Best way to keep Squirrels off bird feeders
Two words, squirrel Baffle, of which must be utilized on hanging bird feeders only to put an end to squirrels antics on the bird feeders.
Best way to keep squirrels off bird feeders is to first employ bird feeders made to hang; only then can feeders be hung directly beneath a baffle which in itself will be hung on a branch or bracket. In addition, the feeders can be hung off a length of ultra thin steel wire or fishing line which squirrels hate, as it hurts them.
Single most effective way of keeping squirrels of bird feeders, would only rely on a squirrel baffle dome to hang, rather than baffles that must be mounted someway up a pole.
Squirrels may at times be able to get on the opposite side of a bird feeder mounted baffle, but what they can't do is get on the other side of a squirrel baffle they must be forced to descend down on.
For one thing, any attempts will see squirrels drop to the ground, of which they'd get tired of going around in circles to try again.
What you must do then is hang all bird feeders below a hanging style squirrel baffle, to which all kinds of bird feeders can be hung safely below.
How to keep squirrels off hummingbird feeders will come easily as their mostly designed to be hung - thus a baffle can be hung above it.
Whereby regular bird feeders offering up seeds, to suet or nuts must be hung - as a ground or open top bird feeder will give squirrels unlimited access.
With all that said and done, you can setup up a squirrels own feeder within the boundary of your yard - yet always at some distance away from the bird feeders you wish to keep them off in the first place.
Hang deep under dome
While I can simply recommend use of a bird feeder pole to attach what is a squirrel baffle, I believe the best kind of baffle to exist are those that hang.
Apply a squirrel baffle on a pole if you have to, but you must hang an additional squirrel baffle above any bird feeder made to hang on a branch to bracket.
In fact, all you need to do to keep squirrels out of bird feeders is to hang the said bird feeder below a squirrel baffle. Baffles can prevent squirrels climbing down on the other side of it, as there's no leverage for squirrels to grab on to.
Hang the seed, suet or even hummingbird feeders below a hanging type squirrel baffle as it works with any kind of feeder - with the hook on the feeder looped on the inner hook under the baffle.
As the best way to keep squirrels off bird feeders, I don't believe its necessary to apply additional counter-measures, but it certainly can help in the long run.
On occasions a cunning squirrel can figure it out one way or another to reach feeders, thus its best to double or triple up your anti-squirrel defenses.
Extend hanging length in wire
Best way to keep squirrels off bird feeders is to hang bird feeders beneath a hanging style squirrel baffle as I've established.
However you can go one better by beating any clever squirrel who manages to get on the other side of the baffle - god knows how but its possible - by hanging the feeder under the baffle dome on a long length of super thin steel wire or fishing wire.
For this technique to work you'd still need a 4-5 feet clearing between the bottom tip of the bird feeder - down to the ground directly below the feeder.
Only then can you hang a squirrel baffle that will be hung between 6 to 12 inches, then you hang the bird feeder which can be an additional 2 feet or so.
Remember, without considering the clearing to the ground, it can lead to squirrels simply jumping up on the feeders.
Squirrel baffles do work which are made to hang but it doesn't hurt to be extra cautious with a long length of wire or fishing line used to hang feeders beneath the baffle.
Extended length of steel wire or fishing line won't allow squirrels to descend down on either, as its risks squirrels hurting themselves in the process - and they know this, to which they will forget attempting to climb down the ultra thin wire or fishing line.
Hang bird feeders off horizontal line
No squirrel baffle this time thus a bit of extra expense can be saved, however you'd still need a good length of fishing line or better still, thin steel wire.
Similarly to how you'd go about hanging a washing line on two points within your yard, the same would apply to using an ultra thin wire or fishing line. Don't be tempted to simply use an available plastic coated clothesline, as squirrels can climb on it with ease.
What you are going after this time is to hang any kind of bird feeder, that will be hung someway along this ultra thin steel wire or line.
As I've established, squirrels can't climb up, down or across such a thin wire or line without badly hurting their paws; thus squirrels are bound to abandon all attempts to climb up to one end of the line, to then crawl across it upside down.
If you want to squirrel proof any kind of bird feeder in use, then be sure to hang feeders in the middle of the line, in an attempt to keep it out of reach.
Be mindful of additional weight on the line jeopardizing the line, whilst extra heavy bird feeders risk causing a collapse.
Keep the horizontal steel wire or fishing line high off the ground while pushing the feeders to either side of the line, as this is where the line is at its strongest.
Know Squirrel whereabouts on pole
I don't believe you need to find a better solution than keeping squirrels off bird feeders, other than using my idea for hanging feeders beneath a baffle or indeed hang bird feeders off a length of steel wire or fishing line.I understand though most of you will want to continue utilizing your bird feeding station, of which we need to stop squirrels climbing up the pole to reach what food is in available.
How to keep squirrels off a bird feeder pole would rely upon a squirrel baffle once again - only its a less effective but can work squirrel baffle - that is designed to be installed someway up the pole.
Universal fit mind thus its possible to buy any squirrel baffle for your pole, which should work with a little adjustment.
How to keep squirrels off a Shepherd's hook then is to mount the baffle up to 4 or 5 feet up the pole.
Bear in mind squirrels are good jumpers thus a too far low down squirrel baffle position will be deemed useful if squirrels simply end up using it as leverage - rather than stopping the rodents climbing the pole.
Of course what squirrels are trying to reach on top of the pole is hanging bird feeder food, loaded with their favorite nutritious nuts or seeds.
A squirrels will on occasions succeed on reaching any bird feeder, thus you can double up your defense once again by hanging feeders directly below a squirrel baffle - that is sure to stop squirrels descending at least.
Conclusion
Best way I personally know how to keep squirrels off bird feeders would first rely upon you to utilize hanging type bird feeders only.
I can assure unless you use bird feeders that can be hung off a tree branch or bird feeder pole, you stand know chance off keeping squirrels off feeders.
Why you'd want to hang bird feeders only is because we can then apply an effective squirrel baffle dome - of which any kind of bird feeder can be hung directly beneath the baffle - which so happens to be made to hang.
What that leads to is a baffle hung on a branch or bracket, then below the baffle is your bird feeder like a suet, seed or hummingbird feeder.
In additional to hanging bird feeders under a hanging baffle, you can prevent squirrels attempting to even get on top of the baffle - by hanging the baffle on a long length of fishing line or sharp steel wire.
None of which can squirrels climb on as its hurts them if they attempt to get their claws around this ultra thin wire or line.
You can allow squirrels to climb on top of a baffle if you like, as you'd apply the length of wire or fishing line to create distance between the baffle and feeder hanging below.
Radical solution with no squirrel baffle to use can be buying a long cheap line of ultra thin steel wire or fishing line to tie between to ends in your yard. Now the feeders can be hung anywhere across the line of which, squirrels can't climb on the wire at all.
What it might all come down to is still knowing the whereabouts of squirrels, thus the bird feeder pole can be used with a less effective squirrel baffle which must be mounted far up the pole.