A bird in a squirrel-proof feeder.
- Credit: Alamy/PA
“Squirrels can chew through plastic ports, so we would recommend you use metal feeders, rather than plastic ones,” Matthew agrees.
What about birdseed?
You’re best off with a ‘no waste’ seed mix, says Rachel, which will help deter pigeons and squirrels from picking up the discarded husks which smaller birds deposit on to the ground. You can buy huskless seeds and sunflower hearts.
“De-husked varieties will be more expensive, but you get what you pay for. Reputable companies which sell good quality seed mixes won’t pack them full of wheat or maize. And using de-husked varieties means that birds don’t lose time trying to get to the nutrients,” says Rachel.