How to Build Grackle Resistant Bird Feeders
Feeding birds occasionally means feeding squirrels and less-desirable birds like grackles. While some people may enjoy a grackle's iridescent feathers, their aggressive, greedy nature has made them unwelcome at most feeders. Grackles chase smaller birds away from food, waste bird seed by knocking out seeds they don't like and make a mess of bird baths. To discourage grackles, take up your ground bird feeders, cover your feeders with chicken wire or install grackle-resistant bird feeders. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Measure the width and length of the sides and top of your bird feeder. Add 2 inches to each measurement.
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2
Use the measurements to cut pieces of chicken wire to fit the sides and top of your bird feeder.
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3
Center the top piece of chicken wire on top of the bird feeder. Run the bird feeder's hanger through the wire.
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4
Wire the sides of the chicken wire to the top piece. Set the bird feeder on its top and use heavy-gauge wire and pliers to attach the sides.
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5
Wire the side panels together with heavy-gauge wire and pliers. The side panels should not touch the feeder, so birds can access the food.
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Wire a bottom panel to the side panels to exclude squirrels.
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For tube feeders, cut one piece of chicken wire to fit the top and wrap another piece around the tube. Wire the top and sides together.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not use ground feeders. Grackles don't like safflower seeds; offer safflower seeds for several weeks to discourage grackles. Hang small square feeders on short perches.
Frustrated grackles may try to knock the feeder down. Grackles may not let other birds feed even though they are not able to access the bird feeder.
