Quote Originally Posted by dsiegel5151 View Post
Bob, thanks, I assume you were talking to me (it's Dustin by the way). I actually gave up on Woodpecker feeders. The morning after I set them up I went outside and there were two squirrels on every one! This is unfortunate b/c I see a lot of woodpeckers in my yard. I also saw a fat Eastern Towhee today. I thought this was odd at first until I checked my bird book. Apparently they are permanent occupiers of southeast Missouri. This is my first winter in southeast Missouri so I thought that was kind of neat.

Dustin,

I have "a million" squirrels on my property and they love just about any kind if bird food EXCEPT safflower seed. I have chased them away from my platform feeder so much that now all I have to do is rattle the door knob and they run. Of course they eat up while I'm at work.

For my suet cages I use skinny metal "shepherd pole" type hangers and baffles. Sometimes, for fun, I spray the pole with vegetable oil.

Also make sure they are at least 10 feet from anything the squirrels could jump from.

Squirrel are amazing in what they can do to get to the food, some people just recommend feeding them as well just to keep them off the bird food.

Don't give up though, the woodpeckers are worth it.

Joel