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Build Your Own Weight-Activated Feeder

We have a number of feeders in our backyard, but squirrels and blue jays monopolize them to the detriment of chickadees and other small birds. As a bit of a tinkerer, I decided to try to devise a small feeder for the exclusive use of these smaller birds.

It came to me that what was required was a feeder with some sort of door, one that would remain open for the smaller birds but close for anything heavier. With this in mind, I devised a small hopper-type feeder with only one side for the birds to feed from, rather than the traditional two sides. To this I added a movable arm on either side of the feeder attached to a door with a U-shaped hinge. I installed the feeder on a one-inch metal pole just outside our kitchen window and waited for the results.

It worked even better than we expected. The blue jays, ever inquisitive, were the first to try the feeder. What a shock! The moment one landed on the front bar or the side arms, the door of course went down, and the jay took off like a shot.

Next, a squirrel shot up the pole and then made it to the top of the feeder. To get at the food he had to get under the door, so he leaned down and of course put his foot on the lever; this action immediately closed the door. All the squirrels around have now tried to get at the feeder without success, and as long as other food is available, they no longer bother it.

Sparrows have also had a go at the feeder, but, being sparrows, they mob it, with the same lack of success. One sparrow may get a few seeds, but more than one and the door closes. The individual-minded chickadees, however, use the feeder successfully and regularly.

I did encounter a problem when dampness caused the screws to bind. I remedied this by enlarging the holes and where possible using some kind of bushing; I used plastic drinking straws.

The accompanying sketch illustrates my feeder, which is approx. six by eight inches, and about ten inches high. I imagine, however, that any size could be built with the proper materials.