6. The Classic Corn Cob Swing Seat

Squirrels are acrobatic creatures that love motion and challenge. The Classic Corn Cob Swing Seat combines a comfortable wooden seating platform with a swinging rope suspension system and a vertical metal spike designed specifically to hold dried corn cobs. Watching a squirrel swing back and forth while happily gnawing on corn is pure backyard comedy.

Materials and Tools Needed

  • A thick hardwood slab or cedar block (measuring 8 inches by 6 inches and 1 inch thick)
  • A heavy-duty steel threaded rod or carriage bolt (6 inches long) for mounting corn cobs
  • Four eye screws
  • Weather-resistant braided jute rope or nylon cord
  • Sandpaper and exterior wood sealant

Step-by-Step Construction Guide

  • Prepare the Wooden Seat: Cut your hardwood slab to dimensions, sand all edges smooth, and drill a vertical hole directly through the center of the seat large enough to accommodate your steel corn rod or bolt.
  • Install the Corn Spike: Insert the carriage bolt or threaded steel rod upward through the bottom of the wooden seat so that the threaded shaft points straight up into the air. Secure it tightly underneath with a metal washer and nut, countersinking the bottom hardware so the swing sits flat.
  • Attach Hanging Hardware: Screw four heavy-duty eye screws into the four corners of the wooden seat platform.
  • Rig the Rope Suspension: Cut two equal lengths of jute rope. Thread the ends through the eye screws on each side, tying secure knots underneath to form a balanced triangle or four-point bridle suspension that meets at a heavy-duty metal ring at the top.
  • Hang the Swing: Suspend the swing from a sturdy tree branch using a long loop of rope or a metal carabiner, adjusting the height so the swing hangs about 4 to 5 feet off the ground. Impale a dried ear of corn onto the vertical spike.

Essential Tips and Variations

  • Double Corn Bar: Use a longer steel rod to accommodate two ears of corn stacked vertically, doubling the snack capacity for busy multi-squirrel feeding times.
  • Acorn Swing Weights: Drill small decorative wooden balls or large wooden beads onto the hanging ropes beneath the seat to act as stabilizing weights that reduce wild swaying in high winds.
  • Painted Seat: Paint the wooden seat with colorful stripes or stencil a playful squirrel silhouette on the surface using outdoor acrylic paint.