The easy way to feed your wild birds — hang it once, enjoy it for days

Absolutely, if they can access the cylinder feeder! There are a few options to help keep squirrels from eating your seed cylinders.

 1. Use the seed cylinders that contain hot pepper. These have ingredients that are thoroughly coated with hot pepper. All but the most desperate squirrels won't eat them, since mammals have the receptors to feel the burn from the pepper. Birds lack these receptors and happily eat the hot pepper-saturated foods. Be sure to wash your hands after handling these cylinders and keep them away from children and pets. Not into using hot pepper? Try using an all-safflower cylinder instead. Squirrels tend to avoid the tough-shelled bitter seeds, as do soft-billed invasive European starlings, while cardinals, grosbeaks, chickadees, woodpeckers, and many other songbirds really enjoy it!

2. Use a barrier guard or squirrel defeater feeder. These are caged feeders that allow small songbirds through (eastern bluebirds and smaller) but keep the squirrels out. Erva barrier guard feeders have the additional benefit of keeping invasive European starlings at bay, as the wider feeder width keeps them from reaching the prize in the center!

3. Use pole systems with baffles mounted 4-4.5' above the ground surface to keep squirrels and raccoons off your feeders. It is good practice to place feeder poles 8-10' away from anything a squirrel could jump off from.

Every cylinder has a center hole that fits any standard cylinder feeder rod or hanging hook. Already have one? You're set. Need one? Both bundles include a feeder.

In an active yard, most last a few days to 2 weeks. Cylinders can vanish in a day during fledgling seasons and in the winter as that is when they need the most food. Hot-pepper varieties last longer since squirrels tend to skip them.

Our cylinders are bound together with either animal or vegetable gelatin. They hold up well in light rain; however, they will fare much better with a cylinder feeder with a roof for heavy rain or snow.

No feeder yet? The Best of Everything Bundle is the complete starter setup. Already have a rod feeder? The Variety 4-Pack lets your local birds pick their favorite flavor before you buy in bulk.