I made one and it's awesome I covered up the top so nothing can come down through it and my woodpeckers wrens chickadees love it thank you thank you thank you
Love your videos. They are extremely helpful! Could you show us your feeder set up and how it is squirrel proof? I would love to make something similar. Unfortunately we have a ton of squirrels
This is a good plan, and I don't think birds other than nuthatches or woodpeckers can walk up wood. The only thing that worries me is the sharp wire mesh that could cut the birds or catch their eye. You can either use car door edge guards or you could even use plastic film instead wire mesh with car door edge guards (or equivalent).
I have one of them wildbirdsunlimited cylinder suet log with small metal top and had no problems with starlings until this week. Wondering how I could do this ?
Good job with the video. You've given me an idea for a way I might go as I try to Starling-proof one of the my feeders. Do you have a squirrel problem? I'm thinking this might keep them out as well..
Yes I used to have a squirrel problem. This design might help a bit, but I do know squirrels can climb straight up tree bark. Thanks for the idea, maybe I will do a video on repelling squirrels.
What would prevent them from entering from the opening at the top of the fencing? This could be easily covered with another piece of fencing if necessary. Thanks for your video.
The starlings I've had gorging at my feeder are much more flappy and clumsy with their wings when around the suet feeder to be able to negotiate the hardware clothe. If it didn't prevent them, it sure would slow them down. The confined space would also prevent them from using their wings and movement to bully the other birds.
Can't gray squirrels climb up the wood to access the suet? If you use a longer 2x4 and add a baffle below the feeder that should keep the squirrels out.
Some other birds that can climb straight up tree trunks, such as nuthatches and brown creepers, can access the food. Besides that, I have seen some small wrens and chickadees come from the top of the feeder, but it’s pretty rare that they do.
What a amazing idea I live in the highlands of Scotland and I have trouble with starling eating all the food I have four woodpeckers come and the starlings bully them I am going to try this absolutely great idea Thankyou for sharing you are very clever
Alternatively, if/when starlings are a problem a) use an upside down suet cake feeder, either a fancy pants one with a roof or, if using off-the-shelf prepared cakes, just keep them in the plastic tray they come in and place upside down in a regular suet cage. Or else use a log suet feeder hung/mounted on a tilt. I like to film birds on my feeders and enclosing it with wire mesh would be no good for that.
@@pipgirl7352 You're welcome. If you make suet cakes yourself you can also use the base one of those single-sandwich snack boxes turned up side down. As for log suet feeders - if using natural logs it's best to remove the bark and avoid logs that are too gnarly so that starlings, and other nuisance birds, can't get a grip so easily. You can also hang them up-side down i.e. horizontally with holes only on the underside.
My feeder setup as a whole is squirrel proof, this feeder individually is not squirrel proof. Without the pole set-up they could get in. Hate squirrels too.
I will feel bad if I have to watch the other birds don't be able to eat what they want. I just put the feeders for who wants to eat. Love all the beautiful angels of God.
I would prefer to feed all of the birds, but the starlings are an exception. They are not native to my area, they were originally from Europe. The main issue is that they are so competitive to get food, they sometimes kill other birds in the process. I’d rather the starlings find food elsewhere than to risk the native bird’s lives.
Starlings are an invasive, introduced species to North America. They will steal woodpecker’s nests and kill them to take the nest. They are also a pain at the feeder because they are so aggressive that they will bully and possibly injure other birds at the feeder to get to the food.
We built two this past weekend, starlings came in from the top. Just jumped in and started eating. We'll take them down and block the top and see how that goes. On the positive side, so far no house sparrows!
@@kmmcdan; I was successful with detering house sparrows by using Nyjer seed and safflower seed, but suet is going to attract starlings and sparrows and that contraption isn't going to stop them.
@@jvcyt298 I temporarily blocked the top with zip ties and had no more trouble for the day. I do think it will deter them. I had a different setup last year that worked great for starlings. But it will not work for house sparrows which we weren't dealing with until recently. With the right setup they can be thwarted.
For a kid without real shop tools you did great!!
Thanks Carson! I just made one and so far no starlings can get at the suet! 😏
That's awesome!
Thank you, Carson! That's a wonderful idea! 😊
This was great! Blackbirds clean out 2 suet cakes in under 24 hours! Not after tonight!!!
Glad it worked for you!
I made one and it's awesome I covered up the top so nothing can come down through it and my woodpeckers wrens chickadees love it thank you thank you thank you
No problem! Glad it worked for you 🐦
Does it keep out the house sparrows as well?
I was wondering about that open top design…Starlings are smart and will go down it eventually…Good call on that idea
Great video!
Thank you!
Very cool. I'm going to build one tomorrow. Thanks.... Gil from Texas
Glad I could help!
Thank you for sharing.
Love your videos. They are extremely helpful! Could you show us your feeder set up and how it is squirrel proof? I would love to make something similar. Unfortunately we have a ton of squirrels
Thanks for the idea! Will do
This is a good plan, and I don't think birds other than nuthatches or woodpeckers can walk up wood. The only thing that worries me is the sharp wire mesh that could cut the birds or catch their eye. You can either use car door edge guards or you could even use plastic film instead wire mesh with car door edge guards (or equivalent).
That could happen, but I have never seen it happen so far with this design - good idea though!
Great idea!
Thanks!
I have one of them wildbirdsunlimited cylinder suet log with small metal top and had no problems with starlings until this week. Wondering how I could do this ?
Cool, although in many parts of the UK we have the highly invasive grey squirrel which is a challenge and where this solution would easily fail
Yes, this feeder is meant to stop starlings not squirrels.
Good job with the video. You've given me an idea for a way I might go as I try to Starling-proof one of the my feeders.
Do you have a squirrel problem? I'm thinking this might keep them out as well..
Yes I used to have a squirrel problem. This design might help a bit, but I do know squirrels can climb straight up tree bark. Thanks for the idea, maybe I will do a video on repelling squirrels.
Baffles are the best way to keep squirrels off your feeders, now if I could just get them to stop digging up my garden.
They dig in my garden too. One thing that I’ll do is put a floating row cover over beds that haven been established yet.
Fabulous
Thanks!
What would prevent them from entering from the opening at the top of the fencing? This could be easily covered with another piece of fencing if necessary. Thanks for your video.
They can’t get in that way
They sometimes get in that way, but it’s not very comfortable to feed in that confined space.
The starlings I've had gorging at my feeder are much more flappy and clumsy with their wings when around the suet feeder to be able to negotiate the hardware clothe. If it didn't prevent them, it sure would slow them down. The confined space would also prevent them from using their wings and movement to bully the other birds.
Do you get starlings I do and no matter what I can't get rid of them
I used to have more starlings, but after building this feeder that stops them from eating the suet I have seen far less, and none on most days.
Can't gray squirrels climb up the wood to access the suet? If you use a longer 2x4 and add a baffle below the feeder that should keep the squirrels out.
Hi, I'm new so dont laugh, but can other smaller birds eat from this also? Loved the video!
Some other birds that can climb straight up tree trunks, such as nuthatches and brown creepers, can access the food. Besides that, I have seen some small wrens and chickadees come from the top of the feeder, but it’s pretty rare that they do.
@@carsonsbackyardgarden7135 Thank you!
What a amazing idea I live in the highlands of Scotland and I have trouble with starling eating all the food I have four woodpeckers come and the starlings bully them I am going to try this absolutely great idea Thankyou for sharing you are very clever
Thank you for the comment! Hope it works well for you!
@@karenfiskel920time for the pellet gun .
Does this work for house sparrows? They can be just as bad and the small size let's them get into caged feeders easy
House sparrows cannot access this feeder!
excellent...... Did you see my video on this? Just wondering....I did the same thing
Yes I saw your video. That were I got the idea. I just wanted a little more freedom of where I could put the feeder, instead of directly on the post.
@@carsonsbackyardgarden7135 ..fantastic glad it had worked for you
Alternatively, if/when starlings are a problem a) use an upside down suet cake feeder, either a fancy pants one with a roof or, if using off-the-shelf prepared cakes, just keep them in the plastic tray they come in and place upside down in a regular suet cage. Or else use a log suet feeder hung/mounted on a tilt. I like to film birds on my feeders and enclosing it with wire mesh would be no good for that.
I agree - great alternatives!
THANK YOU. This is an awesome suggestion!! I will try this :D
@@pipgirl7352 You're welcome. If you make suet cakes yourself you can also use the base one of those single-sandwich snack boxes turned up side down. As for log suet feeders - if using natural logs it's best to remove the bark and avoid logs that are too gnarly so that starlings, and other nuisance birds, can't get a grip so easily. You can also hang them up-side down i.e. horizontally with holes only on the underside.
my house sparrows and starlings fly like hummingbirds and use all upside down feeders and logs lol
Why leave it open at the top? The squirrels will love this top opening.
This is only a starling proof feeder. My bird feeder is squirrel proof as a whole. A video will be coming out soon explaining my feeder set-up.
I believe there is a suit feeder placed inside that is squirrel proof, looks like he hangs it on the board.
Do you not believe in using a power saw?
No other birds could get to this?
Only woodpeckers and other tree clinging birds, such as nuthatches and creepers
Your setup doesn't look squirrel-proof, I don't let those little devils get near my feeders.
My feeder setup as a whole is squirrel proof, this feeder individually is not squirrel proof. Without the pole set-up they could get in. Hate squirrels too.
bob
Too much work, I would rather just buy what you made
Haha thanks. It is a lot of work to make, but less work than dealing with starlings!
I will feel bad if I have to watch the other birds don't be able to eat what they want. I just put the feeders for who wants to eat. Love all the beautiful angels of God.
I would prefer to feed all of the birds, but the starlings are an exception. They are not native to my area, they were originally from Europe. The main issue is that they are so competitive to get food, they sometimes kill other birds in the process. I’d rather the starlings find food elsewhere than to risk the native bird’s lives.
@@carsonsbackyardgarden7135 Good for you Sweet Mary, but I agree with Carson.
Why not feed all the birds???
Starlings are an invasive, introduced species to North America. They will steal woodpecker’s nests and kill them to take the nest. They are also a pain at the feeder because they are so aggressive that they will bully and possibly injure other birds at the feeder to get to the food.
@@carsonsbackyardgarden7135 Thanks for explaining:)
You’re welcome! Thanks for leaving a comment! :)
If you feed starlings, you’d go broke in a week. #Pigs
@@carsonsbackyardgarden7135they also kill baby birds in nests . Like Cardinals,bluebirds ,wrens and chickadees.
It's not Starling proof, the only way to keep starlings off your feeders is to trap them and kill them. the only good starling is a dead one.
I do that too, but I can’t post videos of me killing starlings to UA-cam. I have not seen a starling use this feeder all winter. It works really well.
We built two this past weekend, starlings came in from the top. Just jumped in and started eating. We'll take them down and block the top and see how that goes. On the positive side, so far no house sparrows!
@@kmmcdan; I was successful with detering house sparrows by using Nyjer seed and safflower seed, but suet is going to attract starlings and sparrows and that contraption isn't going to stop them.
@@jvcyt298 I temporarily blocked the top with zip ties and had no more trouble for the day. I do think it will deter them. I had a different setup last year that worked great for starlings. But it will not work for house sparrows which we weren't dealing with until recently. With the right setup they can be thwarted.
I have a baffle perfectly placed at the top of mine. This has been the best starling proof feeder so far. Love it!
Thats so mean. The starling is hungry.