How to Build a Baffle for a Bird Feeder

A baffle keeps squirrels from jumping onto a bird feeder.

A bird feeder filled with seed will attract a variety of birds to your yard, but it can also attract squirrels. Since squirrels enjoy many of the same types of seeds and nuts found in wild bird food, they'll quickly make their way into bird feeders, sometimes eating most or all of the seed. They'll even chew through wood, rope and plastic to get to their tasty treats, meaning you'll have to replace the seed and even the bird feeders more often than you've planned. A well-placed homemade baffle can keep even the most crafty squirrels out of a bird feeder.

Things You'll Need

• Large plastic salad bowl
• Drill with 1/2-inch bit
• Craft knife (optional)
• Empty plastic jug (optional)
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Tape measure
• PVC pipe 1 inch wider than the feeder post
• Jigsaw

Instructions

Hanging Feeder Baffle

1. Remove the bird feeder from the string or chain used to hang it. Set the feeder aside.

2. Drill a 1/4-inch hole in the center of the bottom of a salad bowl. Make the hole slightly wider if the rope or chain used to hang the feeder is wider. Do this by redrilling or using a larger drill bit.

3. Slide the upside-down salad bowl onto the rope or chain. Push it up approximately 18 inches or high enough that it will partially cover the feeder if the bowl is tipped and the feeder is back in place. Tie a knot in the rope at this height to secure the bowl. If you are using a chain instead of rope, cut a 2-inch circle from a sturdy, empty plastic jug using a craft knife. Cut a slit in the center of the circle with your craft knife. Slide the plastic circle up the chain 18 inches to secure the salad bowl in place.

4. Reattach the bird feeder to the rope or chain. Push the baffle to test it for ideal distance from the feeder -- it should move in such a way that a squirrel jumping onto the baffle would fall away from, rather than onto, the bird feeder. Remove the feeder and reposition the knot and baffle, if necessary.

Post-Mounted Feeder

1. Remove the feeder from its mount using a Philips-head screwdriver or the tool originally used to secure the feeder to the post. Set the feeder aside.

2. Measure the height of the feeder post using a tape measure. Cut a PVC pipe 1 inch shorter than the post height using a jigsaw. The pipe should be at least 1 inch wider than the feeder post.

3. Place the pipe over the post and reattach the feeder to the post. The PVC pipe will keep squirrels from climbing the feeder post.

Tips & Warnings

• Other items such as pie tins, trash can lids or bucket lids can be used as baffles.

• Keep your bird feeder high off the ground and away from tree limbs, fences and other objects squirrels may jump from.

• Placing a feeder for squirrels at the opposite end of your yard may help keep them from visiting the bird feeder.

• If the rope used to hang the feeder is extremely long, consider using two or three baffles for greater efficacy.

References

• The Wildlife Porch: Baffled by Baffles? The Basics of Protecting Your Feeders With Baffles; July 8, 2009

Resources

• University of Minnesota Extension: Squirrels; Skip Rither; 2009