It is so common that forest animals settle near human territories. Of course, in such "crowded" places it is difficult to find any food, because the presence of people negates the natural feeding area of animals. In such difficult cases, there is only one way out - to show mercy and begin to feed the poor animals.
What a beast
Not so long ago, this species began to conquer residential areas. Everything is subject to them: the earth, and heights, and trees. They surprise with their mercy. So what kind of animals are these? And here it is about proteins.
These red lumps of wool move to the city. Yes, small rodents are increasingly found in parks than in forests. This trend is easily explained. Neighborhood with a person can bring some advantages. For example, an additional source of food. Watching how the protein eats is a real pleasure. This entertainment is not only for children, but also for all adults. That is why many indifferent people begin to care for animals. But how and how can the above rodents be helped? The answer is just around the corner.
What you need for happiness
The only thing squirrels need for happiness is food and shelter. The rest is the little things that the rodent itself can take care of. That is why many "green" volunteers are building a kind of house.
Squirrel Feeder? Why not? It is necessary to help nature. In addition, the equipped place for food will help not only the squirrels themselves, the feeder can serve as a wonderful decoration and a living corner in any yard or park.
Relevance
A permanent place to receive food is the key to the survival of the population of any animals, including protein. Indeed, in urban conditions it is impossible to make large reserves. The presence of feed and a roof, especially in winter, can significantly change the life of an animal for the better.
Therefore, the placement of feeders is always relevant. But in this case there is no need to overdo it. Squirrels should not spill. It is worth remembering that top dressing is just an emergency exit.
Buy or make
A squirrel feeder is a fairly widespread commodity. Lodges can be found anywhere. Any pet store sells a product of this type. The issue of price. Of course, original feeders made of natural materials are accordingly expensive. But if there is a desire to help, you can’t retreat.
With a small budget, there are few options and no choice. But still, there should be at least some sort of
feeder for squirrels. With your own hands you can make a good copy. It is pretty simple. The main thing is patience and accuracy.
Material requirement
First of all, you need to choose the materials from which a squirrel feeder will be built in the near future. Raw materials should not be selected offhand. Otherwise, the construction may not benefit the animal, but rather harm. It is important that the materials for the manufacture of the feeder do not have any toxicity. For example, wood should be used in its purest form.
Without paint and varnishing is a prerequisite. It is advisable to select a natural basis: wood, clay, straw, resin, cardboard and so on. On the contrary, harmful types of plastic and galvanized iron should be avoided . Proper material selection will ensure continued success of the feeder. Indeed, sharp smells or toxins can scare the animal and forever discourage the desire to come to human buildings.
Feeder drawing
Any home-made construction is best to start with the image of a drawing. Original feeding troughs requiring skillful finishing are not built without a plan at all. So, first you need to prepare the materials. For this feeder you will need: thirty-centimeter-thick wooden boards, nails or screws, sandpaper, a glass jar, a ruler and a saw.
As you can see, all this can be found in any garage, so you can not plan large costs for the project. First, consider the question of size and shape. The squirrel feeder will have an almost standard look. Four walls, a floor, a ceiling and a small extension in front. The result is a box with an elongated bottom, on which the bank will be located. Why is it needed? The fact is that open-type feeders have such a property as easy accessibility. Food can easily be stolen by birds; insects will settle in it. A glass jar somewhat complicates the theft process, so top dressing can take place as intended.
DIY squirrel feeder
Theory first, now practice. Where to start? Probably from cutting boards. A peculiar house should have such dimensions: forty-five centimeters long, twenty-five centimeters wide, twenty centimeters high. The resulting bars must be collected together. But do not rush. This design has a feature: a ledge-porch.
Its length will correspond to the length of the jar. So, consider this important point. The result was a small “deaf” box with a ledge. Now you need to make small holes, which, in fact, will serve as an entrance. There will be two of them in total. The first exit can be cut out in any place you like, but not from the "veranda". The stroke diameter should not exceed ten centimeters. The second hole should fit exactly the can opening. When the passages are done, there is only one thing left: to fix the glass element.
So, without spending a lot of effort and money, you can do a wonderful thing that will save many squirrels from hunger.
Second way
A plastic bottle squirrel feeder is common in many parks. Children often hang it. The advantages are simple: low cost, ease of manufacturing and mass. That is why the plastic option is chosen by many novice craftsmen. But this model has its drawbacks. This is a relatively small durability. Plastic feeders do not survive even the winter. Weather conditions spoil them greatly. Well, be that as it may, such products have a place to be. To make a plastic feeder, you need a five-liter bottle, a rope and an office knife. The scheme of actions is simple to impossibility. First, build a small entrance. An unusually carved square will serve them. It is important that this hole is not high from the bottom of the bottle. Otherwise, the squirrels will not be able to get food and will just fall into the feeder. And this is not entirely good. So, the entrance should be approximately five to nine centimeters from the bottom of the structure. On the reverse side, you should make four holes so that their location resembles a square. What are they for? These holes will serve as mounts. Two skeins of rope will pass through them, which, in turn, will wrap around a tree trunk. That's almost all done. There was one small trifle left, namely to process the cut sides. To do this, make small cuts in the corners and bend the resulting parts. So the proteins will be easier to stand on the feeder, and besides, sharp plastic will not be able to scratch the paws.
Design approach
You always need to approach problem solving with a soul. Especially when it comes to any products made by yourself. And if they are going to decorate a park or a public garden, then a good design becomes a matter of honor. Many photo feeders can suggest attractive ideas. For example, in the same design. The feeder can be imagined in kind. That is, overlay its surface with pieces of bark. Such a modified house will look much more interesting than boring wooden blocks. Any children's toy or squirrel image can become a logo of the feeding trough. To make it clear to all rhinestones who lives here and who eats here. It is also worth considering the “infrastructure”. Near the feeder, you can build all sorts of wheels for running, carousels, swings and stairs. They will amuse any animal. Finding really useful photo feeders on the Internet is not so difficult. And the selected ideas can significantly change the appearance of the house-feeder.
Pressing issue
How to make a feeding trough is one question. We figured it out. How to feed protein in winter? Firstly, there should always be food in the feeder. It will help squirrels survive cold and hungry winters. The house should have fruits and vegetables. This is one of the main types of food for feeding. Apples, carrots, cabbage, bananas - all this can be easily obtained at any store, and small rodents also like it. What else to feed protein in winter? Solid food should also be present in the feeder. These include various kinds of nuts and grains. For example, protein can be fed with walnuts, chopped peas, beans, peanuts, sunflower seeds and others. It is highly discouraged to give proteins any baked goods. Especially white bread. It is also forbidden to use any sweets and, as it turned out, mushrooms. In general, when feeding protein, you should adhere to one main rule: that everything is fresh. Then the animals will be healthy and well fed, and the feeder will be a success.
The house-feeder is not such a complicated construction. To do this, you do not need to spend a lot of effort and money. But the benefits brought by such a noble deed will not go unnoticed.