Squirrel barriers and anti-squirrel protectors for bird feeders (video examples)

Squirrel barriers and squirrel protectors are truly effective anti-squirrel devices you'd certainly want use to protect your wild bird feeder from squirrels and/or chipmunks. These devices are usually mechanical or electric in nature, and their role is to act as squirrel obstacles in order to cut off squirrels path to feeders seed tank.
Squirrel barriers and protectors are necessary and effective piece of squirrel proof bird feeding equipment no matter if your bird feeder is squirrel proof by default or not.
 
Before we go into details about the types of these devices, there's one more thing I'd like to point out: choosing right barriers and protectors for your feeder is really no brainer and here you'll find easy advice on how to do it.
Also, remember that the most of the barrier and protector devices are equally effective if commercially made and available for purchase online, or homemade using your own DIY skills.

Mechanical squirrel barriers for bird feeder protection

The most common anti-squirrel devices in this category are:

• Squirrel baffles for bird feeder poles
• Squirrel baffles for hanging feeders, also known as squirrel domes
• Anti-squirrel slinky on bird feeder poles 
• Cages for bird feeders 

Squirrel baffles for bird feeder poles

A baffle for bird feeder pole is a must have piece of anti-squirrel accessory in case your bird feeder is pole mounted or hanging on a pole. It prevents the squirrels from reaching your bird feeder by climbing up the pole. Depending on the shape, the pole baffles can be cone shaped or cylindrical, and depending on the size, the baffles may be squirrels proof only or both squirrels and racoon proof.
   

Cone and cylindrical shape of bird feeder pole baffles

While cone shaped baffles are simple static barriers and usually firmly fixed to a pole, the cylindrical baffles are not. They are loaded with spring mechanism and will start to move up and down the pole under the squirrels weight once the squirrel tries to step on it. Of course, the squirrels will get confused by this game changer and will quickly go back from the uncertainty to the safe ground. Here's a video to show you how cylindrical baffle barrier works:   

 

If you are not sure which specific baffle barrier brand to choose for your feeder pole, please check my recommended squirrel baffles article with the best baffles you can find online. 

Also, here are some basic tips for pole baffles:

• Cone shaped and cylindrical barriers are equally effective against squirrels 
• If you go for cone shaped baffle, make sure it's 18 inches in diameter. The bigger, the better. 
• Cylindrical baffles are good enough against the squirrels if one foot in height. But they are pretty much useless against racoons if not 2 feet in height!  
• If you are thinking about DIY cone baffle, don't make it too large in diameter if there are strong winds in your area. The winds may uproot your feeder pole out of the ground that way. Remember the umbrellas in the wind.
• Avoid using any materials other than metal for your DIY cone baffles. The squirrels are revengeful and persistent animals and will bite the way through any obstacle they can to reach the food.  
• The positioning of baffle barrier on the pole is extremely important! The best position of cone barriers is at the level of your shoulders. Also, the upper side of cylindrical baffle should be at the level of your shoulders. 

Squirrel baffles for hanging feeders a.k.a. squirrel domes

It's easy to guess by name: squirrel domes are type of squirrel barriers very similar to pole baffles, but the domes are always placed on the top side of bird feeders.

Domes are always placed from the above the feeders

The domes are used for hanging bird feeders exclusively. Their primary role is to protect bird feeders from the squirrels coming from direction where the feeders are hanging from. Due to dish-like semi spheroid shape, choice of materials used for construction and narrow fulcrum point, squirrel domes act like bumpy and slippery surfaces that bevel under the squirrel weight throwing the squirrels off.

The secondary role of the domes is to protect bird seed from heavy rains and snow.

Squirrel domes are proper anti-squirrel solution in various situations, no matter your feeder is hanging from: tree branch, porch beam or as squirrel baffle for shepherd's hook.
When choosing the right size of the dome, please remember that the best size is 18" in diameter or more. Proposed size is simply the matter of real life experience.

Check this video to see the squirrels fail when trying to outsmart some backyard domes:
 

Squirrel domes are not much of a challenge for homemade production. For example, you can use an old plastic bowl from your kitchen for the dome. But if you are not DIY kind of person and don't care to spend couple of bucks, check this recommended squirrel dome article.

Anti-squirrel slinky on bird feeder pole

Slinky: squirrel barrier on your bird feeder pole

No matter how funny or unreal it may sound, slinky toy is another mechanical barrier to protect your bird feeder from the squirrels trying to climb up your feeder pole. This method is becoming more and more popular in the States. It all started with the newspaper article about certain grandma from Kentucky who came across the idea to put a slinky toy on bird feeder pole.
The press article went viral and many birders tried this solution with certain success.
If you'd like to give it a try, check my slinky on bird feeder article I've written previously. There you'll find the whole story about the granny and hilarious video about epic battle between a squirrel and slinky!
 

Cage barriers for bird feeders

Placing bird feeders inside steel cages is absolutely fantastic idea for keeping squirrels off from bird food. The whole idea is around the fact that the birds are much smaller than the squirrels, meaning that the birds can get past the cage bars and access the feeder inside, while the squirrels can't.
 

Caged bird feeders: bird seed and suet bird feeders 

Unfortunately, the cages of this type are not made separately from feeders, so you will need to construct your own DIY cage for the feeder you already have. But if you are interested in complete solution (cage with feeder inside) you can check the most reliable models of caged bird feeders available for purchase online. 

Electric squirrel barriers: Squirrel shocking barriers

Electric squirrel barriers are the most advanced and possibly the most successful way to stop the squirrels stealing bird food. There are two reasons why electric barriers are so effective and popular: the first is the squirrels don't get hurt when receiving small, rather unpleasant electric shock. And the other is long-term oriented: after a couple of small electric shocks, the squirrels actually get trained not visit bird feeder any more. Otherwise, squirrels are extremely persistent creatures and will always get back attempting to outsmart your mechanical barriers while scarring off your birds. Bat that is not the case with electric barriers. They will not get back once they leave and that's how you'll lose your enemies one by one.

Commercially made electric squirrel proof bird feeder and DIY electric shocker

If you have seen my tutorial on how to electrify a bird feeder, you have already found out that almost any bird feeder made from non conductive materials can be placed behind electric barrier and become full fledged squirrel shocker. unfortunately, electrifying existing feeder is not exactly easy job as it requires advanced DIY skills especially in electricity and carpentry.
That's why most of the birders go for tic commercially made squirrel shocker. 
   

Squirrel barriers that don't work for bird feeders

Please note that only the best squirrel barriers have been presented in this article. In the above text I did not mention some frequently discussed squirrel barriers for following downsides:

• I do not advise using anti-squirrel spikes for bird feeders as credible mechanical barrier because they are not effective on bird feeders. Spikes may be effective on fences, but please note that some of the spikes may seriously hurt both birds and squirrels. The other day I have seen dead pigeon hanging from the spikes in the neighborhood and that is no way to go for me.
• I do not recommend using chemical barriers or ultrasonic barriers for your bird feeder for the reasons I have explained in squirrel repellents article. They are effective against the squirrels, but will hurt your cat or dog as well. 

And in the end, I have one more suggestion. Please go ahead and read my squirrel proof bird feeding tips. There you'll find tons of great info on squirrel-free bird feeding.

Enjoy!