Stokes Select 38002 Squirrel Proof Tube Feeder

 (6 customer reviews)

I have the same bird feeder but purchased from Tractor Supply Co. at a lower price. In any case, one reviewer astutely pointed out the Achilles Heel of this product as being the vulnerability of the little plastic lock to the top cap that slides up and down one side of the hanger. I noticed that our squirrels had started to chew through this on mine as well, but hadn't finished the job. Well, it should be a no-brainer that you just can't make stuff that's allegedly squirrel-proof out of plastic. The designers should have known this, unless they're counting on you buying a new one after the squirrels get into the one you have by chewing through the lock and diving into the seed from the top of the seed container.

However, there's a simple solution that should take care of this problem. Get yourself two metal key rings; the ones I used measure about 1 inch across. Attach one on one side of the metal hanger, the other one on the other side. Then get two small padlocks...Read more

The very persistent squirrels in my yard tried for weeks to beat this feeder, and couldn't. They climbed up the pole and were all over it, upside and down...chewed the metal top (all they got was a little paint), and could not get in. I'm not sure the little rubber "lock" on top is really necessary...the metal lid on mine fits so tight to the tube, I have to pop it off with a trowel, which is fine by me. I use this as a peanut feeder (shelled, split halves) and have lots of downy woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches, and chickadees, two feet from my living room window. I had to give it 4 stars instead of 5, though, because as another reviewer said, the bottom doesn't detatch for cleaning. Vinegar and a bottle brush do the trick, but it does take longer to do and it's a bit tricky getting in the crevices at the bottom.

I have some other squirrel-proof feeders, including the Yankee Flipper and the Brome Squirrel Buster Plus, and while they all work for me, this one is a...Read more

If you don't mind how this looks... it's the best bird feeder EVER for small song birds. Chickadees and goldfinches LOVE it. Alot of people tease about it's appearance... but if you want to feed the bird and not the squirrels this is the winner. I have had it pulled down from the tree a few times (likely from a raccoon or other large animal) but it wasn't damaged at all. I LOVE THIS FEEDER. Only downside is that it doesn't come apart for cleaning so you have to use a long bottle brush to get it really clean.