Dove Proofing My Backyard Bird Feeder

Great tips, thank you. I ended up removing a small tray feeder I had it on the rail of my patio as the doves were emptying it in one sitting. Crazy

Thank you for the tips! It has gone from a couple doves to a huge flock (too many to count). This is my first year feeding birds and the doves just take over it all. I have gotten a separate platform for the Blue-jays and only put peanuts-in-the-shell on it. The doves won't touch it. So I will be able to use your idea to block the doves from my other two platforms that have seeds. Thank you!!

You are a genius! The experts at the bird store have nothing to offer, but my husband followed your thinking for our existing feeder and it worked!!! Doves can't land on the perch. Big grackles can't land either.

Great job!!! I love the blue jays but I hate the mourning doves / pigeons!!! Blue jays are beautiful, warn other birds of dangerous predators and they eat & leave the feeder. I like how what you’ve done here!!

I’m so sick of the white tailed doves eating up all my food. I don’t mind the mourning doves because they just come in pairs throughout the day. But these others, I will literally have about 30 of them at the same time. And they stuff their faces. My poor little birds get bullied and won’t eat. Thanks for sharing what you did. I’ll have to try something like this.

Ok this is the first video I have watched for this annoying problem. I hate the bullies. And am sick of them scarring all the lovely small birds away. Going to try something like this. Going garage scrap diving today! I like how you explained that the doves can’t get in under the roof… they can perch on ANY sized other feeder despite it saying they can’t. I want to feed the jays so can’t buy one of the over expensive squirrel proof closing feeders.. and the battle rages on…

I watched this and tried it. My open feeder is 14” x30”. I attached 12” 1x2 pieces of wood to both sides of feeder. 5 on each side. Then attached two thin plywood boards 33”x 14” to side posts so that the roof peak is 18” above the base so the roof has a steep pitch and an overhang. I then attached several 1x2 “ wood strips across both sides of feeder and two short ones on each end. (Don’t know how to forward a photo). Unbelievable!! The doves flock all around the feeder, land on roof and slide off. If there are three or more on roof peak they start fighting each other. It’s been 5 days since I finished it and they’ve all but given up. They absolutely cannot figure out how to get to the food. In the meantime, the blue jays and other birds instantly figured out how to fly in to the food. This is a great video!

I know this is a little late but I'll give this a a try. Now that you have that roof you could put a small camera there too :) Folks - you can't give the doves their "own" feeder - they will eat everything.

i am now on a search to find something dove proof. I have a hanging feeder (not the green and blue ones, its a white metal hopper i got from lowes) but the doves will sit on the roof of it and flap at the perches almost all day. So I am seeing less little birds. I did have small branches on the perch to make it easier for some of the other birds to grip but I have had to take them off. They look quite ridiculous on it and the feeder spins around a lot to lol. Your creation gives me an idea for my other feeder pole to though so thank you 👍

Perfect idea!!  Thanks for sharing your awesome idea!!  Its what I'm gonna do for my platform feeder to.  I like the Jays as well.

Thank you for the tip. Save me a ton of money =)

Maybe give the doves their own feeder

Thank you for the tips! I had nothing agains the doves (because I had starling problem), but then started noticing their aggressive behavior and excessive eating. I've got a hanging platform, but will probably switch. How do you clean it?

I hate mourning doves with a passion. Thank you for deterring them.

Nice! And really you are good heart!

I like your "collar" on the upright support. presumably to prevent cats from climbing? we built this bird table and the cats can't get in, but they still climb to try. Did you put the collar on prior to embedding the pole in the ground? We may have to put one on with the pole already in situ, but worth a try. I was going to put a photo of the table we built, but don't know how to add it here, sorry.

Doves are the most welcomed bird in my yard mainly because i just throw seed and grit on the ground

Is there any way you could tell me the dimensions on your setup? I love my Jays too. Been trying to make one like this, can't seem to get it right.

we have 40 doves that come daily and they always steal the little birds food and whenever i put treats theyre always the first one and they eat all of the peanuts (even tho they can barely get them down) and hulled sunflower seeds

Would not stop pesky starlings !