Bird table squirrel baffle

3.0 out of 5

22

Worked perfectly for the first year, but now looking like only a matter of time before it fails

Two problems. Anything more than a moderate wind and the baffle acts like a sail, blowing the bird table over. Fixed with some bungee elastic and tent.pegs, so now it bounces back.

The main problem now is there's a squirrel - probably only one as it's a recent thing - that's in playing the long game and every time we look he's there, chewing at the edge. He's taken a good centimetre off in one place. Apart from looking terrible, it's only matter of time before it's too small to work.

Some squirrels worked out how to jump of this onto the table after several months. They also chew at the plastic bracket in frustration so I’ve added spikes around this.

I took the top off my bird house as I think it is easier than fixing the baffle upside down.
Fitted just below the top as advised on the instructions and it is working a treat.
My squirrels can’t be as persistent as other reviewers as they don’t even attempt to eat the birds food now.
Happy Days. Well done RSPB another win for our feathered friends.

First couple of times confused the squirrels but they soon sussed out how to bounce off it or over it onto the bird table, so not fit for the purpose or value for money.

Unfortunately despite trying this at a variety of different heights, the pesky squirrels in my garden worked out a way to jump on to it and onto the table. I’m pretty sure they are laughing at me and my efforts to deter them.

This is marvellous. I don't know whether our problem was squirrels or rats, but a full table of food used to disappear overnight. The effect of the baffle was immediate. The bird food now lasts a good couple of days and we have a lovely procession of tits, goldfinches, blackbirds and robins enjoying the food. Good, solid construction and very easy to attach.

This is a well-designed item and if your table post is within the dimensions mentioned you should be happy with it like me. Because the size has a couple of options for different posts it takes a moment to screw it together but it wasn't difficult and the squirrels are completely foxed.

I purchased this item in good faith , installed it as instructed but after just one day during a spell of strong wind the central disc detached itself from the baffle. I refitted it but hours later the same thing occured. There is a serious design fault with this product. The clips on the Central disc are just not deep enough. I have overcome this issue by drilling 4 thin holes and inserting a 4 narrow nuts and bolts. This should not have been necessary. However , my modifications have proved successful and the baffle is now back in place and working as intended.

My bird table has a post less than 6 cm square, despite this the fixings were impossible to put in place. We have had to file notches in the post, which is not ideal, in order to attach the baffle. The baffle itself seems to be of good quality, as to how effective it is I cannot comment yet, having just put it on. I suggest the maximum size of post needs altering on your advert or the fixings do. This is why I cannot recommend it as some people may not be able to make the adjustments.

Our experience has been exactly the same as Ian's (see 27/8/18).
The baffle was brilliant for over a year, but the squirrels have now learnt they can jump from the table post and cling to the edge.
A diameter of 52cm is simply not enough.

Now got these on two feeder posts. Squirrels CANNOT get past them however hard they try, We've now gone from 8-10 squirrels in the garden all day to 2 or 3 occasionally - Saving us a fortune in bird food already, AND as the squirrels are no longer in the garden for the high-protein nuts, our apples and other fruit/veg are not being taken.
FANTASTIC product, EXCELLENT value, EASY to put up, FUN to watch the squirrels try and try, and FAIL!!!!!

Finally found a Squirrel deterrent that fits a square pole in a bird table.
Great product & prompt delivery.

This worked initially but in just over a month it has been rendered useless The squirrels chewed through the plastic bracket underneath the baffle . This needs to be more robust and as a minimum these parts should be available separately to order. Complete waste of money for me

This does not fit the Adjust-table Bird table.
Had to return for refund.

I still haven't got the item. We ordered it several weeks ago when it was out of stock, the in stock date keeps getting put back.

It looks good in the pictures. I'm hoping to receive it one day soon. By that time all my bird feed may have been eaten by the squirrels.

Unfortunately this doesn't work. It kept the squirrels off for some months but then one day a squirrel was sitting on the table. I moved the table to ensure they couldn't jump across to it but no luck. Initially it seemed to be one squirrel that was smart enough, buyt not for long. The less agile squirres have now chewed all around the edge reducing the diameter (not by much) sufficiently that they can climb past it

I received my baffle yesterday and easily installed it on my new RSPB table. Its to keep my annoying cat off, who climbed up to eat the seeds!! So far so good. Strong construction, easily fitted without disturbing the table. Its a bit of a nuisance putting tiny screws in upside down!!!

Excellent value. Many thanks

I tried spikes on the 50mm square wooden post that supports my bird table and the squirrels kept finding a way through. Having lost that battle I researched online and chose this as it appeared to be the best alternative for specification, appearance and price.

The baffle and bracket are well made and easy to fit to the pole without having to take the pole, base and bird table apart. The fact that it sits loosely on top of on the bracket and tilts when the squirrel reaches out to the rim from underneath means they struggle to get a good grip and enough purchase to climb up the sloping baffle. My squirrels did try biting the rim in frustration with limited success and did also chew the post a bit.

I initially fitted the baffle about 8cm below the base of the table and had fun watching the squirrels grab the rim and do double back-flips off when the baffle tilted. This went on for a few days with multiple squirrels and multiple attempts and then one of them managed to get to the edge of the table and clamber on. Once learned he/she could repeat this with a bit of effort.

I then moved the baffle to about 12cm from the underside of the table to make the gap to the table from the rim a bit bigger and that worked. I have now had more than 10 days with a squirrel free bird table and they appear to have given up trying. I did also get some 1.5mm galvanised wire and made a few spikes on the post just under the baffle to deter them from trying to attack the bracket, which is made of fairly dense and chunky plastic. Not sure if it helped; they have did have a chew at the post, but no marks on the bracket.

If it wasn't for the tilting action it would need to have a much bigger diameter to work. My post was 50mm square. It might not work so well if the post was greater than about 60mm square as it would not tilt as well.

Overall, I think it is well designed, well made and worth the price.

The main benefit was this hid the feeder from view from ground level. Experience says it needs to be mounted at least 5' above ground other wise they can jump over it. Ours was mounted at 3' 6"""" above ground and so all it succeeded in doing was to provide a feeding platform. Am going to try chilli powder next!

RSPB RESPONSE: Thank you for your review, our testing showed the baffle as being effective at stopping most squirrels on RSPB bird tables. The baffle should be fitted as high up as possible, just under the feeding platform.

The write up for this product claims it will fit posts up to 7cm square.
This is not the case, even the instructions say it will only fit posts up to
6cm square. I have had to cut the post about and cannot use the supports supplied as the screws are not long enough. Quality of product is ok though.

RSPB response: Thank you for your review, the website recommends posts of 6cm x 6cm which should fit table posts of this size. We will pass on your comments to the supplier with regard to the screws.

Have had the baffle up for a month now. Easy to fit onto an rspb bird table and very effective at stopping squirrels get to the table. They tried very hard initially but failed completely and have now given up so the birds have the food to themselves - great result!

The quality is fine, seems fairly robust, design of screws and screw covers on the main part of the baffle are fiddly but it does the job. It does fit a 7cm by 7cm square post but the support for the baffle does not using the bolts supplied, they are just not long enough. I managed by substituting cable ties until I can find longer fine bolts!