it chew and rust resistant, so it will last a lifetime. This squirrel feeder is compact in size and can accommodate peanuts, seeds and kernels of corn. It can also be mounted to a porch or wooden post.
Bungee squirrel feeders are exactly what the name implies. They have a bungee section that rebounds up and down as the squirrels climb on it to eat the food. This type of squirrel feeder is specifically designed to attach ears of corn, which are fastened to it with eye screws. It can attach to a hook or tree branch using a chain and tie fixture.
Recycled squirrel feeders are becoming more and more popular. They are usually made from recycled milk jugs and plastic which will never fade or crack. This type of squirrel feeder is birdproof, as the squirrels have to lift the cover to eat. It can be mounted to a tree, patio or wooden post.
A very simple squirrel feeder can be made by nailing together two pieces of wood so that it forms a "T" shape. Hammer a large nail through one side of the wood to attach an ear of corn. Nail the other side to a tree or wooden post so the corn cob stands upright. The squirrel can now perch on the wood and chew on the corn cob.
Crafty people can also build squirrel feeders with ready made kits. These can be purchased at craft and home improvement stores, as well as online. Woodworkersworkshop.com has do it yourself squirrel feeder plans and kits available for purchase. All that is required is a little wood working knowledge and a strong desire to care for the squirrels in your yard.