Hi Chris! I am so glad you made a new video! My husband and i tried to make a version of your triangular bird feeder with the ringlets. However since we don't have a nice work shop with a table saw or pipe cutter, instead of using copper pipe we used PVC pipe to make the ringlets. Also since we don't have a way to properly cut glass, we used clear plexiglass that can easily be drilled into. My husband put aluminum strips around the base panel for sturdiness. He had to put screws into the bottom panel that go into the PVC ringlets as the silicone adhesive was not holding them onto the plastic very well. To make it hard for squirrels to open, we used cabinet magnets on the opening panel. We have ours hanging in a tree. And its certainly kept squirrels from going inside, and its been up since middle of May but the birds around here still have not learned to associate it with food. but we still need to add the perch so maybe that will help.
Thanks for the video it was a lot of fun to watch... I have lots of squirrels in my yard. I have Lots of old huge trees and the squirrels are everywhere. We bark at each other, Yes squirrels bark... Lol They play games with my dogs, like chase the squirrels around the tree sideways. Let's chase the squirrels hanging on the swinging tree branch. My fav is lets through nut shells at the dogs game... Squirrels re so much fun! The best one is, Let's play Ball game! The squirrels comes down the tree and gets on the ground about 4 feet from the tree and teases the dog and when the dog runs for the squirrels, the squirrels runs for home base and the dog tries to climb the tree too! So funny! The dog never learns... :-D I was playing bark at the squirrels the other day with a squirrels and another squirrels came from another tree behind me and thumped me in the head with a walnut... :-) Silly squirrels! LLAP
You just saved me a lot of head scratching. I want to build a protective 'cage' to put young plants in (that my squirrels keep ripping up). Now I know the required bar spacing with no more than effort than watching a 6 minute YT video. Thanks!
Did you notice at the tightest setting the squirrel didn't bother trying to enter. That shows incredible smarts, because as you will have observed they usually never give up trying.
Trust me, they will chew right through anything made of wood or plastic to get at food. I’ve had them chew right through my plastic composter that is 1/4” thick.if you have a clear plastic container with seeds in it, they will chew right through the side of it to get to the seeds.
The size of the opening depends on the size of the squirrel. Females and adolescents are smaller. Also, they will turn sideways and approach the opening so the length (width) becomes the height and they can squeeze in.
Nice to know you have all the time to devote to a squirrel feeder. Just put the feeder at the top of a pole and a paint can with a hole in bottom over top a hose clamp. Can shakes as squirrel tries to climb over.
A typical male Cardinal is about an 1" 1/4. I suspect a bird would be less likely to negotiate that tight squeeze. And my squirrels, here are grey squirrels and somewhat anemic. I was gonna try your idea with the typical vertical wall container of seeds inside instead of the tray. One commenter mentioned the seeds would get fouled with fecies. So I think the vertical wall with narrow trough at the bottom would be a better solution. I might try your idea anyway but with thin wall PVC to see if the birds will go through the holes first. I know squirrels would likely chew the plastic away but I don't want to fool with metal if it won't work anyway. Will write back....
Interesting experiment. Great idea! Well they did enjoy the seeds while it lasted. But this experiment will help you build a way that the birds get their share too.
Little did the little critter know, that he was part of an experiment, with the ultimate goal of designing a feeder, that him and his friends would no longer get a free meal. Maybe the squirrel can find a lawyer to defend him, by the homeowner showing partiality to a particular species. Many lawyers are rodents, so it shouldn’t be hard!
If I had to guess, I’d think that the real limit here is the size of the squirrel’s skull. That is, if they can get their head in, they can get the rest of their body is. The folklore is that, because of the “collapsible” nature of their skeletons a full-grown rat can get through a hole the size of a dime or a nickel. I think it’s cool that you did your own experimenting here. One other source might be to ask, say, an exterminator. I suspect they might have some good data on the size of the hole various animals can get through. In any case, nice job.
Loved the video Chris! Always great content, and I LOVED that perspective from inside the jar! Have you seen Mark Rober's squirrel video? Given your enjoyment for squirrel-proof bird feeders, I think you'd really get a kick out of it! Cant wait to see the new design!
I think would have been better if you put the rods vertically. Squirrels are wider than they are high. So, they have a harder time going through vertically-tight areas than horizontally-tight
I think your results, good as they are, could be a ‘false positive’ - as the bars get smaller the squirrel gets fatter! I really loved the video thanks for uploading!
@ Chris Notap, Hi. I thought this experiment was Dope from start to finish I really Enjoyed it it was an eye opener... You can actually see the squirrel thinking trying to work it out Amazing. Thank You. 🐶 PEACE! 🚭
Best squirrel proof bird feeder: put out a little bowl with food for the squirrel's a few yards away. They stop focusing on the birdfeeder. Worked for me.
No, squirrels are greedy feeders. They eat that food and then go to the bird's. My break- barrel pellet gun has been the only deterrent thus far and that was a last resort.
Does it work with red squirrels and chipmunks? And are the 1/8 “ increments really necessary? And what about the accumulated bird droppings inside the horizontal jar? Is your design worth the extra work and wasted seeds?
This was just a test stand to determine the size of the opening they could not enter. That's why I used 1/8" increments over many days. I wanted to hone right in on the size. Lots of squirrels visited of many sizes. I can now start thinking of a design using bars.
@@chrisnotap, I tried the "Design using Bars", i'd fill the feeder and then go to the bars, by the time i got home i couldn't care less who or what ate the seed👍🏻😉
I have to share a design I came up with many years ago as a kid after much experimenting... just bury a 4" (or wider) PVC pole vertically in the ground, deep enough to support an above ground height of at least 6ft (the higher the better though) . You can mount any kind of platform feeder to a PVC flange and it will slide right on and off the top. You can simply use a stool to reach if you're not tall enough for refilling and cleaning... or make a system to slide the entire pole on and off of another piece of PVC mounted in the ground. This design requires a clear area around the feeder that has nothing a squirrel can jump from. In practicality, you'll eliminate 90% of them from ever getting there even if you only have a 10ft radius, but more is preferable. NO squirrels will get all the way up the pole, and it's easy as pie.
You can also make one.... Away from the trees (or jumping areas), the pole is extending 2 meters above the ground, the circular platform is 1 meter (or more) in diameter. Even if they climb the pole, they can't jump to the edge of the circular platform. And no more teasing the squirrels.
@@chrisnotap I don't think so. The feeder in the video is very much cruel. It's already in the squirrels' face but still can't reach it. They'll go "nuts" trying to reach those bird feeds. Even if what I propose is a teaser to them (if you think so) but it won't be a cruel tease. The bird feeds are too far from their grasp. IF they can't get near it, they might lose interest. From what I am describing. The feeding platform is out of jumping reach from the trees or any ledge. They may climb the pole but can not reach the platform's edge since they don't have anything to grasp underneath the platform.
Like I say at the start, this is only a test stand to determine the distance they can't enter. Then use that info to make a proper feeder. There is plenty of food naturally in the environment for the squirrels. This is just another stop in the big outdoor buffet!
Just sit it 10ft from a branch and 8ft off the ground. And grease the pole. They can not climb a greased pole. Trying to limit the hole size, only works on older squirrels. Plus it limits the size of bird that can feed.
I use a live trap and relocate the little bbb's darned if I will spend $$ to feed squirrels. Down side you have to move them a long was off as they can make their way back.
@@chrisnotap Oh, you're lucky! Those little Timber Tigers can wipe out a feeder in no time! Between the Squirrels, chipmunks & Grackles, not to mention the birds we're trying to feed, we go through a lot of feed!
You have also designed a way of getting anti flea drops on a squirrel's neck and back. Or a bigger one with thick elastics with flea powder on them for feral cats who are really suffering and infested. I put flea drops on my cat door and my squirrel friend is flea free now. She had been scratching every 2 seconds, all over.
Dude this type of practical long term experiments on real world problems are what I love about youtube. Awesome.
Glad you enjoyed it!
3:23 link and search
5:39 Squirrel is thinking " I really need to hit the gym. I used to have no problem fitting into this thing."
Hi Chris! I am so glad you made a new video! My husband and i tried to make a version of your triangular bird feeder with the ringlets. However since we don't have a nice work shop with a table saw or pipe cutter, instead of using copper pipe we used PVC pipe to make the ringlets. Also since we don't have a way to properly cut glass, we used clear plexiglass that can easily be drilled into. My husband put aluminum strips around the base panel for sturdiness. He had to put screws into the bottom panel that go into the PVC ringlets as the silicone adhesive was not holding them onto the plastic very well. To make it hard for squirrels to open, we used cabinet magnets on the opening panel. We have ours hanging in a tree. And its certainly kept squirrels from going inside, and its been up since middle of May but the birds around here still have not learned to associate it with food. but we still need to add the perch so maybe that will help.
just know that the squirrels may chew the pvc pipe and plexiglass as they did on my feeders when we replaced the broken glass front!
Thanks for the video it was a lot of fun to watch...
I have lots of squirrels in my yard. I have Lots of old huge trees and the squirrels are everywhere. We bark at each other, Yes squirrels bark... Lol They play games with my dogs, like chase the squirrels around the tree sideways. Let's chase the squirrels hanging on the swinging tree branch. My fav is lets through nut shells at the dogs game... Squirrels re so much fun!
The best one is, Let's play Ball game! The squirrels comes down the tree and gets on the ground about 4 feet from the tree and teases the dog and when the dog runs for the squirrels, the squirrels runs for home base and the dog tries to climb the tree too! So funny! The dog never learns... :-D
I was playing bark at the squirrels the other day with a squirrels and another squirrels came from another tree behind me and thumped me in the head with a walnut... :-) Silly squirrels!
LLAP
Wow, this video of you incrementally adjusting the height of bars for several minutes was truly compelling.
The many miniscule incremental adjustments were riveting & fascinating.
That took patience and quite helpful. Learn something new everyday. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Loved the glass and copper bird feeder! Looking forward to this new one!
Thank you! Cheers!
Not only do I commend you for sharing your exploits, but all those leaving comments are so entertaining 👍
Glad you like them!
You notice how the birds get in .video didn't show.
You just saved me a lot of head scratching. I want to build a protective 'cage' to put young plants in (that my squirrels keep ripping up). Now I know the required bar spacing with no more than effort than watching a 6 minute YT video. Thanks!
This is so cool and helpful, pesky squirrels, well done you my friend, my wee birds bring unimaginable joy❤
Interesting - Great video, and it shows how they go about their work, until it doesn't work anymore. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful audio! Both the voice over and nature.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Cute squirrels and they taste good too, makes a fine gumbo.
Squirrels are delicious
I took a fish tank, cut 1.5 inch holes in it, and mounted it on a stick. That's my bird feeder. It was cheaper than copper pipe. Thanks for the idea!
It's all about using the noggin and creativity you've proven that!!
Next they will send in their baby squirrels to get the food for them.
lol!
Or turn their heads 90°.
That might be a violation of child labor laws. 🤔
after all these years, i'm starting to think that the squirrel is a paid actor.
I think at some point the squirrel said : I can still fit but I am full at this point.
"Эти понты не для меня"-решила выдра. И не пришла...
@@ЕвгенийЛазуткин-й2о k
I assume he used a different test squirrel each time.
Did you notice at the tightest setting the squirrel didn't bother trying to enter. That shows incredible smarts, because as you will have observed they usually never give up trying.
Fun and entertaining as usual. Thanks Chris.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I can’t wait to see your new feeder Chris. I absolutely love the last one so I built two of them!
Trust me, they will chew right through anything made of wood or plastic to get at food. I’ve had them chew right through my plastic composter that is 1/4” thick.if you have a clear plastic container with seeds in it, they will chew right through the side of it to get to the seeds.
Correct. That is why I do not use plastics.
I have had squirrels gnaw through a copper fuel line in my parked outside truck
I appreciate you using the metric system as well
Squirrel: is this thing getting smaller or am I getting fatter ?
I was thinking that very thing. You beat me to the post lol.
kicknsystm great minds think alike
Hahaha lol
Someone used the wrong setting on the dryer when they washed the feeder.
Yea... giving the lil guy a complex... soon after the 1-1/4” opening he ran out into traffic and ended it
Interesting video, looking forward to seeing the new feeder. 👍😁
You and me both!
The size of the opening depends on the size of the squirrel. Females and adolescents are smaller. Also, they will turn sideways and approach the opening so the length (width) becomes the height and they can squeeze in.
I had this up for almost a week. Many visited. The small ones will no venture up onto things like this until they gain confidence and grow bigger.
Or the red squirrel which is smaller
Good video. I especially liked your sound background.
Glad you enjoyed it
Nice to know you have all the time to devote to a squirrel feeder. Just put the feeder at the top of a pole and a paint can with a hole in bottom over top a hose clamp. Can shakes as squirrel tries to climb over.
Always love your vids
This is fascinating to watch. Thankyou for sharing this with us
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video. Look forward to the next one.
Well, that was exciting!
Cool 😆 squirrels are so funny 🤣
A typical male Cardinal is about an 1" 1/4. I suspect a bird would be less likely to negotiate that tight squeeze. And my squirrels, here are grey squirrels and somewhat anemic. I was gonna try your idea with the typical vertical wall container of seeds inside instead of the tray. One commenter mentioned the seeds would get fouled with fecies. So I think the vertical wall with narrow trough at the bottom would be a better solution. I might try your idea anyway but with thin wall PVC to see if the birds will go through the holes first. I know squirrels would likely chew the plastic away but I don't want to fool with metal if it won't work anyway. Will write back....
Interesting experiment. Great idea!
Well they did enjoy the seeds while it lasted.
But this experiment will help you build a way that the birds get their share too.
Little did the little critter know, that he was part of an experiment, with the ultimate goal of designing a feeder, that him and his friends would no longer get a free meal. Maybe the squirrel can find a lawyer to defend him, by the homeowner showing partiality to a particular species.
Many lawyers are rodents, so it shouldn’t be hard!
Lol! Nice analogy!
LOL
@Eugene Saint -
well done !
❤️🇨🇦👍
@Eugene Saint Hahahaha very funny legalese.
Lawyer for the rodent can sue for discrimination LOL , claim "Bird privilege"
I would actually enjoy having these creature’s in my garden
If I had to guess, I’d think that the real limit here is the size of the squirrel’s skull. That is, if they can get their head in, they can get the rest of their body is.
The folklore is that, because of the “collapsible” nature of their skeletons a full-grown rat can get through a hole the size of a dime or a nickel.
I think it’s cool that you did your own experimenting here. One other source might be to ask, say, an exterminator. I suspect they might have some good data on the size of the hole various animals can get through.
In any case, nice job.
Thanks for the video. Do you have any other video showing how birds are eating from this squirrel proof feeder?
Yes I do! .... th-cam.com/video/6F4k13Yx3w8/w-d-xo.html
Loved the video Chris! Always great content, and I LOVED that perspective from inside the jar!
Have you seen Mark Rober's squirrel video? Given your enjoyment for squirrel-proof bird feeders, I think you'd really get a kick out of it!
Cant wait to see the new design!
Great camera work
Glad you liked it
"Hey Joanie, call your cousin, Little Mike. We're gonna need him here."
I think would have been better if you put the rods vertically. Squirrels are wider than they are high. So, they have a harder time going through vertically-tight areas than horizontally-tight
I will be experimenting with both vertical and horizontal. Thanks.
I think your results, good as they are, could be a ‘false positive’ - as the bars get smaller the squirrel gets fatter!
I really loved the video thanks for uploading!
Great point!
How did you settle on 1 1/2' for the bird feeder?
@ Chris Notap, Hi. I thought this experiment was Dope from start to finish I really Enjoyed it it was an eye opener... You can actually see the squirrel thinking trying to work it out Amazing. Thank You. 🐶 PEACE! 🚭
You found quite the hefty boy to test this on. I really didn't think he'd be able to get out of the 2" setup.
Since the shoulders are a non-issue the true bar to the squirrel is can it squeeze its head through. If yes is the answer then it can fit.
Attach a twig at the opening to see if they try to use it as a tool.
If I was betting id say no.
Great work! But did the birds eat from the jar?
Adolescent squirrel: np fam
Recently graduated squirrel: oh uh, this was my future plan
Is there video of the wild bird feeding on the seed?
squirrel: im gonna bring my 2 toddlers here tomorrow.
The young ones won't approach it. They are too cautious.
Excellent idea
I enjoyed this video more then any video i have seen in such a long time! Thanks for making it!
Nothing like a slinky on a vertical tube. Simple, cheap, easy and totaly squirel free!
That is a great tip!
Good to watch at bedtime
Best squirrel proof bird feeder: put out a little bowl with food for the squirrel's a few yards away. They stop focusing on the birdfeeder. Worked for me.
Personally, I'd rather just cut out the birds and feed the squirrels.
No, squirrels are greedy feeders. They eat that food and then go to the bird's. My break- barrel pellet gun has been the only deterrent thus far and that was a last resort.
Now I can see how temptation works. Doesn’t take much,does it?
I'm a squirrel. I will teach my babies to get in there and shove some seeds out! I WILL find a way!
Very genius. I'm looking for a pigeon proof bird feeder for my backyard in Las Vegas where pigeon is a big problem.
The height of the opening was changed, but not the width. I think that's why the squirrel was able to get into such small openings.
*WELL DONE SAYS THE BIRDS!!* *HAHAHA!!*
6:10 Squirrel thinking "I should buy membership for gym"
I think you also made a bird proof bird feeder.
I love your other video of bird feeder cause the squirrel try so hard to get some food
great vid and very interesting!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I bought mine at tractor supply and it works perfect.
The weight of the squirrel closes the doors down.
Squirrel is thinking, “I gotta lay off the nuts. I swear I fit in there yesterday…” 😂 🐿
Nice video, Chris. Have any of this with birds eating ?
You must live in Ontario our backyards sound exactly the same
Does it work with red squirrels and chipmunks? And are the 1/8 “ increments really necessary? And what about the accumulated bird droppings inside the horizontal jar? Is your design worth the extra work and wasted seeds?
This was just a test stand to determine the size of the opening they could not enter. That's why I used 1/8" increments over many days. I wanted to hone right in on the size. Lots of squirrels visited of many sizes. I can now start thinking of a design using bars.
@@chrisnotap, I tried the "Design using Bars", i'd fill the feeder and then go to the bars, by the time i got home i couldn't care less who or what ate the seed👍🏻😉
Aww the squirrel is adoreable 💜
But can the birds get to it?
Question: can birds access this feeder easily?
This was a test stand. I mention that at the start.
@@chrisnotap k.
I have to share a design I came up with many years ago as a kid after much experimenting... just bury a 4" (or wider) PVC pole vertically in the ground, deep enough to support an above ground height of at least 6ft (the higher the better though) . You can mount any kind of platform feeder to a PVC flange and it will slide right on and off the top. You can simply use a stool to reach if you're not tall enough for refilling and cleaning... or make a system to slide the entire pole on and off of another piece of PVC mounted in the ground. This design requires a clear area around the feeder that has nothing a squirrel can jump from. In practicality, you'll eliminate 90% of them from ever getting there even if you only have a 10ft radius, but more is preferable. NO squirrels will get all the way up the pole, and it's easy as pie.
And a fox squirrel just ran past along my windowsill as I typed that dissertation haha 😂
There is no such animal as a squirrel proof bird feeder. They have to be one of the smartest animals on the earth.
it looks like its mostly bird proof too. maybe black capped chickadee but not bluejays or cardinals.
Looks pretty bird proof too ...
This is really cool
Nice Video. Thank you
I see you testing with grey squirrels but what about red squirrels which are a bit smaller
There are no red squirrels in our area at all so testing on one was not possible.
You can also make one.... Away from the trees (or jumping areas), the pole is extending 2 meters above the ground, the circular platform is 1 meter (or more) in diameter.
Even if they climb the pole, they can't jump to the edge of the circular platform.
And no more teasing the squirrels.
What you just described..........is that not teasing also?
@@chrisnotap
I don't think so.
The feeder in the video is very much cruel. It's already in the squirrels' face but still can't reach it. They'll go "nuts" trying to reach those bird feeds.
Even if what I propose is a teaser to them (if you think so) but it won't be a cruel tease.
The bird feeds are too far from their grasp. IF they can't get near it, they might lose interest.
From what I am describing. The feeding platform is out of jumping reach from the trees or any ledge. They may climb the pole but can not reach the platform's edge since they don't have anything to grasp underneath the platform.
Like I say at the start, this is only a test stand to determine the distance they can't enter. Then use that info to make a proper feeder. There is plenty of food naturally in the environment for the squirrels. This is just another stop in the big outdoor buffet!
The programmer in me screamed inside "Do a binary search instead of a linear search for the threshold!"
Just sit it 10ft from a branch and 8ft off the ground. And grease the pole. They can not climb a greased pole. Trying to limit the hole size, only works on older squirrels. Plus it limits the size of bird that can feed.
Now how are some of the birds going to fit?
thanks for the metrics)
I use a live trap and relocate the little bbb's darned if I will spend $$ to feed squirrels. Down side you have to move them a long was off as they can make their way back.
Well done!👍☘️
squirrel: *gets stuck
also squirrel: _what you doing there step bro?_
Like 8 wins for the squirrel 🤩 and 1 win for the human 🤣
And now, you'll get chipmunks!
We do not have chipmunks in our area at all.
@@chrisnotap Oh, you're lucky! Those little Timber Tigers can wipe out a feeder in no time! Between the Squirrels, chipmunks & Grackles, not to mention the birds we're trying to feed, we go through a lot of feed!
Hi have you considered baby squirrels, they are even smaller than your test squirrels. Good luck
Baby squirrels stay on the ground for a while until they get their confidence and bulk up.
You have also designed a way of getting anti flea drops on a squirrel's neck and back. Or a bigger one with thick elastics with flea powder on them for feral cats who are really suffering and infested. I put flea drops on my cat door and my squirrel friend is flea free now. She had been scratching every 2 seconds, all over.
Paying this squirrel for his work in your film.
How did you attach the jar to the wood?
Silicone.
Wow, you're the patient one.
Yeah it sure seems to work but can birds use it.
Wish you just started with 1 1/4 and saved yourself lots of seed.. good luck attracting larger birds to your feeder..
I laughed each time the squirrel attempted to go inside. They are quite smart..
Squirrel gravy is excellentp, as is squirrel and dumplings.