10 Easy DIY Hacks to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Bird Feeders

So, you’ve declared war on the squirrels, but you’re a resourceful person. You see a problem not just as a frustration, but as a challenge—a chance to get creative and build a solution with your own two hands. Forget expensive, store-bought gadgets. You have the power to protect your bird feeders using some common sense and a few items likely lying around your garage or home.

This guide is for the DIY enthusiast in you. We’re going to explore 10 cheap, simple, and surprisingly effective hacks to turn your bird feeder into a squirrel-proof fortress.

Let’s get building!

1. The Classic Slinky Guard

This is a fan-favourite for a reason: it’s effective and hilarious to watch. The unstable nature of the Slinky makes it impossible for a squirrel to get a firm grip to climb.

• What You’ll Need: A classic metal Slinky toy.
• How It Works: As the squirrel tries to climb the pole, the Slinky stretches and shifts under its weight, sending the squirrel sliding safely back to the ground.
• Instructions:
  1. Ensure your feeder is on a standalone pole.
  2. Slide the pole through the middle of the Slinky.
  3. Attach the very top ring of the Slinky to the bottom of your bird feeder using a small screw or strong wire. Let the rest of the Slinky hang down and cover the pole.

2. The PVC Pipe Pole Protector

Squirrels are excellent climbers, but they can’t grip wide, slick surfaces. A large piece of PVC pipe creates a section of the pole that’s simply too difficult to scale.

• What You’ll Need: A piece of PVC pipe (at least 6 inches in diameter and 2-3 feet long), a pipe cap.
• How It Works: The pipe is too wide and slick for the squirrel to wrap its paws around for a grip.
• Instructions:
  1. Slide the wide PVC pipe over your existing, thinner feeder pole.
  2. It should rest on the ground or be mounted on the pole so the top is at least 5 feet high.
  3. If desired, place a cap on top of the PVC pipe (around the feeder pole) to prevent the squirrel from getting inside it.

3. The Plastic Bowl Baffle (for Hanging Feeders)

This is the perfect DIY solution if your feeder hangs from a tree branch or a hook. It functions just like a store-bought dome baffle.

• What You’ll Need: A large plastic bowl or plant pot saucer (at least 18 inches in diameter), a drill, an eye hook, and a nut.
• How It Works: The wide dome creates a barrier that prevents squirrels from climbing down from above.
• Instructions:
  1. Drill a hole in the exact centre of the bottom of the bowl.
  2. Push the threaded end of the eye hook through the hole from the top side.
  3. Secure it from underneath with a nut.
  4. Hang your new baffle from the tree branch, and then hang your bird feeder from the eye hook.

4. The Soda Bottle Baffle (for Poles)

Don’t throw away that 2-litre soda bottle! With a few snips, you can turn it into a wobbly, noisy barrier that squirrels hate.

• What You’ll Need: An empty 2-litre plastic soda bottle, scissors, string or wire.
• How It Works: The bottle spins and rattles when a squirrel tries to climb it, startling them and making it too unstable to pass.
• Instructions:
  1. Cut off the narrow top part of the bottle.
  2. Cut a small ‘X’ in the centre of the bottle’s base, just large enough to fit over your feeder pole.
  3. Slide the bottle onto the pole, upside down, so the wide opening faces the ground. Let it rest freely on the pole, several feet below the feeder.

5. The Fishing Line Barrier

Squirrels are tightrope walkers, but they can’t balance on something as thin and slick as a fishing line.

• What You’ll Need: Heavy-duty fishing line (20-pound test or higher).
• How It Works: Replace the chain or wire you use to hang your feeder with a long piece of fishing line.
• Instructions:
  1. Find two points (like two trees or a tree and your house) that are more than 10 feet away from each other.
  2. String the fishing line tightly between these two points.
  3. Hang your bird feeder from the middle of the fishing line. The line is too thin and unstable for a squirrel to cross.

6. The DIY Cage Protector

If you want to allow only small birds in, you can build your own protective cage around an existing feeder.

• What You’ll Need: A roll of wire mesh or hardware cloth (with 1.5 to 2-inch openings), wire cutters, and zip ties or wire.
• How It Works: The openings are big enough for small songbirds, but too small for squirrels.
• Instructions:
  1. Cut a large piece of the wire mesh.
  2. Roll it into a wide cylinder that will fit around your bird feeder, leaving several inches of space on all sides.
  3. Secure the seam with zip ties or wire.
  4. Fashion a top and bottom for the cage (or just place it over a tray feeder) and secure it.

7. Cinnamon & Spice Scent Deterrent

While hot pepper (capsaicin) is the most proven food-based deterrent, some people have success using strong scents that squirrels dislike.

• What You’ll Need: Ground cinnamon, cayenne pepper, or other strong spices.
• How It Works: Squirrels have a sensitive sense of smell and find these strong scents overwhelming and unpleasant.
• Instructions:
  1. Lightly sprinkle cinnamon or other spices on the ground around the base of your feeder pole.
  2. You can also sprinkle it on the feeder itself and the pole. Note: this method needs to be reapplied after every rain.

8. The Wobbly Feeder Mount

Create instability! A squirrel can’t raid a feeder it can’t sit on comfortably.

• What You’ll Need: A flexible spring or a small piece of flexible hose.
• How It Works: By mounting the feeder on a wobbly base, it becomes too unstable for a squirrel to balance on.
• Instructions:
  1. Attach a spring to the top of your feeder pole.
  2. Mount a small platform on top of the spring.
  3. Place your feeder on the platform. The slightest weight will cause it to wobble and tip.

9. A Quick Safety Note: Avoid Grease!

You may see advice to use grease, oil, or Vaseline on your feeder pole. Please do not do this. These sticky substances can get onto a bird’s feathers, making it impossible for them to clean themselves, stay warm, or fly properly. It’s a dangerous method when so many safer DIY options exist.

10. The Sacrificial Feeder

If you can’t beat them, distract them. This “peace treaty” approach works wonders.

• What You’ll Need: A simple platform or cob feeder.
• How It Works: You offer the squirrels an easier, more appealing food source far away from your bird feeders.
• Instructions:
  1. Place a simple feeder on the ground or on a tree in a completely different part of your yard.
  2. Fill it with cheap food that squirrels love: whole peanuts, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds.
  3. They will almost always choose the easy meal over the difficult-to-reach bird feeder.

Conclusion: Your Backyard, Your Rules

Outsmarting squirrels is a game of creativity and persistence. The beauty of the DIY approach is that you can combine these hacks to create the ultimate defense. A PVC pipe on a pole with a Slinky, protecting a feeder filled with safflower seed, is a puzzle few squirrels will ever solve.

While these tricks are fantastic, they are most powerful when used as part of a complete strategy. For a full overview of everything from feeder placement to the best commercial products, be sure to read our Ultimate Guide to Keeping Squirrels Out of Bird Feeders.

Now, head to the garage, pick your favourite project, and reclaim your backyard.

Which DIY hack are you going to try first? Let us know how it goes in the comments below!