Yankee Flipper Squirrel Proof Birdfeeder Review

If you're like me and you like to feed the birds that flock to your yard, you'll clench your teeth along with me when I say that one word.  The one word that is synonymous with bird-feeding that plagues us all. 

Squirrels.

They're cute, they're furry, but they are birdseed hogs and will stop only when they have gobbled every last seed in your yard and then they will walk up to your back door, knock on it, and look at you like "Hey!  You gonna fill up that feeder again for me?"

Earlier this year while watching The Victory Garden I saw a story about the ultimate squirrel-proof bird feeder and I am happy to report that it truly is squirrel proof.  And very entertaining as well.  It is called the Yankee Flipper which is made by a company called Droll Yankees.  I got it for my husband for Valentine's Day.  He's really hard to buy for but he loves feeding birds, watching birds, anything bird related and it was the perfect gift.

The Yankee Flipper is quite heavy and is made from quality materials.  The structure is made of stainless steel and the clear tube is made from UV protected polycarbonate.  It holds a whopping four quarts of seed so when it is completely full it must be hung from a heavy duty shepherd hook. 

Before using it for the first time, the bottom part of the feeder must be charged.  Yep, there's a motor inside.  When it is fully charged you just hook the bottom part back onto the feeder, fill it, hang it, and watch the show.  When small birds land on the circular perch they can easily stick their little heads into the feeding ports in the side of the feeder.  They can eat in peace and not be bothered by heavy birds or squirrels.

How can that be?  Well, that's easy.  When something heavier than a cardinal or robin lands on the perch wheel it triggers the weight activated motor and the perch spins around very quickly and flings the squirrel off of the perch.  So the small birds can eat in peace and if the squirrel should grab ahold of the wheel he goes for a ride and is not allowed the opportunity to stick his head into the feeder like it's a pig trough and gorge himself.  Now when he flies off of the feeder it does cause some of the seed to spill out of the feeder and onto the ground however the squirrels have learned that shimmying up the shepherd hook, jumping onto the feeder, and flying off involves more effort than it's worth so they pretty much stay away now.

At about $100 this product is quite pricey but totally worth it for the entertainment value alone. I work from home and love to glance out the window from time to time to see a squirrel being flinged off into the bushes.  It makes my day.  There is a nicad battery inside and it comes with a battery charger that does not need to be used very often.  My Flipper has been in regular use since February and has yet to need a recharge.  The Flipper is also very long which makes it impossible for squirrels to hang down from the top of the feeder and scoop seed out of the ports.

Go to yankeeflipper.com to see a video of the Yankee Flipper in action.  You'll thank me for the big belly laugh.