A Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder That Really Works!

Need a squirrel proof bird feeder?

Don't we all!

Sure, squirrels are cute and fun to watch until they become you're worst enemy at your bird feeders!

We've done some searching, and based on 2024 consumer reviews and our own personal testing, the Brome Squirrel Buster Plus is one of the best at deterring squirrels.

"This is a Great Bird Feeder & Squirrel Buster!"

• Denies Squirrels Access By Shutting Down Seed Ports
• Adjustable Spring & Perches To Attract The Birds You Want & Eliminate The Pests You Don't Want At Your Feeder
• Voted Best New Product By Birdwatch America
• No Batteries Required - Reliable & Humane

-> View The Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

And how many times have you've seen pictures of squirrels feasting at squirrel proof feeders?

We need to face reality though.

There is not one squirrel proof feeder in the world that is 100% squirrel proof.

Some squirrels are just too smart, little Einsteins that love the challenge.

But there is a squirrel proof bird feeder that is about 99.9% effective...

Finally, a Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder that Really Works!

How the Squirrel Buster works:

Openings in the bottom section of the feeder align with seed ports providing birds access to the seed.

When a squirrel or large bird lands on the perch, its weight automatically forces the "door" down, closing the seed ports.

Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder Video from Brome

This video from Brome shows birds feeding, squirrels not winning, and a little about the feeder assembly.

Here are some of the Squirrel Buster Plus Feeder features and why bird watchers love it so much:

• Dishwasher Safe : High water temperatures and powerful dish detergents clean and sanitize every bit of your squirrel proof bird feeder.

  Having clean bird feeders helps stop the transmission and spread of disease.

• Adjustable Posi-Grip perch : Squirrel Buster Plus perches are adjustable in length and lock into place. Thick perches and textured surfaces provide a secure and comfortable grip for birds.

  Perches can be shortened to attract small birds such as chickadees and finches while deterring larger birds such as grackles and starlings.

  Perches can also be extended just enough to attract medium sized birds such as grosbeaks and woodpeckers.
• Ventilated: Transparent bird feeder seed tubes are like greenhouses, they trap solar energy.

  The air in Squirrel Buster Plus rises and escapes through unique waterproof vents at the top of the feeder.

  The escaping heated air is vents at the top of the feeder. The escaping heated air is replaced by fresh air entering the bottom of the tube through the seed ports.

  The birdseed remains fresher and attracts more birds. Damp and decaying seed decreases bird traffic and can spread disease.

• Adjustable weight spring: You can increase or decrease the tension of the trigger spring to prevent nuisance birds such as grackles or blackbirds or other pests such as chipmunks from feeding.
• Squirrel Buster Plus with Removable Cardinal Ring: This optional posi-grip ring system has been specifically designed to attract cardinals.

  These perennial favorites have two very distinct features: small necks and big feet.

  They prefer gripping a thick-textured perch and facing their food source directly. Cardinals dislike turning their heads to feed.

  The Squirrel Buster Plus Cardinal Ring perch system allows them to eat facing the seed while providing a secure and comfortable perch.

  These cardinal-friendly feeding features combined with a bush level location make Squirrel Buster Plus very inviting to cardinals.

• No Batteries Required and is Humane to Squirrels : Some other popular squirrel proof bird feeders require batteries that are drained quickly and power is not reliable.

  Also, there is no "shocking" or other direct physical harm to the squirrels, perhaps, just their egos!

• Voted "Best New Product" by the retailers at the Birdwatch America Birding Show

-> View The Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

There are also several models that vary in price.

The latest model is the Brome 1024 which is the one we discuss on this page.

There is also the classic version, a finch model and a mini version, all listed below.

We found many reviews from birders (as below) who raved about this squirrel proof bird feeder because it really does work:

"The squirrels tried for one week and then gave up. It works so well I bough a second one."

We also reviewed the Brome Squirrel Buster Feeders as well as three other brands including the Absolute II, Super Stop-A-Squirrel and the Droll Yankee Flipper in a comparison chart further below.

And here are some additional tips to enhance squirrel-proofness:

• Place your feeder out of reach of squirrels. This may seem obvious but squirrels can jump up to 10 feet to your feeder from trees limbs, fence posts, shed roofs, etc.
  
• Attach a squirrel baffle on pole-mounted feeders to keep squirrels from climbing up from the ground.
  
• If you hang your feeder from a horizontal line, you can place several cut pieces of pvc-type pipe or other plastic tubing over the line which will spin if a squirrel tries to walk on it.
  
• You can also hang your feeder using fishing line which is very thin and makes it difficult for a squirrel to balance and walk on.

We also have found this Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder Pole system to do an excellent job at keeping the squirrels from stealing bird seed by integrating a floating squirrel baffle.

Here is a great article, What Can You Do About Squirrels  (pdf file, opens in new window) from BirdNotes from Sapsucker Woods, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's newsletter.

Where to purchase your Squirrel Buster Plus Feeder?

We found the cheapest price with free shipping here:

 View All Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders

Hope you find your squirrel proof bird feeder to be as effective as others have experienced.

Best Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders Review and Comparison Chart

Trying to find the best squirrel proof bird feeder was driving me nuts - like the squirrels!

So I decided to do some research and review all the features of each model and their pros and cons for 2024.

Believe me - gathering this info wasn't easy, but I hope in the long run it will help you decide which feeder will best suit your needs.

Brome Squirrel Buster Bird Feeder Model Comparison

Brome has several squirrel proof bird feeder models which include their 3 most popular:

• Plus Model
• Classic
• Mini

We compare these models in the below chart.

All the feeders below will hold a variety of bird seed types such as mixes, sunflower seeds, cracked corn, peanut pieces, etc..

Brome is one of the best selling squirrel proof bird feeders and the Squirrel Buster Plus model has won the Best New Product Award from Birdwatch America.

Scroll across the table below to view all Squirrel Buster models.

See the Squirrel Buster Plus

Squirrel Buster Plus Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder Demo

See all Squirrel Buster Models

Nice Feature: All Brome models above have the patented Seed Tube Ventilation System which circulates air to prevent moisture from building up in the seed tube and keeps the seed fresher and helps prevent mold.

They also all come with Brome's Lifetime Hassle-Free Warranty.

In fact, I read a lot of positive reviews of people contacting customer service for spare parts, etc. and were immediately taken care of. Good to know.

Squirrel Buster Plus Review

We have a more extensive review the Plus model here: Squirrel Buster Plus Review.

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Other Top-Rated Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders Comparison:
Absolute II, Squirrel-Be-Gone and Yankee Flipper

Here are other popular squirrel proof bird feeders from other brands including hopper style feeders such as the Heritage Farms Absolute II and the Perky Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone.

Heritage Farms also has the Absolute Original which only has a one-sided feeding area vs 2 sides in the Absolute II model.

Also included in the comparison chart is the Droll Yankee Flipper bird feeder which is another tube feeder like the Brome Squirrel Buster models.

However, unlike the Squirrel Busters, the Yankee Flipper requires batteries to operate the motor which spins the perch when a squirrel presses on it.

Scroll across the table below to view all squirrel proof feeder models: Absolute II, Squirrel Be Gone, and the Yankee Flipper:

Further Squirrel-Proofing Tips: What will keep squirrels away from bird feeders

I've watched some videos of the hopper-style feeders (particularly the Absolute II) where the squirrel braces some of its weight on the pole and manages to keep the feeder open by not pushing down on the perch lever.

Squirrel Baffle

So if you have trouble with squirrels climbing your mounting pole, then attach a squirrel baffle below the feeder to the pole.

If hanging, you can also attach a baffle from above the feeder which should be at least 1/3 larger than the feeder itself, otherwise the squirrels will manage to squirm around the baffle and reach the feeder.

Attaching a slinky and letting it hang the length of your pole is another option.

If you can, it's also best to mount your feeder away from squirrel jumping distances, at least 10 feet from trees or other launching surfaces and 5-7 feet vertically off the ground.

Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder Pole

Here is a great squirrel proof bird feeder pole system with a floating baffle that keeps squirrels from reaching your bird feeders completely.

Finch and Peanut Models

Brome also have a Finch model for Nyjer Seed and a Peanut Plus feeder which holds shelled peanuts or bird food nuggets.

Whatever squirrel-proof bird feeder you choose, I wish you all the best with feeding the birds and not the squirrels! More tips on keeping squirrels out of feeders.

Another final option is to feed the squirrels to keep them away from your feeders with peanuts and corn: Squirrel Feeders.

Additional Bird Feeder Information:

To know what kind of wild bird seed to use in your feeder and attract the species you desire, click here for more info about wild bird food choices or visit our bird feeders main page.

Free Squirrel Feeder Plans - What?! Hear me out...
Feed the squirrels away from your bird feeders as an alternative option to the fight, then perhaps everyone will be happy.

If you do not want to build your own, here are some ready-to-go squirrel feeders.

You can also make your own wrap-around homemade squirrel baffle as double insurance to keep the squirrels off your feeders.

Looking for Brome Squirrel Buster Feeder replacement parts?
Here are a couple of ways to contact Brome for parts:
Email: info@bromebirdcare.com
Phone: Brome's Customer Care (800) 856-5685

Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder FAQs

What is the best squirrel proof bird feeder?

We think the best squirrel proof bird feeder is the Squirrel Buster Plus, but The Absolute II, Super Stop-A-Squirrel and Yankee Flipper are all good runner-ups. You can view the comparison chart of all squirrel proof feeders above.

What kind of bird seed do squirrels not like?

Squirrels are notorious for eating almost any kind of bird seed, but they tend to avoid seeds that are bitter.

Some examples of bird seed that squirrels may not like include safflower seeds, nyjer (thistle) seeds, and white proso millet.

These seeds have a bitter taste that squirrels find unappealing.

Note: Make sure not to get seed mixes with red proso millet because birds do not like it as much as the white.

Also, bird seed coated with hot pepper/capsaicin will deter squirrels as well.

Birds are not affected by capsaicin because they don't have the same nerve endings in their mouths as mammals.

And so far, ornithologists haven't found it to adversely affect birds after ingestion.

However, it's important to note that squirrels are very adaptable and may eventually learn to eat any type of birdseed that is available, especially during the winter when other food sources are less available.

Hot Pepper Bird Seed Keeps Squirrels Away

Get Hot Pepper Bird Seed - Wild Delight Sizzle N' Heat Bird Seed

Will Vaseline keep squirrels off bird feeder?

Not always and it's not good if birds by chance get vasoline on their feathers which would be difficult for them to remove. Install a squirrel baffle on the pole instead.

How do I keep squirrels from climbing my bird feeder?

Use a squirrel baffle to prevent squirrels from climbing the bird feeder pole.

What is the best way to repel squirrels?

Use a combination of a squirrel proof bird feeder with a pole baffle and place the feeder at least 10 feet from trees and other launching surfaces like a deck or roof.

How to keep squirrels off a bird feeder by installing a slinky

Inserting a slinky over your bird feeder pole will make it more challenging for squirrels to climb to your feeder and may deter all but the most determined.

How do you feed birds without attracting squirrels?

If you are feeding birds, you will always attract squirrels. As an alternative you may want to offer them their own squirrel feeder filled with peanuts, cracked corn, seed, and/or dried fruit.

Do squirrels like safflower seeds?

Squirrels are not typically attracted to safflower seeds because they have a bitter taste and are not as oily as other seeds like sunflower seeds.

In fact, many birders use safflower seeds as a way to discourage squirrels and other unwanted animals from eating birdseed.

However, it's important to note that some squirrels may still try to eat safflower seeds if they are very hungry, especially during the winter months when food sources are limited.

So if you want to feed birds without attracting squirrels, using safflower seeds in your bird feeders may be a good option.

View All Safflower Seeds