A DIY Squirrel Feeder May Be The Solution To Keeping Your Bird Feeder Pest-Free

If you've tried everything you can think of to keep squirrels out of your bird feeder but it's not deterring them, you might consider making your own squirrel feeder instead. By creating a spot where squirrels can easily access food that is away from your bird feeder, you can ensure the birds go undisturbed. Squirrels will eat similar food to birds, such as seeds and nuts, and also love corn. With a little scrap wood, a large mason jar, and some screws, you can make a DIY squirrel feeder to keep these rodents from scaring the birds away. Alternatively, you might craft a feeder that can hold up ears of dried corn or simply create a platform feeder.

To complete this project, you may also need a saw, a drill, sandpaper, or some wood glue, depending on what type of squirrel feeder you decide to create. No matter how you choose to construct it, it's important that your squirrel feeder and its openings are big enough for the animals to get into easily. These feeders can then be attached to the side of a tree, to the top of a fence or banister, or in another spot that's easy for the squirrels to reach. 

If squirrels are stealing food from your bird feeder, try this DIY to give them their own food. For the mason jar feeder, you're going to create a structure that is similar to a birdhouse but with an elongated bottom board to hold your jar as well as holes in the sides for access. This project can be done with leftover scrap wood, or you could purchase a tall wooden board. Start by cutting two rectangular pieces with a slanted top edge for the sides of your feeder. Then, cut the front piece of your feeder so that it is the same height as your sides from the lowest point of the slope. All three of these pieces will need a hole cut in the center and sanded to be smooth. While the openings in the side pieces should be 3 inches in diameter, the hole on your front piece should fit the opening of your mason jar.

Now, you'll need a rectangular board that will cover the slant of your side pieces as well as the width of your front piece. This will act as the roof. Your back piece should be the same width as your roof but should come up a little higher than the top of the feeder. Finally, you'll need a board that's the width of your feeder but long enough that it can act as the bottom of the structure you've built and extend to hold your mason jar.

Once your main pieces are completed, you will need a few small pieces of wood on the end of your base to hold the jar. These could be two short slanted pieces on the sides with a taller and longer slanted piece on the end. Alternatively, you might cut a semicircle into a short rectangular piece of wood to cradle the jar, with a rounded piece on the end. After you've cut out all your pieces, you could use a drill and nails to attach them or simply water resistant wood glue. If you opt to use glue, it's important to ensure it can hold up against bad weather, such as the Titebond Ultimate wood glue (about $10 on Amazon). Attach your pieces, fill your mason jar with seeds and nuts, and slide it into your feeder.

For a different style of feeder, you could simply take a wooden plank and hammer long nails through it, so that they come out of the top. Cobs of corn can then be stuck to the nails so squirrels can come up, sit on the board, and munch away. Alternatively, you could simply set out a dish of goodies for the squirrels or use a platform feeder designed for birds. As long as the squirrel feeder is some distance from your bird feeder, it should solve the issue. Making them their own feeder could be the key to keeping squirrels out of your bird feeder for good.