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We didn't set out to feed a squirrel. He set out to feed himself, from the chicken feeder, the bird feeder, and once, memorably, from Dabodabo's dish while she watched. Chasing him off didn't work. The thing that worked was a deal: his own feeder, on his own post, on the other side of the yard. He eats there now. Mostly. And the wild birds finally get their seed.
This is the guide to that deal: the squirrel feeders that keep him busy, the bird feeders he can't beat, and the baffle that ended the war.
Quick answer
Give the squirrel a dedicated cedar box feeder or a picnic-table feeder, placed away from the bird feeders, stocked with dried corn and unsalted peanuts. Then protect the bird seed with a weight-activated squirrel-proof feeder and a pole baffle. Both halves matter. Feeding alone doesn't stop the raiding; protecting alone just makes him creative.
Squirrel feeders (the "keep him busy" half)
1. Cedar Squirrel Feeder Box with a lift lid
Cedar Squirrel Feeder Box (lift-lid)
Watching him figure out the lid is a whole episode of our channel.
Check price on AmazonA wooden box with a hinged lid and a clear front. The squirrel sits on the roof, lifts the lid, and reaches in. Ours figured it out in under two minutes on camera, which became one of our most-watched clips. It holds a few days of corn and peanuts, keeps the food dry, and the lid keeps most of the birds out. Cedar holds up to rain. The screws loosen after a season; keep a screwdriver handy.
What I like
- Keeps food dry
- Fun to watch
- Holds several days of food
- Weather-resistant cedar
What I don't
- Lid hinge loosens over time
- Jays learn it too
2. Squirrel Picnic Table Feeder
Squirrel Picnic Table Feeder
Ridiculous. Adorable. Highest engagement per dollar on our TikTok.
Check price on AmazonA tiny picnic table with a spike for a corn cob, screwed to a fence post. It's ridiculous. It's adorable. The squirrel sits at the table like he's waiting for a server. Per dollar, this is the best content we've ever produced for TikTok. It doesn't protect the food from rain, so I only load what he'll eat that day.
3. Corn Cob Spinner
Corn Cob Squirrel Spinner
He hates it, then loves it, then hates it. Great footage.
Check price on AmazonA spinning arm with corn cobs on the ends. The squirrel grabs a cob, the arm spins, the squirrel hangs on. He hates it. Then he loves it. Then he hates it again. It's an enrichment toy as much as a feeder, and it slows down how fast he can strip a cob, which is the point.
Squirrel-proof bird feeders (the "protect the seed" half)
4. Weight-activated squirrel-proof feeder
Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder (weight-activated)
The thing that finally made peace between the squirrel and the wild birds.
Check price on AmazonThe perch sits on a spring. A finch or chickadee weighs nothing and the ports stay open. A squirrel lands and his weight closes a shroud over the seed. Ours took a full week of testing every angle before he gave up, and he only gave up because his box feeder was easier. That's the whole strategy: make the bird feeder harder than the squirrel feeder.
What I like
- Actually works
- Adjustable weight setting
- Holds a lot of seed
What I don't
- Heavier birds (jays, doves) can trigger it too
- Needs cleaning; seed gets trapped under the shroud
5. Pole baffle
A slippery cone or cylinder that mounts on the feeder pole below the feeder. Squirrels climb up, hit the baffle, and slide off. Cheap and effective, with one huge condition: the pole needs to be at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from. Fences, branches, the roof of the coop. Ours can jump farther than I thought possible. We moved the pole twice.
Comparison
| Feeder | For | Keeps food dry | Entertainment value | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar box | Squirrel | Yes | High | Refill every few days |
| Picnic table | Squirrel | No | Very high | Refill daily |
| Corn spinner | Squirrel | No | High | Replace cobs weekly |
| Weight-activated | Birds | Yes | Watching him fail: high | Clean monthly |
| Pole baffle | Birds | n/a | Medium | Install once, place well |
What to feed a backyard squirrel
Dried Corn on the Cob for Squirrels
Buy the case. He eats like he's paying rent.
Check price on Amazon
- Dried corn on the cob: the staple. Buy the case; he goes through a cob every day or two.
- Unsalted peanuts in the shell: he buries half of them in the lawn, which is how we got three volunteer peanut plants.
- Black oil sunflower seeds: fine as a mix-in.
- Apple slices, carrot ends: occasional treats.
Skip salted anything, bread, and anything sugary. And don't put feed on the ground; that's an invitation to rats, and rats are the reason our chicken feeder is a treadle now.
Placement: where the feeder goes matters more than which feeder
- Squirrel feeder on the far side of the yard from the bird feeders and the chicken run. Ours is on the fence by the maple.
- Bird feeder pole 10 feet from any launch point, with the baffle 4 to 5 feet up the pole.
- Chicken feeder inside the run, treadle style, so it's closed when nobody's standing on it.
- Nothing on the ground. Spilled seed gets swept or raked.
Camera tip: if you're filming, mount the squirrel feeder at eye level about six feet from a window and put the camera inside. He doesn't care about a phone behind glass. He cares a lot about a phone outside.
Does feeding a squirrel make things worse?
People ask. In our experience, no, as long as you feed in one spot and protect everything else. Before the deal, one squirrel raided three feeders a day. After, one squirrel eats from one box and the birds and chickens are left alone. What you don't want is an open buffet that draws six squirrels. One feeder, a fixed amount, away from the house. If a second squirrel shows up, you'll know, because the first one will be loudly upset about it.
Our squirrel's daily schedule (for the curious)
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:40 a.m. | Arrives on the back fence. Every day. You could set a clock. |
| 7:45 | Checks the bird feeder anyway. Fails. Looks offended. |
| 7:50 | Box feeder. Lifts lid. Eats corn. Buries peanuts. |
| Midday | Stares at Lady Peck through the run wire. She stares back. He leaves. |
| 4:00 p.m. | Second visit. Picnic table if loaded. |
| Dusk | Gone. Presumably to plan. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best squirrel feeder?
A cedar box feeder with a lift lid is the best all-around choice: it keeps food dry, holds several days' worth, and squirrels learn it fast. A picnic-table feeder is the most fun to watch.
Does feeding squirrels keep them off bird feeders?
It helps, but only combined with a squirrel-proof bird feeder and a pole baffle. Make the squirrel feeder the easiest food source in the yard and protect everything else.
What should I feed a backyard squirrel?
Dried corn on the cob and unsalted peanuts in the shell are staples. Add sunflower seeds and occasional fruit. Avoid salted or sugary foods and bread.
How far should a bird feeder be from a fence?
At least 10 feet from any fence, branch or roof a squirrel can jump from, with a baffle 4 to 5 feet up the pole.
Where should I put a squirrel feeder?
On the opposite side of the yard from bird feeders and chicken runs, mounted on a post or fence at a height you can see from a window.
Watch it in action: most of the gear in this guide shows up in our videos. Head to the channel and search the pet's name.
Shop this guide
Cedar Squirrel Feeder Box (lift-lid)
Watching him figure out the lid is a whole episode of our channel.
Check price on AmazonSquirrel-Proof Bird Feeder (weight-activated)
The thing that finally made peace between the squirrel and the wild birds.
Check price on AmazonDried Corn on the Cob for Squirrels
Buy the case. He eats like he's paying rent.
Check price on Amazon
