Tell the truth!!

There are specially manufactured mounts for bird feeders. While Lowes and Home Depot may very well sell what you're looking for, I'd suggest a pet supply store, or a shop that specializes in wild bird feeding supplies. Here's one in Covington:
 
http://www.wildbird.com/franchisee/cov/home
 
 

Thanks Michael, I started calling small nurseries in the area, and was referred to another patio and garden center, waiting for a call back. 

I've hung bird feeders anywhere from four feet to 20 feet and had birds come.  The only trouble is if you have squirrels, as they'll eat all your bird seed and/or spill it all over the ground.  You can get poles for hanging feeders at most stores that have an outdoor section.  All you need is something about 6-8 feet tall with a hook at the top.

Tractor supply sells bird feeder accessories. We get our seed from there also. They have poles, squirrel baffles and more. There are squirrel proof feeders that the weight of the squirrel shuts the feeder off.
We feed the squirrels corn. Any height for feeders, houses are more involved.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/pet-care/wild-birds-pet-birds/bird-feeders-feeding-accessories/squirrel-control/

After 25 years of feeding birds, I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing that will deter squirrels.  They are very clever animals.  I have tried manythings including adding hot pepper to my seed.  The squirrels  now how to get around that.  I have tried Hoffman's advice on dispatching them but I am a very poor shot with my 22 pistol with rat shot.
 
My next bet is to use a feed that does not include sunflower see which they really prefer.
 
Another thing is I feed about a 100 mallards every day and it is usually twice aday.  I started feeding them dog food (dry) which the ducks really enjoy but we have a unusually huge flock of sea gulls and the moment that I throw the dog food in the lake, the seagulls show up in huge numbers.  I have no idea how they know I am feeding as most of the time, they are about a mile away???
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I don't know about the height requirement. That probably depends on the kind of bird. On a table about two feet high and on the ground we have cardinals, sparrows, doves, thrushes  and several others I can't identify. Squirrels are the worst!

I don't have problems with squirrels at my feeders. I pour lots of hot pepper sauce on the feed and the squirrels try it once, and that's it. And of course, during squirrel season the feeders act as decoys to bring those critters within range.

Last year I finaly defeated the squirrels by using a large inverted cone baffler. The trick is to mount it loosely so it will tilt when they attempt to grab hold. Got mine at Southern States.
Now, I throw a few handfulls of sunflower seeds on the ground for them when filling the feeders as my wife finds them cute.
 

BelleReve


My sister-in-law and brother gave me a lovely hanging bird feeder, but I have a postage stamp-sized back yard with no tree to hang it from.  Are there any roadfood birders out there to tell me how high the bird feeder has to hang to attract birds? (I have this idea they won't come in if the feeder is too low to the ground) and, do nurseries or garden centers (Lowe's, Home Depot) sell just posts to hang a feeder from?   

 
Yes you can buy posts for your feeder at any place that sells seed and feeders. The birds will take seed from any height but the reason feeders are hung or placed high up is to try to fend off the other critters. Squirrels are my main problem here but I have baffles that keep them out for the most part.

get one of those wrought iron u shaped posts and use that..........different birds like different heights, but at least 5 feet up should work

I'll be darned if I would worry about the height--if the bird is hungry it will find the food----If it can't go up or down a foot or so it deserves to starve.
 
Next case !!!! 

the ancient mariner


I'll be darned if I would worry about the height--if the bird is hungry it will find the food----If it can't go up or down a foot or so it deserves to starve.

Next case !!!! 

The 1000 Blackbirds the fell from the sky in Arkansas over the weekend is the next case!!!

chewingthefat

the ancient mariner


I'll be darned if I would worry about the height--if the bird is hungry it will find the food----If it can't go up or down a foot or so it deserves to starve.

Next case !!!! 

The 1000 Blackbirds the fell from the sky in Arkansas over the weekend is the next case!!!

They needed them to make 40 pies, with enough birds left over to make one gigantic crow for Razorback fans to eat after tomorrow night's Sugar Bowl game.

Michael Hoffman

chewingthefat

the ancient mariner


I'll be darned if I would worry about the height--if the bird is hungry it will find the food----If it can't go up or down a foot or so it deserves to starve.

Next case !!!! 

The 1000 Blackbirds the fell from the sky in Arkansas over the weekend is the next case!!!

They needed them to make 40 pies, with enough birds left over to make one gigantic crow for Razorback fans to eat after tomorrow night's Sugar Bowl game.

Very Clever!

I just hope it's Razorback fans who have to eat the crow, not Ohio State fans.

Before I share my best bad gift story, two facts about me are necessary. Firstly, I have had a beard since 1980. Secondly, I have not worn a tie to work since 1988; I only wear a tie if somebody died or is getting married, usually.
 
So in the late '90s, what did my brother-in-law and his wife give me? A shaving kit and a tie rack.

Brother McKee---we meet again.  Do you think your brother-in-law was trying to tell you something.  Giving broad hints sometimes works.
 
I also have had a beard since 1980----was there something in the air that year?
 
I assume your beard makes you look very dignified as mine does me.
 
 

Thanks to all for your ideas and suggestions, I have a patio table about 3' feet off the ground I could rest it on - also I got a quote from a small garden center who sells ''shepherd's hooks" for mounting flags, though 88" seems awful high - New Year's closed things down - but I'll see how the table works first.  The birds are dying in large numbers in parts of Louisiana as well.
 

the ancient mariner


Brother McKee---we meet again.  Do you think your brother-in-law was trying to tell you something.  Giving broad hints sometimes works.

I also have had a beard since 1980----was there something in the air that year?

I assume your beard makes you look very dignified as mine does me.

I've had a mustache since 1967. I grew my beard in 1981 because I was tired of having to cover my face with camouflage makeup when bowhunting deer. I still have both mustache and beard, but now my beard only works as camouflage for hunting geese in the snow.

Michael Hoffman

the ancient mariner


Brother McKee---we meet again.  Do you think your brother-in-law was trying to tell you something.  Giving broad hints sometimes works.

I also have had a beard since 1980----was there something in the air that year?

I assume your beard makes you look very dignified as mine does me.

I've had a mustache since 1967. I grew my beard in 1981 because I was tired of having to cover my face with camouflage makeup when bowhunting deer. I still have both mustache and beard, but now my beard only works as camouflage for hunting geese in the snow.

I grew mine when appearing in a "Shakespeare in the Park" production of "Henry V". The director commented one night that the floodllights made me look washed out -- or as he put it, "like the Pillsbury Dough Boy....Could you grow some beard or tape Brillo pads on your face or something to give it definition?"

I do all my shopping at the Dollar store, that way everyone gets the same priced gift. When I started this practice last year, I found I didn't get any gifts this year, I wonder why...............Cheap-ass in-Seattle......

Belle-
 Sorry this is so delayed. Here are the two feeder support stands we got at Home Depot. The base legs are pretty flimsy so I used a short metal green fence post driven into the ground and tied to the feeder post (also driven into the ground, but not a strong) We grow Hyacinth on both supports (the purple flowers and seed pods)  We put a sunflower seed holder on one side of each post ( the red buildings) and a Hummingbird feeder on the other side.  Lots of action all year long with a variety of birds. Cardinal dominate during these winter months here in Indiana.
 
We don't have a squirrel problem. The Scotties are good at running them down . 

mayor al


Belle-
Sorry this is so delayed. Here are the two feeder support stands we got at Home Depot. The base legs are pretty flimsy so I used a short metal green fence post driven into the ground and tied to the feeder post (also driven into the ground, but not a strong) We grow Hyacinth on both supports (the purple flowers and seed pods)  We put a sunflower seed holder on one side of each post ( the red buildings) and a Hummingbird feeder on the other side.  Lots of action all year long with a variety of birds. Cardinal dominate during these winter months here in Indiana.

We don't have a squirrel problem. The Scotties are good at running them down . 

Beautiful Yard Mr. Mayor!
LOL at your Scotty just daring a squirrel to set a big toe in his yard!

mayor al - thanks so much for your pictures - it's just what I need, and may have jumped the gun too quickly, but was looking at the different types of bird seed at Home Depot when I found a pole - three pieces of pipe, topped off with a cap with a hook on it to extend about 61/2' ft.  My neighbor put it in for me, alongside a shorter, chainlink fence and reinforced it alongside the fence.  I like that your mount can hold two feeders, but at least mine is up, (I have hyacinth bean growing all over the fence).