do baffles work on bird feeders

Not so much the baffle, thats the easy part, but the feeder placement itself will determine if your baffles installed correctly. If you see squirrels in the feeder… then youve failed the test!

Uber-squirrel can jump horizontally up to 10 ft. He does this by launching himself from any sturdy object-even those objects not so sturdy may serve his purpose! And that purpose is nothing more than to gain access to your bird feeder. He wont give up, its just not in his nature.

So, if your feeder is on a stand-alone pole, or a feeding station with several feeders, or even a 4×4 wood post, it must be placed so there is no horizontal launching spot! The bottom of the baffle should also be at least 4 ft. above ground level. If you cant slide the baffle over said pole, the wrap-around baffle is ideal, it opens up and then self-locks in place with no need to remove feeders.

Large Hanging Squirrel Baffle Now say youd like to hang a feeder from that sturdy branch, the view from the kitchen window is perfect, but the squirrels are impossible. Not necessarily so! Hanging baffles are very effective, but you must consider the horizontal launching point. If placed too close to the tree trunk itself, the baffle will serve no purpose. If not far enough from the ground, the result is the same… failure to win the war.

This war is all about tactics, and with a little thought and careful planning, squirrels will be a non-issue at bird feeders! Baffles save tons of seed, aggravation and even some wood or plastic feeders squirrels love to chew, usually destroying them in the process. And if you happen to like the furry critters, its best to give them their own feeder or two away from birdseed 🙂

Use Properly Sized Baffles on Tall Poles

Anything from which a squirrel can jump must be 10 feet away from the pole system itself. To stop people from jumping, the baffle’s top should be four to five feet above the ground. For feeders to remain above the top of the baffle, the pole needs to be tall enough. The majority of shepherd’s hooks are too short to be squirrel proof. Fortunately, WBUs Advanced Pole System is.

Try a Feeder Cage

On-Guard Cages can fit over a variety of feeders and utilize 1 1/2″ openings to allow smaller birds to feed, but exclude squirrels (as well as blackbirds and grackles). These are perfect for deck rail feeding or when the yard layout wont work for baffles.

Therefore, it is imperative that your feeder be positioned so that there is no horizontal launching spot, whether it is on a pole that stands alone, a feeding station with multiple feeders, or even a 4×4 wood post! The bottom of the baffle should also be at least 4 feet away. above ground level. The wrap-around baffle is perfect if you can’t slide the baffle over the pole because it opens up and then locks itself in place, preventing feeders from needing to be removed.

Squirrels are no longer a problem at bird feeders if baffles are installed, as they save a ton of seed, frustration, and even some wood or plastic feeders that squirrels like to chew on and typically destroy. This war is all about tactics! Additionally, it’s best to give the fuzzy animals their own feeder or feeders away from the birdseed if you happen to like them.

The location of the feeder itself will determine whether your baffles are installed correctly, rather than the baffle itselfthat’s the simple part. If you see squirrels in the feeder. then youve failed the test!.

Uber-squirrel can jump horizontally up to 10 ft. He accomplishes this by leaping from any stable objecteven less stable ones could be useful for his goal, which is to obtain access to your bird feeder! He wont give up, its just not in his nature.

FAQ

Can squirrels get past baffles?

Use an Overhead Baffle When Hanging Feeders from a Tree It must also be hung far enough from the tree trunk to prevent a sideways jump. These baffles often fail because the feeder is too large and squirrels learn to grab on to it as they slide off the baffle.

Do pole baffles work?

Put it in the right location and you will see it work perfectly. Below are some detailed descriptions of how to use baffles and weight-activated squirrel-proof feeders. Pole mount baffles are rarely beaten by squirrels when used properly.

Where do you put a baffle?

Baffles for 4X4s can be torpedo-shaped or cone-shaped and will screw right onto the post. Place the top of the baffle at least 4½ feet from the ground. The best option is a pole system located at least 10-12 feet away from any jumping-off point.