How I Designed ● a Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

I'm making another squirrel proof bird feeder! But before I do, I need to find out what size of opening a squirrel cannot get through. I used a simple set-up to determine that size. The squirrels were very co-operative and were great volunteers in helping me determine their limits. No squirrels were harmed in the making of this video! Squirrels are smart and can get into most squirrel proof bird feeders. But if you design it properly they won't be able to enter the bird feeder.
This is also great a great dog entertainment video.
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[@gritsnsand]

5:39 Squirrel is thinking " I really need to hit the gym. I used to have no problem fitting into this thing."

[@Le-vh9iv]

Dude this type of practical long term experiments on real world problems are what I love about youtube. Awesome.

[@chrisnotap]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tagesschaumukbang345]

3:23 link and search

[@Plantsandtoyhorses]

Hi Chris! I am so glad you made a new video! My husband and i tried to make a version of your triangular bird feeder with the ringlets. However since we don't have a nice work shop with a table saw or pipe cutter, instead of using copper pipe we used PVC pipe to make the ringlets. Also since we don't have a way to properly cut glass, we used clear plexiglass that can easily be drilled into. My husband put aluminum strips around the base panel for sturdiness. He had to put screws into the bottom panel that go into the PVC ringlets as the silicone adhesive was not holding them onto the plastic very well. To make it hard for squirrels to open, we used cabinet magnets on the opening panel. We have ours hanging in a tree. And its certainly kept squirrels from going inside, and its been up since middle of May but the birds around here still have not learned to associate it with food. but we still need to add the perch so maybe that will help.

[@judithhoudeshell9313]

just know that the squirrels may chew the pvc pipe and plexiglass as they did on my feeders when we replaced the broken glass front!

[@BrucesWorldofStuff]

Thanks for the video it was a lot of fun to watch... I have lots of squirrels in my yard. I have Lots of old huge trees and the squirrels are everywhere. We bark at each other, Yes squirrels bark... Lol They play games with my dogs, like chase the squirrels around the tree sideways. Let's chase the squirrels hanging on the swinging tree branch. My fav is lets through nut shells at the dogs game... Squirrels re so much fun! The best one is, Let's play Ball game! The squirrels comes down the tree and gets on the ground about 4 feet from the tree and teases the dog and when the dog runs for the squirrels, the squirrels runs for home base and the dog tries to climb the tree too! So funny! The dog never learns... :-D I was playing bark at the squirrels the other day with a squirrels and another squirrels came from another tree behind me and thumped me in the head with a walnut... :-) Silly squirrels! LLAP

[@ginafriend1690]

That took patience and quite helpful. Learn something new everyday. Thanks!

[@chrisnotap]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MKokalari]

I think at some point the squirrel said : I can still fit but I am full at this point.

[@ЕвгенийЛазуткин-й2о]

"Эти понты не для меня"-решила выдра. И не пришла...

[@guillermoquintanilla4253]

@@ЕвгенийЛазуткин-й2о k

[@BillSmithPerson]

I assume he used a different test squirrel each time.

[@marty01957]

Loved the glass and copper bird feeder! Looking forward to this new one!

[@chrisnotap]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@T1Oracle]

I took a fish tank, cut 1.5 inch holes in it, and mounted it on a stick. That's my bird feeder. It was cheaper than copper pipe. Thanks for the idea!

[@chrisnotap]

It's all about using the noggin and creativity you've proven that!!

[@_Solaris]

The many miniscule incremental adjustments were riveting & fascinating.

[@demiurgiac]

You just saved me a lot of head scratching. I want to build a protective 'cage' to put young plants in (that my squirrels keep ripping up). Now I know the required bar spacing with no more than effort than watching a 6 minute YT video. Thanks!

[@bjorncedervall5291]

Next they will send in their baby squirrels to get the food for them.

[@nrqed]

lol!

[@PurpleObscuration]

Or turn their heads 90°.

[@plantbased5673]

That might be a violation of child labor laws. 🤔

[@bazza945]

Did you notice at the tightest setting the squirrel didn't bother trying to enter. That shows incredible smarts, because as you will have observed they usually never give up trying.

[@discojoe3]

Wow, this video of you incrementally adjusting the height of bars for several minutes was truly compelling.

[@BigHesh81]

Loved the video Chris! Always great content, and I LOVED that perspective from inside the jar! Have you seen Mark Rober's squirrel video? Given your enjoyment for squirrel-proof bird feeders, I think you'd really get a kick out of it! Cant wait to see the new design!

[@thumper1747]

Not only do I commend you for sharing your exploits, but all those leaving comments are so entertaining 👍

[@chrisnotap]

Glad you like them!

[@danmelton4516]

You notice how the birds get in .video didn't show.

[@TheVwgolfmk1]

Interesting video, looking forward to seeing the new feeder. 👍😁

[@chrisnotap]

You and me both!

[@chocol8milk]

Best squirrel proof bird feeder: put out a little bowl with food for the squirrel's a few yards away. They stop focusing on the birdfeeder. Worked for me.

[@RandomAmerican3000]

Personally, I'd rather just cut out the birds and feed the squirrels.

[@bluzzjazz]

No, squirrels are greedy feeders. They eat that food and then go to the bird's. My break- barrel pellet gun has been the only deterrent thus far and that was a last resort.

[@stevenV57]

Cute squirrels and they taste good too, makes a fine gumbo.

[@natfoss5031]

Squirrels are delicious

[@truthreignsfacts4997]

Little did the little critter know, that he was part of an experiment, with the ultimate goal of designing a feeder, that him and his friends would no longer get a free meal. Maybe the squirrel can find a lawyer to defend him, by the homeowner showing partiality to a particular species. Many lawyers are rodents, so it shouldn’t be hard!

[@chrisnotap]

Lol! Nice analogy!

[@miric6224]

LOL

[@OneBlueFroggy]

@Eugene Saint - well done ! ❤️🇨🇦👍

[@louisegogel7973]

@Eugene Saint Hahahaha very funny legalese.

[@REVNUMANEWBERN]

Lawyer for the rodent can sue for discrimination LOL , claim "Bird privilege"

[@pterodox123]

Beautiful audio! Both the voice over and nature.

[@chrisnotap]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@garykorzelius5930]

Fun and entertaining as usual. Thanks Chris.

[@chrisnotap]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@canada5691]

Trust me, they will chew right through anything made of wood or plastic to get at food. I’ve had them chew right through my plastic composter that is 1/4” thick.if you have a clear plastic container with seeds in it, they will chew right through the side of it to get to the seeds.

[@chrisnotap]

Correct. That is why I do not use plastics.

[@donleathers1070]

I have had squirrels gnaw through a copper fuel line in my parked outside truck

[@stephenmartini5890]

Nice to know you have all the time to devote to a squirrel feeder. Just put the feeder at the top of a pole and a paint can with a hole in bottom over top a hose clamp. Can shakes as squirrel tries to climb over.

[@NichaelCramer]

If I had to guess, I’d think that the real limit here is the size of the squirrel’s skull. That is, if they can get their head in, they can get the rest of their body is. The folklore is that, because of the “collapsible” nature of their skeletons a full-grown rat can get through a hole the size of a dime or a nickel. I think it’s cool that you did your own experimenting here. One other source might be to ask, say, an exterminator. I suspect they might have some good data on the size of the hole various animals can get through. In any case, nice job.

[@khavyvath22]

Squirrel: is this thing getting smaller or am I getting fatter ?

[@kicknsystm]

I was thinking that very thing. You beat me to the post lol.

[@khavyvath22]

kicknsystm great minds think alike

[@Blob_07]

Hahaha lol

[@tomcoryell]

Someone used the wrong setting on the dryer when they washed the feeder.

[@b.a.lineman7582]

Yea... giving the lil guy a complex... soon after the 1-1/4” opening he ran out into traffic and ended it

[@aaronalquiza9680]

after all these years, i'm starting to think that the squirrel is a paid actor.

[@steves5172]

I think your results, good as they are, could be a ‘false positive’ - as the bars get smaller the squirrel gets fatter! I really loved the video thanks for uploading!

[@chrisnotap]

Great point!

[@eamonrodgers4751]

This is so cool and helpful, pesky squirrels, well done you my friend, my wee birds bring unimaginable joy❤

[@merlewarnsholz2094]

Interesting - Great video, and it shows how they go about their work, until it doesn't work anymore. Thanks for sharing.

[@kariknight6287]

Great video. Look forward to the next one.

[@Axgoodofdunemaul]

Good video. I especially liked your sound background.

[@chrisnotap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ericsfishing]

I can’t wait to see your new feeder Chris. I absolutely love the last one so I built two of them!

[@conniewojahn6445]

The size of the opening depends on the size of the squirrel. Females and adolescents are smaller. Also, they will turn sideways and approach the opening so the length (width) becomes the height and they can squeeze in.

[@chrisnotap]

I had this up for almost a week. Many visited. The small ones will no venture up onto things like this until they gain confidence and grow bigger.

[@pkaspar78]

Or the red squirrel which is smaller

[@paulinelee9694]

This is fascinating to watch. Thankyou for sharing this with us

[@chrisnotap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@kilroy2517]

"Hey Joanie, call your cousin, Little Mike. We're gonna need him here."

[@dannyvancauwenberghe]

I appreciate you using the metric system as well

[@MuhammadDaudkhanTV100]

Excellent idea

[@sueg2658]

Interesting experiment. Great idea! Well they did enjoy the seeds while it lasted. But this experiment will help you build a way that the birds get their share too.

[@BEDBUGSEPPY]

A typical male Cardinal is about an 1" 1/4. I suspect a bird would be less likely to negotiate that tight squeeze. And my squirrels, here are grey squirrels and somewhat anemic. I was gonna try your idea with the typical vertical wall container of seeds inside instead of the tray. One commenter mentioned the seeds would get fouled with fecies. So I think the vertical wall with narrow trough at the bottom would be a better solution. I might try your idea anyway but with thin wall PVC to see if the birds will go through the holes first. I know squirrels would likely chew the plastic away but I don't want to fool with metal if it won't work anyway. Will write back....

[@jowesticles]

Always love your vids

[@rishabhchaubey2621]

6:10 Squirrel thinking "I should buy membership for gym"

[@greeniejeannie]

I'm a squirrel. I will teach my babies to get in there and shove some seeds out! I WILL find a way!

[@twinheatingairconditioning135]

Great camera work

[@chrisnotap]

Glad you liked it

[@TacticalSandals]

I think you also made a bird proof bird feeder.

[@jandastroy]

Adolescent squirrel: np fam Recently graduated squirrel: oh uh, this was my future plan

[@leftylou6070]

Well, that was exciting!

[@neiledwards5100]

I would actually enjoy having these creature’s in my garden

[@JakesOnline]

Attach a twig at the opening to see if they try to use it as a tool.

[@tryhardfinessedyou]

If I was betting id say no.

[@Sam-tg4ii]

I think would have been better if you put the rods vertically. Squirrels are wider than they are high. So, they have a harder time going through vertically-tight areas than horizontally-tight

[@chrisnotap]

I will be experimenting with both vertical and horizontal. Thanks.

[@YY4Me133]

The height of the opening was changed, but not the width. I think that's why the squirrel was able to get into such small openings.

[@thomaswisniewski5380]

There is no such animal as a squirrel proof bird feeder. They have to be one of the smartest animals on the earth.

[@aunusuallylargecat1779]

squirrel: *gets stuck also squirrel: _what you doing there step bro?_

[@lohphat]

The programmer in me screamed inside "Do a binary search instead of a linear search for the threshold!"

[@dianagillen1362]

Cool 😆 squirrels are so funny 🤣

[@phuturephunk]

You found quite the hefty boy to test this on. I really didn't think he'd be able to get out of the 2" setup.

[@jacobfreeman5444]

Since the shoulders are a non-issue the true bar to the squirrel is can it squeeze its head through. If yes is the answer then it can fit.

[@GrollPluriel]

Nothing like a slinky on a vertical tube. Simple, cheap, easy and totaly squirel free!

[@chrisnotap]

That is a great tip!

[@shahzadrazi7639]

Very genius. I'm looking for a pigeon proof bird feeder for my backyard in Las Vegas where pigeon is a big problem.

[@thestylesworld]

Thanks for the video. Do you have any other video showing how birds are eating from this squirrel proof feeder?

[@chrisnotap]

Yes I do! .... kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHeXnGRpjt1mrZo

[@Astalyxs]

great vid and very interesting!

[@chrisnotap]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Jeremy_Walker]

Looks pretty bird proof too ...

[@stephaniedescoteaux4759]

You have also designed a way of getting anti flea drops on a squirrel's neck and back. Or a bigger one with thick elastics with flea powder on them for feral cats who are really suffering and infested. I put flea drops on my cat door and my squirrel friend is flea free now. She had been scratching every 2 seconds, all over.

[@drescherjm]

I laughed each time the squirrel attempted to go inside. They are quite smart..

[@chrisleon2085]

I love your other video of bird feeder cause the squirrel try so hard to get some food

[@penelopepitstop13]

@ Chris Notap, Hi. I thought this experiment was Dope from start to finish I really Enjoyed it it was an eye opener... You can actually see the squirrel thinking trying to work it out Amazing. Thank You. 🐶 PEACE! 🚭

[@spaideman7850]

squirrel: im gonna bring my 2 toddlers here tomorrow.

[@chrisnotap]

The young ones won't approach it. They are too cautious.

[@JWoodcock]

I have to share a design I came up with many years ago as a kid after much experimenting... just bury a 4" (or wider) PVC pole vertically in the ground, deep enough to support an above ground height of at least 6ft (the higher the better though) . You can mount any kind of platform feeder to a PVC flange and it will slide right on and off the top. You can simply use a stool to reach if you're not tall enough for refilling and cleaning... or make a system to slide the entire pole on and off of another piece of PVC mounted in the ground. This design requires a clear area around the feeder that has nothing a squirrel can jump from. In practicality, you'll eliminate 90% of them from ever getting there even if you only have a 10ft radius, but more is preferable. NO squirrels will get all the way up the pole, and it's easy as pie.

[@JWoodcock]

And a fox squirrel just ran past along my windowsill as I typed that dissertation haha 😂

[@Abangsaury]

Jebakan yg suguh luwarbisa bosku🙏👍👍👍

[@supersawyer2222]

This is really cool

[@WJack97224]

My guess is that baby squirrels can access the opening of 1.25 inches until their heads grow too large. Thanks for the video. I likey. Good on ya mate.

[@MasterJediJason]

I enjoyed this video more then any video i have seen in such a long time! Thanks for making it!

[@gregsmith3410]

Wish you just started with 1 1/4 and saved yourself lots of seed.. good luck attracting larger birds to your feeder..

[@gearsandgod]

Paying this squirrel for his work in your film.

[@robertsenecal3189]

Good to watch at bedtime

[@stevecooper8121]

I bought mine at tractor supply and it works perfect. The weight of the squirrel closes the doors down.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

But can the birds get to it?

[@ruthking8243]

Now I can see how temptation works. Doesn’t take much,does it?

[@BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

Wouldnt it have been easier to just screw the lid on the jar?

[@GHOSTLYWHISPERSASMR]

Because birds can't walk through lids

[@BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

@@GHOSTLYWHISPERSASMR I didnt see any birds go past the bars either.

[@davequick3373]

Lol

[@itsBoatsandHoes]

Squirrel is thinking, “I gotta lay off the nuts. I swear I fit in there yesterday…” 😂 🐿

[@skozlo]

Nice video, Chris. Have any of this with birds eating ?

[@troyjames827]

Squirrel probably thought he was getting fat as you lowered the bar lol

[@MuhammadDaudkhanTV100]

Nice

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

"...or why our squirrels weigh 30 pounds" :-)

[@sah7920]

Due to the test feeding he does on them

[@Olleetheowl]

Why is everyone so “Anti Squirrels”? We have a squirrel visit us, and he is the most entertaining visitor that we have.

[@chrisnotap]

You are correct...but....if they get into a bird feeder they can empty it in a day. Just gets too costly.

[@scottbaxendale323]

Squirrels are rodents that destroy your house.

[@michaelsnyir4353]

Well, bird seed is expensive & squirrels will gorge themselves.

[@ciprianseni3576]

Nice Video. Thank you

[@MiddleEastMilli]

Ahhh yes, the Squirrel Limbo Bar!

[@k.fuentes7448]

Is there video of the wild bird feeding on the seed?

[@luisestevesirvent2990]

¡Caramba Chris, que ingenioso dispositivo de calibración de cabezas de ardilla!, ¡gracias por compartir! ¡Internet es una hermosa herramienta!

[@markferguson5064]

Come on all you You Tube scientists and physicists. I have 8 bird feeders on poles that avoid overhanging foliage (as we know , squirrels will drop). They all have cones attached (which prevent climbing up the pole) . The birds and my 4-8 squirrels all live in peace and harmony, with the squirrels content with seeds the birds knock out of the feeders to the ground. Red squirrels are a different matter requiring a "22" solution for the sake of the baby birds in nests and any nearby electrical or cable or phone wiring.

[@terminator1500-x4j]

Like 8 wins for the squirrel 🤩 and 1 win for the human 🤣

[@michaeldixon7961]

The squirrel will have a hacksaw and screwdriver on the next visit.

[@fatimasipen8191]

Wow, you're the patient one.

[@daenite2480]

And then their stepbrother walks in

[@ltsgarage7780]

Is that Step brother the Red Headed step child one??

[@deltanovember2296]

😂 if you know, you know.

[@phyllisfarr5766]

Great work! But did the birds eat from the jar?

[@pacibaco]

Squirrels : proof that society doesn’t like the overachiever. It’s sacrilege to abuse or deny any other bird or animals , but to deny , restrict or even catapult squirrels is just fine . Food for thought

[@superman9772]

mount your feeders on a 4 inch diameter plastic pipe at a height of at least 5 feet and away from any tree, fencing or large scrub... the birds have easy access to the seed without any interference from squirrels... but it's not as fun as making squirrel mazes...

[@Vasyl40]

thanks for the metrics)

[@kcain64]

How did you settle on 1 1/2' for the bird feeder?

[@marblecountertops3098]

You must live in Ontario our backyards sound exactly the same

[@blxtothis]

Blimey, what a faff, I’d have started with 11/2” as rodents have an amazing ability to squeeze through the most unlikely gaps.

[@dianalamottelamotte4521]

WOW ... that's cold. Squirrels have to eat, too, you know. How about you design a "bird" feeder AND a "squirrel" feeder? Long Live Squirrels ❤