Show Us your Bird Feeders, Vol. 9

I'm considering putting some of my nyjer feeders in the tree. The squirrels shouldn't bother them as they don't like nyjer but I'll be sure to keep you posted.

Today I noticed the squirrels had chewed the branch down very skinny that the large Squirrel Buster was hanging on. I'm glad I saw it as the whole thing would have fallen down anytime. Those tree rats never stop trying. :-)

lol. they ARE persistent!

I will try the band thing for now, but I think I will keep looking. To me that seems like a poor design flaw.

Perky Pet has the patent on the tube upside down feeder so until the time is up then theirs is the only one on the market. It takes a little trying but if you get the tabs into the bottom slots then put the band you shouldn't have a problem with it. The first time I did it I was frustrated but it gets easier.

Well I put one of my WBU nyjer feeders in the tree. I decided on the smaller one just in case the squirrels do decide to try and destroy it.

My squirrels leave those alone if Nyjer only, but the minute I put sunflower chips in it, it's a goner.

Nanny, I tried this upside down, but the holes are close enough to the next rungs down that some sparrows would sit on the bottom and reach up to peck. It's attractive, but they didn't like it as much as the smaller one. I think I'll try to put straight nyjer in and see how that goes.

I'm considering putting some of my nyjer feeders in the tree.

I advise against this, unless your feeder is protected via metal. I had a nyjer feeder accessible to squirrels, and during the winter they chewed right through the plastic, only then to find out they didn't want the seed!

Mine is in the tree and they have no interest in it or the socks that are in the tree. However, it was a different story when I had sunflower chips in it.

So interesting the different habits! Mine chewed threw the sock also. I've also learned I can't feed them directly or more will come, and they'll get even more aggressive about getting to the feeders. It has taken years to "perfect" my system, and luckily I work from home so I can watch and see how they operate :)

LOL. My squirrels are SO fat right now.

Well not a new feeder...but I did get a baffle yesterday to maybe slow the squirrels down a bit. I hadn't had any in the feeder for a while now. But this week end with the cold weather, we had a couple come over and pigout. So have to try to do some control of the issue to be able to afford feeding the birds.

It is the kind that will swivel and tilt if they try to come down over it.

G'Day Guy's, You sure have a problem with your squirrels I have a problem with the Brush Turkey's.

Hey, folks -

Does anyone have any ideas for a pigeon-proof feeder? I sometimes
get 30 of the "flying rats" in my yard & they can empty the seed in minutes!
They've also broken several hanging feeders with their weight. You can't give
them any kind of perch or platform to hang on to. I'll take squirrels any day; at
least the little guys can eat beside them. Even starlings are preferrable for me.

I'd like some kind of ground feeder (for the juncos, cardinals & mourning
doves). I guess it'd have to have some kind of cage over it? Any ideas?

I haven't seen any on my Sky Cafe feeder or Squirrel Buster Plus feeder.

Heres a pic of the Sky Cafe feeder.

http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=AR-360

I checked out BestNest; I'm gonna try their Dartmouth Caged Feeder. I'll have to
anchor it in the ground with stakes so the pigeons & bigger critters don't knock
it around. The openings look big enough that most of the regular birds can get
in. Cross your fingers for me!

Do any of my have the window mounted feeders? I'm thinking about getting one for the spot that my hummingbird feeder used during the warm weather. I'm questioning wether the birds will actually perch on the feeder while we are inside watching. I have seen that there are mirrored feeders and clear ones. I 'm considering this for the cardinals, so it would be a platform type.

Right now, I have three squirrel busters (two with sunflower seeds, one with safflower), a nyger feeder that needs to be replaced because the squirrels are eating the seed, and one suet feeder. I plan on adding an additional suet feeder this week. I wouldn't buy any feeder that isn't metal, since I have had plastic feeders chewed through by squirrels. I have also had a plastic bin that I keep seed in chewed by squirrels. In my experience, I need squirrel resistant feeders, plus baffles, plus pepper.

My squirrels are still obese!!!

We see a wide variety of birds, but I couldn't name anyone of them except the cardinals, blue jays, and finches. I enjoy watching them in the yard, and I noticed that those areas that have feeders do have fewer insects. This spurred me to purchasing my latest squirrel buster feeder last week. (mutters rats with fluffy tails).

I am very dissappointed with the new caged feeder I got from Duncraft. The seeds flow out the openings too fast and with every movement they fall out and collect on the bottom tray, which then attracts Grackles, etc. I filled it yesterday morning and when I got home it was nearly empty. I'll be going back to a tube feeder this morning. The great feeder I have been using for the Buntings is the one on the right in this pic.

What brand is the good one GP? It is aggravating. I have had about three now that I have bought and just hated and ened up in the trash. I did take one back right away.

I'm not sure, I got it thru Duncraft also. It works great though. Yes, the money wasted on those feeders that don't work could be used to buy seed!
(Both feeders are Duncraft brand.)
This message was edited Nov 21, 2008 7:42 AM

This message was edited Nov 21, 2008 7:46 AM

And note that those caged feeders that have a seed collector tray at the bottom aren't really squirrel-proof. Sure, they can't get to the seed inside the tube, but they can easily hang on the cage and get the seed that collects in the tray. I learned that one the hard way.

edited cause of stupidity - mine. Thought I hadn't sent mail, then found out I had so deleted the double.

This message was edited Nov 21, 2008 2:53 PM

I bought a neat feeder at WM for $10 early this month. It is plastic and what I thought was metal. Silly me!! The "metal" was painted plastic and the squirrel got up at the top and the fancy nut that holds the top onto the tube via the center metal rod was chewed almost in two. I like to use sunflower bits because all the birds like it and the ground feeders will clean up any that spills. I would need 2 baffles - one below the feeder and one above because those squirrels are something else. I have used the weight sensitive feeders and the squirrels are thoroughly thwarted by those. At the time I bought the feeder it was thru a company called "something Yankee" or "Yankee something".The feeder is still around but not under that name. It's ugly but it works and that makes it a thing of beauty. Let me know if you manage to find one like that. Thanks!!

Ann

Ann,

Could that be Droll Yankee?

and very &spendy&

I looked at those and chose Sears as the company to do business with. The one I want is out of stock and I asked that they contact me when they have it again. It is the one that is 42.99. Thank you, pennefeather! That was most kind of you to find that for me.!

Ann

I have a pair of Carolina Wrens that have taken up residence in the front porch wreath. It is an autumn wreath and DH says he guesses we will have to leave it and not put up a Christmas one this year!! LOL!

Anyway..they love the mealworms so I decided to give them their own feeder under cover where it is protected from the wind and rainl. I took the plastic sides off of a cedar feeder and use a heavy glass ashtray (flea market find) for the worms. They have found it and seem to enjoy having it so close and protected!

Ooo!! Let's see a picture of the wreath too!

The next time there is sun in that spot I will take a pic of the wreath Mrs. Ed. I am hoping I can get one with the Wrens in it...it is so cute to see them crawl into it! They sure are smart birds...no wind, plenty of cover and a southern exposure!

now that gives me an idea for a fly-thru feeder for the front porch...anybody have an old cedar feeder??? lol

Oh I hope you can get on with the wren..too cute!

Dellrose...I had a pair of Carolina wrens set up camp in a Christmas door wreath several years ago. It took me a while to figure out what kind of bird it was as they would fly out so quickly when we opened the door. One really cold afternoon, one of them took a wrong turn and flew into the house and after much commotion and flapping around, found the Christmas tree in the back of the house and hid in there for hours. We had a dickins of a time getting it out but it sure was sweet to see it perched in the tree along with my (many) bird ornaments! I tried to get a photo but they just didn't come out well as it was perched near the trunk. We moved the wreath to the adjacent wall along the porch where it would not move and they happily stayed there all winter. Would love to see your picture when you get it.

I just love my Carolina wrens....they are our resident clowns and very tame!

oh that is a funny story!!!

Sacar...that is s cute story! Those Wren's are just the neatest birds...I love them too! They get in our garage all the time and have to check out every tiny little nook and cranny...they are so curious!! They also get on every feeder and will hop all the way around it...so funny to watch with that tail bobbing up and down!

Here is one checking out one of the feeders.

Here's a Red-bellied Woodpecker on the same feeder....LOL!

I know I'm a slacker, but I finally have a picture of my feeder setup.

It has taken years of tweaking, but I have the perfect placement between the deck and red maple so the squirrels can't jump from either. This year I added the top hooks, and a squirrel was able to jump from the tree and occasionally land on a feeder, so yet another slight adjustment had to be made. And is why my pole is tilting!

I have a few feeders I use, when one gets dirty I replace it with a clean feeder. I have a couple of the spiral tubes and a couple peanut feeders, this domed dish and the round globe one from duncraft. I got the pileated suet feeder this year and the birds use it no problem (and the pileated does look more comfortable). The thistle feeder is new, but doesn't get used much. My goldfinches go to it as a last resort (you can see the goldfinches on all the other feeders which are practically empty, but not only on their special feeder! I have a few 5lb bags to go through, and then I probably won't buy more).

I have a nice wooden chalet type feeder with a removable bottom, but the seed still gets yucky when it rains. And the corners are impossible to clean. Plus a mourning dove or two take up a side, and then no other birds can reach it. So that one is sitting in the garage (if anyone wants it, as clean as I can get it which isn't very I'll be honest, you're free to have it. PM me).

I'm also VERY picky about what feeders I buy. #1 is how easy is it to clean it? I think Duncraft tube feeders are the WORST. They get YOU all dirty just trying to get your brush in between those metal things where the openings are. And after the above mentioned wood feeder, I won't buy those types again. I joked with my husband that I should create a blog reviewing bird feeders after all the ones I've gone through!!

I hope that you DO create a blog reviewing the different bird feeders. I have 5 in my garage and one in use that are too hard to clean. I'd love to read your reviews.

TIA?,
Nan

Hi eevie, Nice feeders! The tube ones are the worst to clean.I now only buy thistle tube feeders that open from the top and bottom which helps alot.

The "spiral" tubes are also like that - clear all through the middle. It really does help! And the birds seem to like it - if an area is empty they can just scoot down the spiral to the next one w/o having to fly back up to see where to go.

http://www.birdquest.com/seedfdrs.htm

Found our old Droll Yankee feeder. Best money we ever spent for the birds. The squirrels are kept out and there's nothing they can chew on. We keep it set on the lightest setting meaning that nothing over the size of a finch or wren can get to the seed. The cardinals and jays will also ground feed so that's no problem. The sparrows do that, too. The flickers and woodpeckers are busy in the trees. This way I can put sunflower chips in there and not worry. I hate feeding the squirrels. They have a ball eating the pine cones from our huge trees. Also, when I have the hummer feeders out they are close together and we have watched in amazement while the squirrels hung from whatever is available and tilted the sugar water into their mouths. The only trouble we have w/the DY feeder is that it takes a really substantial something to nail it to, It is heavy to begin w/and the seed weighs a lot. We have no trees where we want the feeder but we will come up w/something.

Ann

I have two Droll Yankee feeders that I have had for years. When I take one in to clean, I hang the other. It's plastic & has two trays - one at the middle & one at the bottom. Ther are larger openings for thr patio mix I use and there are small holes for use with nyjer. The trays can be repositioned to cover the larger seed holes for nyjer.
It was the favorite feeder of one of the guys at my local Wild Bird Center. However, DY no longer makes that model.

I have a seperate cage that fits over it to deter the pigeons. They can still cling to the cage & stick their heads in to grab some seed, but they don't monopolize it the way they did before I added the cage.
The platform feeder... well, that's a whole 'nother story! LOL!

This pic shows a grackle clinging to the cage. You can see the trays best in this one.

Nancy