Squirrels are frequent visitors to gardens and parks as they forage there. As food sources become scarcer in nature, rodents have to turn to other resources. Bird feeders are a welcome addition that come in handy at different times of the year.

The squirrel feeder is usually equipped with Plexiglas so that the nuts can be seen from the outside

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. background
  3. Buy a bird feeder?
  4. Build by yourself
  5. Material and processing tips
  6. Attach and fasten
  7. Tips on attracting
  8. frequently asked Questions

    9. the essentials in brief

    • Squirrels are finding less and less food due to deforestation.
    • The bird feeder should be secure, easily accessible and hygienic.
    • A squirrel feeder can be purchased online or you can make your own using wooden boards and a sheet of Plexiglas.

    Why a bird feeder makes sense

    More and more natural habitats fall victim to various construction projects. Mixed forests are cut down over large areas and are often replaced by coniferous forests. Squirrels are increasingly struggling with food shortages. They are forced to look for alternative food sources. This brings the rodents close to humans.

    They are extremely adaptable and will also get along with less comfortable living conditions, as long as the food is sufficient. But in tidy gardens, the rodents can hardly find suitable food trees. Because they take up too much space in the garden, oak, beech or walnut trees are banned from the garden. A bird feeder offers the animals an additional source of food that is not only accepted between autumn and winter.

    This speaks for the summer feeding:

    • Pregnant and nursing mothers have high energy requirements
    • Infants are thrown out of the nest when there is a lack of food
    • In addition to leaves and sprouts, young animals also need fruits and nuts in the spring
    • Tree fruits only ripen in late summer
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    A bird feeder should have these characteristics

    Good models are shaped in such a way that rainwater runs off the roof and does not get into the interior. However, they cannot completely prevent moisture from accumulating inside. You must therefore ensure that the water that has penetrated can escape again. A generous seating area in front of the house is not just for convenience. Squirrels can look in all directions while eating, giving them a better view of potential enemies.

    That's what matters:

    • ventilation: keeps food fresh
    • water drainage: prevents mold growth
    • accessibility: Lid should move easily
    • Bless you: natural and harmless material
    • safety: no sharp edges or gaps with risk of crushing

    Buy a bird feeder?

    There is now an unmanageable range of bird feeders on the market, which try to convince with particularly low prices. Even if they appear attractive, their functionality has rarely been tested. The first use shows that the rodents cannot get to the treats or the food spoils within a short time.

    Pay attention to what?

    Even if a house has been built with solid craftsmanship, it can pose risks for the animals. Models are often equipped with a lid that the animals have to open to eat. If a second squirrel jumps onto the bird feeder, the eating animal can be crushed. Stomach openings are therefore the better option. They also ensure ventilation, which means that the feed spoils less quickly.

    To protect against moisture, many models are sealed all around with strips or silicone. But this means that moisture accumulates in the interior, which can no longer escape to the outside. The feed becomes moldy and the fungal spores settle in the cracks, so that the house quickly becomes unusable. Avoid feeding places made of particularly thick wood. The animals can no longer move lids with a wood thickness of 19 millimeters.

    The bird feeder should definitely have a lid

    Pressure-treated wood stands for a long service life, but endangers the health of the squirrels. At the latest when nuts and fruits have given off their aroma to the wood, the animals gnaw on the material and absorb the toxic ingredients. Conversely, the chemically impregnated wood releases its ingredients into the feed. When buying, make sure that the material is untreated.

    background

    Boiler pressure treated wood

    So that the wood is better protected against environmental influences, it is treated with salts and various substances such as copper, chromium, arsenic or boron. They have an insecticidal and fungicidal effect, making the wood unattractive to pests and fungi. Such treated wooden components should never come into direct contact with food or animal feed, as they are extremely harmful to health.

    models on the market

    The large online retailers and competitors Ebay and Amazon have a wide range of feeding stations that often do not meet the requirements. Although the Esschert Design brand offers aesthetic models, they are not convincing in terms of quality and functionality. The eye quickly falls on the models in the local hardware store. But even here there are big differences in quality. Only a few models convince with a good price-performance ratio. Dehner's own brand stands out from the crowd.

    offer price range Material untreated Private label model
    Hornbach not a big selection 20 Euros no no
    obi different models 10-20 euros partial no
    stretcher different versions 10-20 euros Yes Yes
    bauhaus small product selection 20-30 euros no no
    food bowl not a big selection 20 Euros no no

    Eligible Dealers

    In the well-known hardware store chains, there are often similar models that hardly differ in processing. If you decide to buy a feeding station, you should look around in special shops. There are a number of associations and providers that specialize in protecting nature. The models offered are of high quality, are characterized by high functionality and are harmless to health.

    • Squirrel Protection e.V.
    • squirrel.info
    • Vivara - specialist in nature conservation products
    • Conservation Center

    Build it yourself according to the blueprint

    If you want to lend a hand yourself, you can download various building instructions as PDF files from the Internet. These kits differ in terms of material requirements and level of difficulty. The following DIY handicraft instructions represent a simple version.

    Dimensions for the required components (height/length x width):

    • Dimensions for base parts and rear wall: 27 x 14 centimetres
    • Roof panel: 22 x 14 centimeters
    • Side walls: 27 centimeters high at the back and 20 centimeters at the front, 20 centimeters wide
    • Plexiglas: 18 centimeters high and approx. 14 centimeters wide (adjust if necessary)

    preparations

    Draw the outlines for each component on a sturdy piece of wood, no thicker than 19 millimeters. You can saw out the components with a jigsaw (36.18€). Treat sharp edges and rough surfaces with sandpaper so that there is no risk of injury. The roof panel later lies forwards on the side walls so that rainwater can drain off better. A seat for the rodents is created on the protruding base plate.

    The side walls each need a notch on the inside, which is sawn about one centimeter to the shorter edge. If you saw the groove all the way to the bottom, squirrels will have to lift the lid to snag the coveted treats. You can also leave a gap above the base plate so that the animals can get to the feed directly from the seat. For this variant, saw the notches up to about one centimeter above the ground.

    tips

    A hinge makes it easier for you to fill and clean the bird feeder. However, the lid must not pose any danger to the animals. Leave a gap between the Plexiglas and the lid so that no squirrels can get trapped.

    Assembly

    Fasten a hinge in the middle of the rear wall and the roof so that it can be folded up later. The base plate is screwed to the rear wall, to which the side walls are then attached. The long edge of the side panels faces the back panel. Finally, slide the plexiglass into the notches and fill it

    Material and processing tips

    In principle, wood is more suitable than metal because it is a natural product and, if left untreated, has no impact on the environment or health. Sheet metal can be used as rain protection on the roof. Be sure to sand down sharp corners and edges. Such a rain drain plate does not necessarily have to be made of sheet metal. You can also use a multiplex board made of birch plywood. This is waterproof, does not warp and is particularly thin.

    When squirrels get their food from the feeder by lifting the lid, you should keep safety in mind. You can also provide the plexiglass plate with edge protection so that the sharp edge does not cut into it. Make sure that the lid does not remain upright and thus becomes a snap trap if a curious squirrel pounces on the open food box.

    Protect from environmental influences

    The wood should be weatherproof so that you can enjoy the self-built bird feeder for a long time. You can process the material with a glaze that is harmless to humans and animals. Various oils such as linseed and olive oil or wood wax have proven to be suitable. If you coat it several times, the oil penetrates into the pores of the wood and protects them from penetrating moisture. The result is a satin-matt surface on which rainwater simply rolls off.

    How to apply Linseed Oil:

    1. Apply the first layer thinly with a sponge
    2. leave to dry for at least a week at 20 degrees Celsius
    3. apply two more layers with appropriate drying time

    Attach and fasten

    A safe bird feeder needs the right space in the garden so that potential predators do not pose a threat to the rodents. The higher you hang the feeder, the better protection the squirrels have. However, filling and cleaning is becoming increasingly uncomfortable.

    The feeding house should be accessible to people and inaccessible to dogs and cats

    Attach where?

    You can mount your bird feeder on a tall tree or on the balcony. Hang the structure from the main trunk of a tree so that it rests on a fork. Here the animals can flee quickly if a robber appears. A sheltered but easily visible spot on the balcony is recommended. An unsuitable place is an open space. The shy rodents do not feel at home here, as there are no protection options here.

    Squirrels live a reclusive life and become more and more curious due to the lack of food. Careless behavior makes rodents more vulnerable to predators.

    Tips on attracting

    Squirrels sometimes need a little time before discovering the new food source. Sprinkle some bird seed on the seat board. After a short time, birds help themselves to the lavishly filled dinner plate and show the squirrels the new source of food. Clamp a nut between the lid and the Plexiglas. When the squirrel gets the nut, it understands the mobility of the hinged lid. It quickly learns how to get the coveted food. The animals quickly register whether the feed box is full. They use their sense of smell to orient themselves.

    Feed

    The right food is part of the bird feeder. Squirrels are omnivores. Not only do they eat vegetarian food, they also actively hunt for animal prey. In order to ensure a varied range of food in the feeding house, you should orientate yourself on nature. The more natural the menu is, the more comfortable the animals feel in your garden.

    In the spring, feed them nuts and seeds without the shell, as the young animals cannot crack the shells yet. Unpeeled nuts are only provided in autumn. Fruit and vegetables should be offered with caution, even when dried, as the food contains water.

    spring - summer Autumn winter
    nuts and seeds beechnuts and sunflower seeds Hazelnuts, walnuts, spruce seeds, pine cones
    fruit berries, rose hips dried bananas, apple chips, raisins
    Natural Food fledglings and eggs Mushrooms, buds and shoots

    tips

    Only use dry food that does not release moisture. It is better to offer a little less nuts and refill more often so that the feed does not spoil.

    frequently asked Questions

    Where can I set up my bird feeder?

    If a robber comes from another direction, the animal must be able to flee quickly. Fasten the bird feeder in a branch fork. A rough house wall is also suitable as a place for the feeding station. Squirrels are good at holding onto plastered surfaces.

    How high to hang?

    The ideal height for a bird feeder is two meters. At this altitude, squirrels are safe from cats. If you can hang the house higher so that it's easily accessible via a ladder, then the fluffy guests will be even better protected from predators.

    Which food is suitable for the house?

    Between spring and summer you should preferably offer peeled seeds and fruits so that the young animals also have enough food. In autumn and winter you can feed nuts with shells such as walnuts, hazelnuts or beechnuts. Sunflower seeds, spruce seeds and pine cones enrich the food supply. Dried fruits and vegetables can contain water and are better off being offered at an open feeder.

    What to do if I find an injured squirrel?

    A squirrel in distress needs our help. Young animals in particular are helpless without their mother. However, you should not act rashly if you find a supposedly needy squirrel. Observe the situation calmly in order to assess possible injuries or illnesses. Contact as conservation organizations like the Nabu.

Category:

Animals in the garden