Show Us your Bird Feeders, Vol. 9

I do love Marna's new peanut wreath. I'm thinking maybe a peanut feeder would fare better than the PB or the suet when the starlings descend on us... Does anybody have experience with that?

I liked those screen feeders with the curved wood sides... thought it might be fun to try making something like that, maybe with just tapered straight-cut sides to start with.

I know I saw those spring-dowel wood window feeders at one of the sites I was checking over the weekend... I'll see if I can find it again. I'm really intrigued by the ones that sit in the bottom of the window (like a window air conditioner) and have curved plexiglass sides so the birds feeding from the shelf are sitting "inside" your house. That just looks so cool. But I'll bet it gets drafty by that window.

Hi critter, I've never seen starlings go for peanuts IN the shell but they do like peanut halves.

I wish I could use the spring dowel feeders but I don't have double-hung windows. I have sliders.
I considered one of the suction cup ones, but I always worry about the cups loosening.
The most convienent window I have for it is my floor office window.
It it fell, I'd have to go through my yard, through the gate, around the side, climb over a rhodo bush to get to it.

Re: suet -- the Starlings devour it. When I go out to refill the feeders, they'll fly off. That's when the downy WP comes to eat. He's a lot braver.
He's funny, he'll go on the other side of the suet block and peek at me from behind it. It's peck, peck, peek... peck, peck, peek.
LOL!
As long as I'm busy with the seed feeders on the other pole, he's fine with my being out there.

Nancy

nanny....that's the one I have!! Thanks for the link. I've had it for 5 years and it still looks great; very well-made.

Grackles and starlings can be a real problem....I had a lot of them when I lived up near Boston. I bought one of those suet cages that has an outer cage with openings for just little birds....works like a charm! The nuthatches, C. wrens & chickadees like it and the bolder downies will squeeze through. I don't get many pest birds here...I have more of a problem with crows with the suet.

Those downies are pretty scrappy....they tolerate me filling the feeders just a few feet away as long as I don't move my arms too much. I have one male that has taken over one of the nesting boxes that looks over the arbor and into the yard. He can see all of the feeders from there and will hang out with just his head sticking out "monitoring" the yard. It surprises me that he effectively runs off much bigger WP. I put out more suet this year and now I have more numbers.....and more competition. The log has been good as up to 3 WP can be on it and not really mind too much because it is big enough.

I wistfully look at those window feeders that stick out into the room too but I think that we would lose too much heat......probably great if you live in the South or CA.

Peanut wreath is very cool, Mrs. Ed....wish I got birthday presents like that!

This "inside" window feeder at the link nanny found says its side panels are an inch thick... that's better that I was thinking in terms of insulation, although that plexiglass probably loses plenty of heat through it. It's on sale... well, sort of... still a little pricey I think. http://www.thebirdshed.com/cs-26401.html Hmm, DH wouldn't buy it for me, but he might buy it for Eliot (kitty)... I told him the Cardinal Window feeder was for the cat and got no argument about its purchase, LOL.

Thanks for letting me know that peanuts in the shell and the double cage for suet work if I've got a starling/grackle issue. I know they need to eat too, but they're very ill mannered, and I don't care to encourage them. When they "find me," I end up with a whole mob... they strip the feeders in minutes and have big noisy fights the whole time. I literally find blood and feathers when I go back out to retrieve the feeders.

So far, they haven't found the PB feeder this winter. Last year, I had to nearly give up feeding PB and suet.

Hi Critter- I didnt care for the NoNo feeder at all. It held so much seed, and if it got wet it spoiled. And it all stuck to the bottom. I even tried bringing it in at night/wet weather but that did not help. We all have our favorite feeders! BTW yes I got the Squirrel buster mini and so far I heart it! GM

I've had to take down my log suet feeder and my peanut silo because the house sparrows devour so much! The starlings have not visited yet, thank goodness. Maybe now that I have more BOSS feeders out I can put the peanut silo back up for the woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches.

I am really really kicking myself that I did not buy a window feeder on clearance prices!!!

Hi GM, Glad you like that feeder (squirrel buster mini), my birds sure do love it.

Sorry to hear that you have a HOSP problem, Mrs. Ed...they are bullies and quite piggy! I had a pair here back in October but they didn't like what I had in the feeders too much and moved on. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Hey, critter...that is funny about your DH approving anything for the cat. Mine is the opposite....he'd approve anything for the birds (esp the mourning doves) but thinks the cat is spoiled enough as it is. My kitty has two window perches, a good view of the ground birds from the slider and the window feeder upstairs.......he is entertained pretty much all day! I have one hanging from the h-bird hook outside of one of the dining room windows...that is his favorite. The titmice are very bold and quite animated. Has anybody else noticed an increase in their numbers this year? I am astonished....they out-number the Chicadees and the gold finches at this point.

Urk. Maybe I'll call Rachel's Robin in case they haven't shipped yet... it sounds like those weight-sensitive hopper feeders like this one http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=5770019 might be a better bet for feeding the birds and not so much feeding the squirrel(s). Thanks for letting me know what the problem was with the No No.

I like the Squirrel Buster Mini, but DH is not so much into the look of the tube feeders. pfffffttttbb.

I like the looks of this brushed nickle feeder from RR: http://www.rachelsrobin.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-18317

Anybody have one like that?

That does look good jill.

The thing about that first hopper is that it is quite small. too many birds on it will close it. They don't seem to like it as much as my large hopper that is not a squirrel resistant type.

A baffled platform remains the birds favorite.

Downie on the log

window feeder....hope I get a decent camera for Xmas!!

Sounds like my order has already shipped. I talked to a guy at Rachel's Robin, and he says he hasn't had any complaints or returns on the No No feeders. I had a possible brainstorm on how to fix the too heavy / too wet problem... mentioned it to the guy at RR and he thought it was clever, but I'll have to look at the feeder when it arrives and see if it will work.

My notion: put a tube (like a piece of wide PVC or even an old tube feeder cylinder) down the center of the feeder... drill a bunch of little holes in it first. That will take up a little of the space in the "core" of the feeder (making it lighter) and should provide some extra air circulation down the center. ?

I had a peanut feeder question... Has anybody tried putting unshelled peanuts in one of those wire cage suet feeders? I've got an extra one, and it looks similar to the mesh on some of the feeders I've seen pictured. I'll pick up some unshelled peanuts somewhere soon and give it a try...

Where do you buy unshelled peanuts in bulk? Should peanuts be raw rather than roasted, or does it matter? Maybe Southern States would have big bags of them... I know Jim would like to attract more blue jays, as jays and hummers are his two favorite birds. :-)

or, return it. LOL.

i buy my peanuts in big bags from Farm and Fleet. They have both shelled and in the shell. They can be roasted, but should not be salted. Most of them for birds are raw.

I had these ball feeders with similar mesh that in the summer had seeds start to grow. I haven't tried them in the winter yet.

I just got some shelled peanuts at the local feed store, and apparently the code is under rabbit food. I guess rabbits eat them too?

Anyone have experience with the peanut feeders for shelled peanuts? I just put some nut mix and shelled peanuts out but it looked like the chickadees couldn't get much out. So what feeder should be used then??

Just a plain feeder, Thats up on a pvc pole with others where squirrels can't get at it...

The reason for trying to "fix" the issues with the No No feeder is that I'm having a hard time finding a squirrel-resistant feeder that DH likes the looks of at all. I'll see if he likes that brushed nickle hopper feeder... I could be making a swap here. :-)

I use this home made silo for peanuts…

those holes seem to be the same size. hhhmmmm, maybe my birds are just lazy :)

oh, and speaking of window feeders and cats...

at our condo when we lived in DC we had a window feeder that I put on the upper part of the split window. shortly afterwards we got a kitten and she would love to sit on the window and look up at the birds. You know how inside you have that little ledge on top of the bottom window where you unlock the window? Well, when she couldn't take it anymore, she'd jump up and cling to that ledge. We'd hear it and look over and see this little kitten hanging, spread eagle, on the window! Eventually she'd fall. Man, I wish I could have gotten a picture of that. Priceless.

d'oh, sorry I uploaded the wrong picture! ha! Well you get the idea. I have had many birds eat out of those. Squirrels too!

Birds that use the peanut silo: Bluejay, starling, house sparrow, chickadee, nuthatch, woodpeckers, rose-breasted grosbeak, house finch. I think that's it.

Jill, if DH doesn't mind the heritage farm hoppers, I really like mine. It holds 8 pounds too! But like I said, mine is not the squirrel proof. I have to baffle mine.

http://www.heritagefarms.biz/birdfeeders/sp/?cartid=906948988836621

I don't put my peanut pieces in a seperate feeder. I only put so much out everyday. So some goes in the tray with the BOSS. A little sprinkle in the safflower feeder. The a good size helping of peanuts pieces and mixed tree nuts on the platform.

That brushed nickle feeder does look nice...and not priced bad either...hmmmm

hah nanny!!!

speaking of prices, Duncraft has a closeout sale:

http://www.duncraft.com/Closeouts---60-Sale-C221.aspx

My Cardinals love the peanut halves! Has anyone seen them being taken by them from a platform feeder.?

pelle....my cardinals love peanut halves and will take from the platform feeder.

I had a platform feeder that the cardinals always came to for peanut halves

Hmm, wonder if I can put a platform feeder up and away enough that Mr. Squirrel can't jump to it...

Has anybody tried the platform feeders with baffle screens like this one from Duncraft? http://www.rachelsrobin.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-3154

Well, I have my platform feeder on a shepherd hook with a dome baffle. It is far enough away from the tree that the squirrels can't jump. Though it is funny to watch them try.

I know Beckygardener has this setup: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=3152929

And I think Pelletory has one of those pole systems and a baffle too.

I have the pole system from WBU with raccoon baffle.

What ya gonna get from duncraft Marna????

hrmmm, i don't know. so many choices, so little money!!!

I got a cute birdhouse for my sister though. She has a typical Chicago bungalow house, so I wanted to get a craftsman style birdhouse. I found one for $100!! ouch. So instead I got this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E50UMI

I thought that brushed nickle weighted perch feeder had a certain style to it... reminded me of Frank LLoyd Wright's designs, although the spacing was a little too regular for that... maybe not unlike Japanese shoji screens?

I like the one you picked out for her!

That is cute!!...I have thought about a wren house...can the house sparrows fit thru those holes?

I have decided I can't do the Blue Birds as much as I would love too. But I would like to get something to nest close by if I could.

You can make the holes the right size for wrens or blue birds without making them big enough for HOSP, I think. I'm sure somebody here knows the right diameter for the entrance off the top of their head.

Why can't you "do" blue birds? You can put up a few houses for them without going all out for meal worms, etc.

house wren-1 1/4. carolina wren- 1 1/2, chickadees- 1 1/8 and eastern bluebird- 1 1/2

nanny,

Have you thought of this feeder as a thistle feeder that catches seeds? I don't have it, but I'd thought I'd mentioned it.

http://www.duncraft.com/BirdsChoice-Stainless-Steel-Nyjer-Feeder-with-Tray-P2156C216.aspx

I've been using this one for a yr or two for thistle:

http://www.stokesselect.com/products/template/product_detail.php?PHPSESSID=1248ad86e709827ae55efb86ad938a60&item_id_D=125

I have this one also, just haven't gotten it back outside this Winter. It's rather heavy, even without adding seed to it.

http://www.stokesselect.com/products/template/product_detail.php?PHPSESSID=1248ad86e709827ae55efb86ad938a60&item_id_D=122

GP,

You mentioned that your Duncraft caged feeders have seeds that spill out. I've had this Stokes feeder for a year or two and I haven't seen that problem. I love it! I actually got Indigo Buntings using it this past Summer! First time the Buntings used any of my feeders since I started year round bird feeding in Dec. 2000! I had mostly millet seed in it.

http://www.stokesselect.com/products/template/product_detail.php?PHPSESSID=1248ad86e709827ae55efb86ad938a60&item_id_D=7

Another Stokes feeder I've been using is this one with BOSS.

http://www.stokesselect.com/products/template/product_detail.php?PHPSESSID=1248ad86e709827ae55efb86ad938a60&item_id_D=126

Another Stokes feeder that I add with sunflower chips/thistle mix.

http://www.stokesselect.com/products/template/product_detail.php?PHPSESSID=1248ad86e709827ae55efb86ad938a60&item_id_D=6

Late afternoon today, I hung up a new suet feeder I got today. It's another Stokes feeder. It's called the Stokes Select Deluxe Suet Buffet. It's all one piece. It must be a new product, because I hadn't seen it before.

http://www.stokesselect.com/stock/functions/VDG_WhatsNew/detail.php?choice=55

Another Stokes feeder that I've have for a year or two and misplaced (in our big garage) and just found today. I hadn't used it since getting it. I added the Kaytee Fruit and Nut mix to it and hung it late afternoon. It's called the Stokes 3 In 1 Platform Feeder. I hung it with the metal grid in it. Here is a Duncraft link (didn't get it from them) that shows it.

http://www.duncraft.com/3-In-1-Platform-Feeder-Save-1500-P2567C216.aspx

Feeders I've been using:

a peanut silo, two hanging screened platform feeders for BOSS, an old wooden 'house feeder' that I only filled the sides with BOSS (it too is heavy), a small globe feeder with BOSS http://www.duncraft.com/Duncraft-Cling-a-Wing--P143C216.aspx, a Triple Bin Party Feeder from Duncraft that I fill all three bins with safflower seed, http://www.duncraft.com/Triple-Bin-Party-Feeder--P2019C216.aspx, three of the one-pound thistle socks, a cake and a two cake suet paddle feeders and some other bird feeders that are in the garage. One of those feeders in the garage is the Squirrel Buster Plus http://www.duncraft.com/Squirrel-Buster-Plus-Save-500-P1364C216.aspx I haven't been able to get it adjusted just right to be able to have the the Woodpeckers and the Cardinals use it. I just might have to try again and hang it out again.

I also feed the birds every day, year round on the ground, as well as, smear Jif extra crunchy peanut butter on an old farm post at the property line (that was here when we built our house) every day.


This message was edited Dec 18, 2008 8:59 PM

I'd like to get a Gilbertsen PVC box with a hole restricter for chickadees. I'm afraid that the house wrens will do their typical egg piercing though. It would be so fun to have chickadees in the yard. I have two wren houses that go unused. no clue why though.

Jill, it takes a lot of diligence to responsibly host bluebirds. I'm sure that's what Nanny is speaking of. Last year OPbirder lost a whole family to house sparrows. Tough to take.

Good gravy Marilyn, you are loaded with feeders!

Hey, whoever has some pictures to share, please start the new thread.