Squirrel feeders / bait stations

[Snap-Cap]

Morning has anyone made one of the above if so any tips for making them I.e what millimetres hardboard is best etc what did you secure them with in terms of plating to back the shot


What have you found best to keep them topped up with? The price of peanuts has shot up do you find other feeds work just as well etc ?


Cheers

 

[Phil fox man]

just leave a plastic pheasant hopper out they will find it ( little bstards)

 

[oxonhunter]

got this off another forum squirrel feeders made from old road sign posts

here's link to the post
Tip for hides.

 

[Snap-Cap]

just leave a plastic pheasant hopper out they will find it ( little bstards)

Thats the problem they have damaged 5 feeders so far I'm hoping if I can put these squirrel feeders/bait stations up & get them established I might be able to make a good dent in them while the pheasant feeders are taken in for cleaning & maintenance. That's the plan anyway if they will play ball that is another matter

 

[Snap-Cap]

just leave a plastic pheasant hopper out they will find it ( little bstards)

Thats the problem they have damaged 5 feeders so far I'm hoping if I can put these squirrel feeders/bait stations up & get them established I might be able to make a good dent in them while the pheasant feeders are taken in for cleaning & maintenance. That's the plan anyway if they will play ball that is another matter

 

[Norfolk Horn]

@Uncle Norm

 

[Dave Lakes]

Plastic or wood, they will eventually be destroyed by squirrels or the weather. We’ve moved to all metal ones and they’ve been fantastic.

Feed wise, greys will come in to just about anything, although rolled maize doesn’t seem to be too in favour. Monkey nuts seem to be the best, and big sacks can still be had relatively cheap even from Amazon.

 

[merlin]

Buy an old metal ammo box with a clip on lid, cut a slot at the bottom for feed to dribble through, and attach a sheet of wood underneath for the squirrel to stand on; make a small lip in front of the feed slot to control the flow & stop it spilling all over the shop.

I got fed up of wooden ones being destroyed by being chewed, even with reinforced areas on them. Metal? No problems....

For bait I use whole maize. Peanuts may be slightly tastier for squirrels, but they are also considerably more expensive.

 

[FISH BOY]

Make them as cheaply as possible - little barstewards will destroy everything just for fun.

 

[oxonhunter]

me ill just use old road sign posts works great and they will not destroy it and it be there for years

 

[Snap-Cap]

me ill just use old road sign posts works great and they will not destroy it and it be there for years

Really good idea that is it just a straight piece of pipe with a square cut out of the bottom or have you had to insert something on the inside of the pipe to stop the food jamming? Cheers

 

[jall55]

Thats the problem they have damaged 5 feeders so far I'm hoping if I can put these squirrel feeders/bait stations up & get them established I might be able to make a good dent in them while the pheasant feeders are taken in for cleaning & maintenance. That's the plan anyway if they will play ball that is another matter

Leave the feeders out - feed the game birds you have chased all soon in the hungry gap and they will reward you with a few broods
Also the little birds benefit and you can have a walk about and shoot squirrels and rats using the feeders
WIN WIN WIN !

 

[BenBhoy]

Yep, I leave feeders out until end of May. Its now that they need the extra (easy) calories to get in top condition to breed. After the fiasco with eggs & getting birds this year, surely everyone could do with a few wild broods making it?

 

[Longstrider]

I build my feeders from plywood and then protect all the corners from attack with thin galvanised steel that a local fabricator made into angle for me on the press brake. I put the upright 'hopper' on a base board that is wider than the hopper from side to side. I make the little 'feed tray' from thin galved steel and the base board is only just deep enough front to back to hold it on the front of the hopper.
This way the squirrels easiest option (that they pretty much always take) is to reach across the front to the feed tray and get a nut, then sit on the base board off the side of the hopper to eat the nut. That way I can shoot them with none of my shots ever hitting the feeder.
I save wasted time filling the feeders by making them big enough to hold a full B+Q orange bucket of peanuts, but the little sods will still empty one in a couple of days when they really get going on them. THAT'S when you get the air rifle out

 

[jall55]

I build my feeders from plywood and then protect all the corners from attack with thin galvanised steel that a local fabricator made into angle for me on the press brake. I put the upright 'hopper' on a base board that is wider than the hopper from side to side. I make the little 'feed tray' from thin galved steel and the base board is only just deep enough front to back to hold it on the front of the hopper.
This way the squirrels easiest option (that they pretty much always take) is to reach across the front to the feed tray and get a nut, then sit on the base board off the side of the hopper to eat the nut. That way I can shoot them with none of my shots ever hitting the feeder.
I save wasted time filling the feeders by making them big enough to hold a full B+Q orange bucket of peanuts, but the little sods will still empty one in a couple of days when they really get going on them. THAT'S when you get the air rifle out

Again its up to you but i would just use wheat - far cheaper and lasts longer - and has the same draw

 

[Quadman]

I like my flip top feeders the best for peanuts, just get a piece of tin about 8 inch wide and about 35 long , then bend it with the sides 8 inch long and the little bit you have over seam together with a couple of pop rivets , you then have a square , cut a bit of wood for bottom and a hinged lid , they ont chew that boi when you start feeding put a bit of stick in the corner to hold the lid up ,and after a short while they will lift it them selves , hope this helps but I don't do pictures (sorry) All the best

 

[LarryLightFoot]

Here’s one of the ones I make out of 18mm ply with several coats of Cuprinol, two strips on the back with eyelets for anchoring using thin cable to keep it off the tree, plasters bead round all the edges to stop them chewing and a electrical socket with flap lid as a feed tray.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

I’m too lazy.
Amazon product ASIN B08W4YKDBC

 

[Snap-Cap]

I’m too lazy.
Amazon product ASIN B08W4YKDBC

I did think about that as well then just add some armour plating to slow down the damage & back the shot

 

[willowbank]

Here’s one of the ones I make out of 18mm ply with several coats of Cuprinol, two strips on the back with eyelets for anchoring using thin cable to keep it off the tree, plasters bead round all the edges to stop them chewing and a electrical socket with flap lid as a feed tray.
View attachment 293803

I like the zeroing flag, feeder is good design may have to pinch it

Willowbank