Cage-guarded suet feeders (1 Viewer)

[eetundra]

Following the success I am having with my Nuttery seed feeder preventing the squirrels from eating everything I was looking at their cage-enclosed suet feeder. Has anyone tried it or something like it? Do you think woodpeckers of all sizes will be able to reach their heads in and get the suet? I am thinking designs where the cage is close enough for the bird to stick its bill in but far enough to prevent a squirrel from reaching should work so long as the birds bother to use it. Any ideas?

BTW, I don't hate the squirrels but there are probably 50 that live in and around my yard, not an exaggeration, and I can't afford to feed them all.

 

[KG4QEV]

eetundra,

Squirrels are very cunning and determined. If there is something they really want, they can usually find a way to get it. I don't have any experience with the cage enclosed suet feeders, but I'd make sure the cage holes are small enough that a squirrel can't slide through. You'd be surprised at how small a hole they can squeeze through.

A suet feeder mounted on a pole with a squirrel baffle like the ones in this picture might be your best bet:

Check out this site which has some info that might be helpful.

- Chad

 

[Transformer]

Do you think woodpeckers of all sizes will be able to reach their heads in and get the suet?

Woodpeckers with larger heads tend to also have longer bills, so even if they can't fit their heads in the holes, they can surely fit their bills.

 

[hudsonbirder]

caged suet working well for me

So far my caged suet feeder is working well for the wood-peckers (of all sizes) and its fun watching the squirrels vainly extending their tongues. I expect though that they will get the last laugh in the end.