Bird Watching: Show Us your Bird Feeders, Vol. 12, 1 by dirt_in_ozone7b

dirt_in_ozone7b wrote:
G'Mornin all, My attempt to make a squirrel free feeder.
Let me first say that it is under this premise:
"I am cheap"
So finding material ( like the used 8' 4x4) is a treat for me.
and the branches -- had to trim and cut anyway
and the used wood stove single-wall outdoor chimney pipe which
I kept after pulling my wood stove out made me happy,
and the rebar from stuff I do made the whole project free.

For years -- I mean years and years I put up with squirrel
damaging anything that had food. Got to the point of just
throwing it on the ground ,didn't have to fill or clean (don't
look at my pic too closely- someday) and alot of the feed
had alot of hazelnuts from my sis in OR (free) till they moved,
so squirrels were half tolerated and entertaining. The problem- they ate too much,
hung around and didn't leave much for the ones I wished to
help out -- native little birds.

Then one day at Furney's Nursery in Des Moines, WA, chatting
with a very knowlegeable lady (green thumbs, toes and funny),
the topic changed to bird feeding and she told me about wood
stove pipe and how squirrels could not get a grip
on that size (6" diameter-single wall) and could not jump the 4' height.
. Her hubbie built a giant feeding table with 4 wood stove section legs-
I think she feeds an army. I just wanted one that the squirrels
wouldn't attack and claim victory.
After 3 years not one squirrel has conquered this thing-
still waiting for some flying squirrel or a combination of a bunch
of them getting together and hiking one up there. Now I'm pretty
confident that this is a squirrel free feeding station that is low
cost and sturdy.
Someday I'll paint it some other color and if a branch breaks,
get another and if I have to just rebore a bigger hole.
I just hang all the cheap feeders on there-- flickers hang off these
and get their share-- and use hanging basket chain with
red plates (draw hummers to area)-- it keeps the crows from getting in.
All the birds and squirrels that I try to not feed on the pole still gets enough
from all the piggy action most birds do so no one goes hungry.
The long rebar just tension against the oversize gap the pipe creates.

Last very important point- the feeder must be at least 10' from anything
the squirrels could climb on and do the kamikaze jump. I put my
used christmas tree out the first year for protection for the birdies and
the first day one jumped and grabbed the only not-cheap feeder and busted
the birdie landing. It was just a foot too close so I was able to move it till they couldn't jump-
amazing little acrobats running their hands over and over and contemplating for a long
time.
Hope this helps anyone contemplating putting a feed station up and wanting to keep
rockey from getting in. I know there is commercial products and didn't try plastic but
can say for the money, I love this thing. And hopefully ya'll could do one way better than mine.