Okay, it's NOT a crossbow at all... but doesn't it look like one?
There were bird feeders hanging from the screen room when I bought the house, and my dogs took great delight in chasing the squirrels that were always on them. When I demolished the screen room, I had to figure out a new place to put bird feeders. The back fence line seemed the best place.
I decided that dealing with high-up bird feeders required pulleys. My ten-foot post now has three pulley-equipped arms... two feeders, one suet cake. We'll see if the squirrel baffle does any good.
I used:
10’ long pressure-treated 4x4
Woodlink Wrap Around Squirrel Baffle designed to wrap around and secure to the 4x4” vertical
Three black wall hook plant brackets - Ocean State Job Lot has a good affordable selection
Six small pulleys
Three small cleats
1/8” black paracord - also got mine at Ocean State Job Lot
Three tiny S-Biners to clip the feeders to the rope… I like being able to snap them off quickly without having to fuss with knots, especially in the winter when my fingers are freezing.
Zip ties or wire wrap to connect the pulleys to the wall hooks
Assorted bird feeders
Black spray paint
There are probably rust- and corrosion-resistant alternatives for the pulleys and cleats… but I was putting this together as a proof of concept. Maybe when it rusts out I’ll search harder for different products. (Update May 2021… everything still holding strong!)
