How to make a ● Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder ● U P D A T E
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- Опубликовано: 23 авг 2024
- It has worked so well I had to share the footage I've collected!! There's a few things I've changed to make it even better, but the original main design has not changed at all and has performed beyond expectations! We've had about 7 or 8 squirrels show up (and that's only what we've seen) and climb the pole and get on top of the squirrel proof bird feeder to only check every square inch of it and leave dejected!! They cannot get into it or even get a single seed out of it, it works that well!! They are not even able to chew any part of it and damage anything. It is attracting more and more different species of birds every day and has become a source of entertainment watching the birds come to feed with others and leave.
I used my new GoPro Session camera. I was able to put it inside the squirrel proof bird feeder to get some great shots of the birds coming and going.
P.S. It turns out the ABS pipe perch only worked for a few weeks then fell off. Each time a bird landed on it, it moved a bit and eventually walked its way off. The solution has been to cut a length wise groove in a piece of 3/4" x 3/4" pine and adhere it to the edge of the glass with silicone. It's now been in place for 3 years.
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i hope u dont kill the squirrels with that trap T.T
As an engineer, I have to tip my hat to you sir. The experiments you conducted to determine the proper diameter to use and the construction techniques were excellent. Combined with the videos and follow up notes of improvements made are all genius.
Thanks for that. I am working on version 2. I will be using steel rods, about 3/8", horizontally. I will experiment the same way to see what is the perfect distance apart for birds to enter but not squirrels. Stay tuned.
Wow THIS is the first bird feeder that I've seen that is actually squirrel proof... Most squirrels figure out how to get through in a few days... This could be your ride to wealth and riches if you started to sell em!!!! I would buy one in a heartbeat if I could afford it!!!! Wow. Love it!
AWESOME! NOW THAT IS A B-I-R-D feeder!!!!! Love it😁😁😁
Can we buy this somewhere?
It's so beautiful, in addition to being 100% effective. Bonus, there's pretty much zero seed waste.
Outstanding work, good sir.
Wow... and the birdies feel safe inside when eating
since nothing other than a small bird can get inside !!!! ♥
I can't believe it took me 6 years to catch up to you!! Six years late but what a genius idea! Great creation and the birds love it! 😊 You really remind me of my Dad. He was crafty and creative just like you but he died in the 70s. (He was really young) I can't help but believe if he were alive today making Y.T. videos would be his passion... thank you for this great video. Sorry I'm so late.😊
Congrats on winning the battle. The feeder is cute, clever, watchable, strong, user friendly for feather friends, magic. Wow, we’ve been through a lot of feeders never thought I’d see success. Thanks for sharing and let’s hope it keeps on truckin’
I am watching this during the pandemic, 3rd lockdown. It’s been taking off and on for the last 3 days. Getting really depressed. It’s so nice to see this beautiful sunshine and all the happy birds. This made me forget about everything for a bit. This is a beautiful bird feeder. You are very clever! Thx for sharing! 🇨🇦❤️
I love how it protects both the small song birds as well as the food from the elements, as well as being sturdy, easy to fill and clean, of secure perch and hand made. Kudos for a job well done!
Thanks! I found that the perch with the abs pipe did not last long. The best has been a 3/4" x 3/4" piece of wood siliconed to the glass
It’s so cute to see them squish their little birdly nerdly bodies into those holes. They’re also protected from larger predatory birds while they’re in there, so that’s cool!
Excellent design, I really like that you thought this through. Thank you for sharing both the build AND update.
The perch did not work out. It ended up walking itself off after about a week of birds landing on it and it bouncing that small bit each time. I found the best has been a strip of wood 3/4" x 3/4" x 5" or 6 " siliconed to the glass is best. Solid. Been on for 4 seasons and now into it's 5th.
I built two of these and used 1 1/2 pvc pipe for the rings and added hinges and leather to the roof very nice design thanks for sharing
@ Rich Edwards how long before they were chewing on pvc pipe THANK YOU
What size are the rings
Hi from UK! I watched this in awe some time ago but here i am back again-not cos I have a squirrel problem but a rat problem. I need a feeder which keeps the seed in the feeder and not on the ground and I remembered this brilliant design lurking in my list...Glad i saved it! I shall now attempt to recreate it with polycarbonate in place of glass and cut pipe instead of copper (since i don't need it to be chew proof)! Wish me luck- I'll need it- I'm a retired cake decorator not an engineer and sourcing inexpensive materials will be my hardest task. Im game tho. Thanks for the tutorial. ☮️
Hi from Blackpool lol. Did you get this done? I was wondering about poly, and I have a 3d printer with 'petg' which can be extremely hard when dense for the holes.
Like the design a lot.
Squirrels foiled!!
You can "weld" plexiglass with acetone.
To keep it clean, get all the parts fitted and held/clamped the way you want them, then use a nice sharply pointed round wood toothpick that has soaked in acetone for a few minutes and let the first couple drops fall off then touch the wet point directly on a seam and the acetone will leech into the seam.
The bond happens quickly and there is no second chance at it.
Once you get the hang of it you can make some really nice looking plexiglass projects.
That is very interesting. I may try that.
@@chrisnotap There is a specific glue which welds plexiglas together available from Amazon get it in the tube easy to apply
Dan Krautheim I think he used actual glass. If it was plastic the squirrels would have been inside already.
@@JimsEquipmentShed Hi JIM? I think that they are talking about the FEEDER TRAY DEAL which is NOT exposed to the squirrels??
join the conversation Ahhh, ok, that makes sense.
This is the very first squirrel proof bird feeder I've ever seen that is actually squirrel proof !!! Bravo !
You could make a mint selling these !
Great simple, effective and eye pleasing design. Good job!
Love it. Modern, clean, efficient. Thanks for the takes in the feeder. The close ups on the birds is priceless. 👍👍👍
There is a glue specifically made for plexiglass, works very well, melts it together, similar to a super glue but made for it. Also, have you thought about using a weather strip along the door glass to prevent it from chipping the glass edges when they close? All in all this is the best squirrel proof feeder I have ever seen, love your idea.
amazing! Great squirrel keeper outer! Add a little thistle in with your sunflower seeds and you will attract a lot of goldfinches. You should market this on Amazon!
Great job Chris. You should start a business and sell those great looking bird feeders. Eventually with a camera as an option because it makes great movies or pictures!
Erik, that's a great idea... making and selling the feeder with a camera! I'd love to have one myself (if I could afford it - lol)
Erik Dauwen : I agree. I don't know if Canada has places to sell crafts and produce, but that would be a great item to sell.
You could sell these on Etsy or something.
I just finished mine. The hardest part was finding seatbelt strap...also, i think my glass is too thin. I used a burr removal tool $6 from home depot to smooth the inner edge of my copper napkin rings. looks great. Thanks.
@@williambuchanan2542 Would you send me a link to where you bought the copper napkin rings?
I like to feed wild birds in my yard,too. Those black sunflowers they love. I ended up with a large patch of giant sunflowers,to. They keep producing,and feed the birds. Awesome birdfeeder.
This is a really neat feeder. What I was thinking for the perch, is that you could frost the glass. This would give the birds a little bit purchase to walk on. I noticed their feet were slipping around a little bit as they were walking on the glass.
For the plexiglass, use some superglue to bond the two pieces together. Plexiglass is like plastic, so the super glue will melt the plexi and allow it to bond to itself. I like the idea of a tray as you can take the tray out and wash it if need be. The rest of the unit you just rinse it out with the hose.
That's 1 of the most creative bird feeders I have ever seen. Excluding squirrels is a bonus. The only down side is cleaning. Hosing it out is plenty good for me, but some would want to keep the glass wiped very clean, and it would be a 2-3x a week chore if there are lots of birds.
Yes. The glass does get stuff on it from the squirrels climbing on it and from the birds.
I can watch your bird cam all day! love the design and love the company you have!
Thanks Chris, brilliant, simple, looks good and effective. Not much more to say.
I am addle-headed observing your effective and so-simple-it-hurts genius design.
I now know what I am doing with my retirement time.
I love how the birds always smack the camera once or twice inside.
I always buy the 50 lbs BLACK OIL sunflower seed. I am very glad to see you switch to the black oil sunflower. The birds tend to make a mess by tossing all the little mixed seeds just to get to the b.l. sunflower seeds. They are after all the birds favorite (unless it's a suet or thistle eating bird.) Love your bird feeder so much!
That squirrel really clears out the birds when he/she gives it a go
That's an uptown bird feeder for sure. Good job.
What a beautiful feeder!
I use the sun flower seeds only just like yours and wow, they love it. Mainly Cardinals, Goldfinches, Bluejays, and chickadees. Some other blue finches that I haven't identified yet.
This is so well designed and built. One simple request - PLEASE let me BUY one (I don't have the eyesight or skills to build myself).
Thanks so much for sharing your idea! We made one using white 2” PVC pipe. We taped the edges of the glass with black duct tape and placed wooden dowels around the base to hold the glass in place. Waiting for the birds to show up.
It looks great and the birds love it! Very well made :)
Nice adaptations to the lovely feeder. I really like the perch idea.
You mentioned the hinge and how you feared the squirrels may chew it - If they do you could place a small copper rod on the groove - Silicone a small copper ring on one piece of the glass at each end for the rod to pass through - It could be threaded and a decorative nut attached to keep it in place - More work, but it would match your beautiful design
My thoughts are ( if I see the image correctly) is that there would not be a water proof seam at the top where the two pieces of glass come to a point.
Beautiful design. So fun to watch both the birds and the squirrels. You should sell these.
its looks like bird restaurant.
@John Doe ik
@John Doe it's kinda weird
A busy one at that!
@@ulrikaschloss5848 exactly
Sorry, I know I am kind of late to the party as far as finding and watching your videos ( I just now realized the date these were posted). Glad I found this one because it gave me an answer to my concern regarding rain getting into the seed. I am very glad to see that it doesn't let water get to the seed. Thank you for posting.
And yes, birds love black oil and/or striped sunflower seeds. As far as I am concerned the Milo and Millet seeds (the tiny round balls they put in cheaper bird seed) is practically useless. Very few birds eat that stuff. I know this video is several years old but I know you responded to my question on the other video so you apparently are still using RUclips. If you want some other seeds to mix in you could always add shelled sunflower hearts. You could add Safflower (again they sell this shelled, at least here in the US, they do. You could add peanuts (two things about peanuts, always use ones sold specifically for feeding wild birds, don't put out the ones sold for human consumption and make sure you crush them up a little, small birds can choke on a full peanut heart.
Thanks again for posting your videos
Its a very nice bird feeder. I enjoyed all your video's about it. Thanks for sharing.
This is ingenious! You should license this idea!
Good video, it's nice to see the feeder is working as intended.The one thing that bugs me is covering the bottom row of holes with plexiglass. I know it's too keep the seed in, but it's something I'd change if I built this project myself. Cool shots of the birds in the feeder too. Thank you, Chris, for sharing this project.
I wanted to do the same and have the lower holes open. I was going to make the tray smaller, but that meant less seeds. The shots in the feeder were with a GOPRO "Session", it's quite small, a cube, I'm really happy with the results. It's not big like their older versions.
Belias Phyre You think it confuses the birds by having plexiglass behind? That bottom row.
Ivana Dakovic momentarily, but animals adapt fairly quickly to such things. The ones that don't, well, better they starve to death.
Great, durable design. I make a mental notice of this video, if I ever want to make a bird feeder like this one
Awesome idea. No squirrels here in Australia but a great weather proof idea to watch the small native birds here. Great way to stop the big cockatoos and other large birds from eating all the seeds
I didn’t know you guys didn’t have squirrels until we had some Aussie guests who saw squirrels for the first time here in the states and didn’t know what they were. I thought that was funny. .
Wow I love this thing, but making it way beyond my skills. This summer is my summer to beat the doves and squirrels. Had enough of those rats eating all the food and beating up all the lovely song birds. Your design has given me a couple of ideas. Thank you!
I have built another style and this time I found something other than copper which has become so expensive since making this video. I will be uploading in a few weeks or so. Stay tuned!!
You’re having fun and so are we, thanx!
A smart squirrel will just sit around and wait for a crow to figure it out.
Crows be like: hah i can peek food from the holes
You must be a model-maker engineer of some sort... what ingenious ideas you have! And I loved the time-lapse with the different shadows falling across the yard. And such a lovely backyard you have! It must be a real pleasure to spend time out there. Thank you for sharing your most interesting videos!
None of the above. I am just a curious guy that gets an idea and goes with making it. It's just my nature. Thanks for your most uplifting comments.
Yeah before somebody does it just patent it.
If this feeder was sold, I'd buy one!
too late
I admire the diversity of the animals and birds in your area, where i live, its only mynahs, pigeons and crows, and sometimes (but rarely) black naped orioles
Very cool! I saw another video where they hung a slinky around the vertical pole, making the pole impossible to climb. I gave up feeding the birds, due to the many squirrels attracted to the easy access "squirrel proof " feeders I tried. Going to give this one a try, since you've proven it works. Thanks!
WOW LOOKS LIKE YOU MADE THE FIRST SQUIRREL PROOF BIRD FEEDER !!!!!!!!!
this is so beautiful and effective. I wish someone would make these for sale! I would definitely buy one!
If I decide to sell them I will let you know. Thanks!
Love it! Please let me know as well if you decide to sell them as well. Thanks
Thanks for sharing the improvements!
Creativity at work. Well done!
Absolutely brilliant and beautiful can't wait to build this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🏴
davidfarquhar@hotmail.co.uk cheers for that
Looks like a great design! Simple with no mechanical gizmos to fail! Maybe the squirrel will be able to fit when he loses enough weight from starvation!
An ingenious design originally, only improved by these later changes. It looks beautiful,too.
Thanks so much for that!
Your feeder is so stylish for such a practical design. (sunflower hearts/kernels would be even less mess btw.)
Thanks for that!
I feel the glass is the icing on the cake. It looks so good.
It really does give it a unique look. Thanks.
Me and a friend found your video and decided to build one as well. Beautiful design
Hope you enjoy it!
I am working on another design. I will be using steel rods, about 3/8", horizontally instead of the circles. First I need to determine the perfect distance apart that the rods need to be so a squirrel cannot enter and will still allow the birds to get in which will be another video in itself!! If you want, you can Subscribe Here: ( and don't forget to click the Bell to Get Notified! ) ruclips.net/user/chrisnotap
Birds are so beautiful, thank you for the update
Great update! ... suggestion: cut the "stick" (or one with a slightly larger diameter) in half lengthwise and just silicone it onto the glass landing zone. The birds don't care about the bottom half of the stick. It would be more stable. Awesome work! ... I plan to make something similar in the spring.
It's funny you should say that. I found that the PVC pipe thing did not work even though it was simple to make. I ended up doing what you said except I used a piece of 3/4 " square wood, cut a slot in it and siliconed it to the glass. It has been up for 1 year now and showing no signs of wear. The birds love it. Great minds think alike. Thanks.
That is so cool Chris! I’m really enjoying your videos!
Glad you like them!
Great design. I would make the tubes of PVC and add a strip of grip tape as I see the birds sliding on the glass perch when they land. Great work!
I've added a piece of 3/4" x 3/4" x 6" wood to the glass surface with silicone as a perch. Has been up 3 years now and works perfectly.
@@chrisnotap Yes, but when they fly off the pertch to enter they never land on the glass? They go into the feeder directly right from the perch?
Yes. They figure it out.
I'm working on version 2. It uses steel rods instead of circles. Much cheaper. Stay tuned.
I built this as the design is really cool. It is definitely squirrel proof. Word of warning, though, it can be a bird trap instead of a bird feeder. Some birds get in, and then can't figure out how to get back out. I tried using a tree branch through the feeder to give them a visual cue how to get out. Doesn't work in all cases. So far, we have let every trapped bird out without issue. But if you left for vacation for some time, there's a risk you'd come back to a dead bird in the feeder. By no means am I unhappy with it, but folks need to be aware of the potential should they make one.
I have had about 3 birds in all the years I've had it up get stuck inside. After that a few did get stuck but figured out how to get out on their own eventually. I have never found a body inside.
@@chrisnotap I have a feeling they will eventually figure it out. Unfortunately, the missus doesn't have the patience when one is trapped. :-) It's not like they're going to starve in there, right?
Thanks for the update! Tremendous job with the original design and improvements. I might actually try to make one of these.
Awesome feeder and video!
Well done sir, great videography
Very well done!!
Another option for a perch or perches would to take some 1/2 or maybe 3/4 dowel cut to 3-4 inches then cut a slot down the length a inch or so then just slot them onto the bottom glass so the perches stick out 90 degree's to your current perches and silicone into place or if the fit it nice friction could possibly do the job without silicone. You could then even experiment with 1 2 or 3 per side. :)
Love the idea. I think I will build one of these for my mum this spring.
I have found a perch that works better. I just took a 3/4" x 3/4" x 6" piece of wood and cut a dado the thickness of the glass the length of it then used a bit of silicone to attach it to the glass. Been on there for a year now.
Best bird feeder so far...
Very nice the birds can crap inside its amazing crapping -place for birds!
nice updates 👍🏼
Thanks for this video. My problem is not so much squirrels but magpies in Canada. I made this but used PVC pipe for the circles (cheaper and easier) and then took your further advice and did not silicone the tray but rather I sanded the edges and contact cemented it. So far so good.
Here's one squirrel proof trick I've used - VASELINE ! I replaced the wooden support with a metal tube and keep it greased up with Vaseline. They jump on the pole and start sliding - fun to watch, and they don't try it again. Also, if you use the baby powder smelling vaseline, they take a whiff and walk away. Works great as long as they can't jump on a regular feeder.
BUT THIS FEEDER IS INCREDIBLE - GREAT JOB !
Wow! Very good job. We have a problem with the squirrels with our bird feeder. They even got into the house walls. We'll have to try this out! Thank you for this idea!
Thanks!
I bet you won your go-pro camera on Instructables! And such excellent instructions you give. Thanks!
This has become a life's work!
Does it keep younger squirrels out as well? I have numerous young red squirrels that are much smaller than the average grey squirrel. How about the larger songbirds? Can they get in and out without difficulty? I love the design,clean and simple! I have a regular feeder on a pole with a cylinder squirrel baffle that works almost 100% to keep squirrels out,but lately,I witnessed a large grey jump over the baffle. I am not out of ideas on how to keep them out yet. **UPDATE**: I put a short length of 2" pvc pipe on the feeder pole under the baffle,and larger grey squirrels are totally baffled by this arrangement. They were jumping over the baffle by grasping the skinny feeder pole with their hind paws. The pvc pipe does not give them any purchase to enable them to jump. One day,a big grey squirrel spent a good hour or more trying to beat the new system,and left stumped.
Quite surprise the silicon has held up this well. Great job!
Super awesome in every way!!!! So well done, sir!!!!! Building one this summer!!!!!
Great design!🙂
Very nice construction. FYI, chloroform will work perfectly to bond plexiglass pieces together.
Excessively elaborate bird proof sparrow feeder)
That’s a really nice feeder.
Where did you get the sides I absolutely love that design
Make one for me please lol 💜💜
How did you do the hondges? You could sell this it's way better than what is on the store.
I love that bird cam
So very impressed!!
Nice!
Cool design!!!! I would use PVC tubes for cost and ease of cutting, plus use super glue to glue the tray together.
They chew right through PVC! And yes super glue is the best fro the tray.
Tried that, squirrels chew the pvc.
Good Canadian innovation.
What a wonderful creation! This looks like it's very effective against the squirrels, but I like having the Blue Birds and Blue Jays and other larger birds come to my feeder, so unfortunately, that design wouldn't work for me.
You're a genius!
If you think the squirrmels catch on to the seatbelt hinge, you could protect it by putting a brass piano hinge over it with the silicone that was used to put the feeder together.
It's been up for 5 years now and the hinge is still in perfect shape
3:02 squirrel "oh well, better than none".
Fantastic..also magpie and starling proof too Thanks !!
Amazing!
good job, birds feeder ,i like it.you rock...keep it up ...