Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder

Ever had issues with squirrels or other wildlife messing around with your bird feeder? Well you're in luck! Here's a simple and creative way to build a bird feeder that will keep your bird food safe without having to go out and buy overpriced products you've seen on T.V. Everything used in this project can be found easily within your homes.

To create this project, you will need the following:

- 1 Soda Can

- 1 Long Bar of Some Kind (I personally used an old fire place ash-shovel)

- 1 Stove Drip Pan

- 1 Smaller Metal Bar (I personally used a handle part of my old scooter)

- Screws and/or Nails

-Washers (Optional)

- Hot Glue + Glue Gun

*The "metal bars" I describe can be anything from mended coat hangers to gold clubs. All you need is for the larger one to be able to support the weight of the other materials.

First priority for this project was creating a accessible, and comfortable, place for the birds to eat from. To achieve this task, I used a spare stove drip pan. Using a drip pan helped out greatly in the future because it already had an opening for the stand as well as the perch I planned on adding. The soda can in the picture above is where the end of the stand will fit into. (It also helps by taking up sitting room for the squirrels which is what they had been doing in my old one.)

This part of my design required me to get creative. I wanted my local birds to not only get their bird food but also have a place to stand while chowing down. After some time brainstorming, I thought about using the handles of an old scooter I had lying in my garage. I first dissembled the handles, cleaned them, then assembled it to my feeding bowl. A problem I found was that the scooter handle bars circumference was smaller than the hole in the drip pan at a scale large enough that it would not attach. I solved this problem however, by simply using some tin foil as well as leaning the handle bar slightly upwards so I could hot glue it to multiple parts of the drip pan.

This part was the easiest step in the construction process, however, it could be the hardest if you don't heave this warning: If you choose to use a soda can to build this birdfeeder, make sure the opening on the bottom has a whole large enough for you to perfectly fit your stand instrument through it. I happened to luck out by choosing to use an object that's circumference fit almost perfectly through the basic shape of the soda can opening. You may need to cut a larger, or manufacture a smaller, hole in order to fit your materials. I also used a few washed where the rod of the shovel and drip pan met in order to increase the stability of the drip pan.

*Note: Preferably use a rod that leans more to the narrow side of things that way creators who are trying to steal your birds food have a harder time scaling it.

Last part of this build is adding some defensive work against your rodent thieves. Like the added use of the soda can, it is advised that you had nails or screws on the perimeter of the drip pan feeder. This feature takes up even more room from the squirrels as well as protects your seeds from being so easily accessible for the taking. I used basic hot glue to add these screws to my drip pan, but gorilla glue and other work related glues should work just as well if not better.

And there you have it! An easy and creative way to reuse some unneeded appliances and turn them into a protected bird feeder. Many of the objects I used for my personal constriction can be substituted for other materials, it all comes down to creativity in what you use. Work with what you got. Thank you for viewing!