![]() Some feeders come equipped with cages, or you can easily add mesh such as chicken wire around an existing feeder.ģ. This is also useful for preventing larger bully birds, such as starlings, grackles, blue jays, and pigeons, from accessing the feeder. Squirrels will not fit through small wire openings, but that will not restrict smaller birds from feeding. You can also place a wire cage around a bird feeder. Place an 8-foot pipe 2 feet into the ground, so that you have a 6-foot height for your bird feeder. Grease or wax the pole from the ground to about 6 inches from the top with a non-drying automotive grease or carnuba wax. A 3/4-inch conduit pipe is ideal, but any heavy metal pipe that is rust-free will work. Squirrels can jump distances of 10 feet or greater, so place feeders 8 to 10 feet away from a tree, roof, fence, or any structure that could be a launching pad for squirrels. Ideally, mount or hang feeders on a smooth metal pole at least six feet high, and prune back any branches or bushes within a 12-foot radius.Ĭritters including raccoons can climb wooden poles or PVC pipes. It’s important to place any birdfeeder within at least three feet of the nearest window so that birds don’t hurt themselves upon liftoff or place them more than 30 feet away so that feeding birds have plenty of space to clear the house.Ģ. Window strikes at people’s homes kill at least 150 million birds each year in the United States. Bird feeders help birds, but they also increase the likelihood of deadly window impacts. They can be nailed or tied to a tree trunk, suspended, or affixed to the side of a hopper feeder.ġ. Suet feeders may be constructed of wire mesh or plastic-coated wire mesh, or be a simply mesh onion bag. This design usually excludes the annoying starlings, which have trouble perching that way. Suet cages that open only at the bottom force birds to hang upside down while feeding. Suet feeders attract a variety of woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, jays, and starlings. The tube feeder is usually more squirrel resistant than the platform or house feeder, though nothing is entirely squirrel proof! The tube does a nice job of keeping seed dry, but the seed that collects at the bottom of the tube can be a place for mold and bacteria to grow. When adding new seed to tube feeders, always empty the old seed out first. Long, cylindrical tube feeders suspended in the air will bring in an array of small birds, including finches, titmice, sparrows, nuthatches, grosbeaks, siskins, and chickadees. They are squirrel magnets, so a baffle is important if you don’t want to feed the furry birds. While they carry a few days of seed, you also need to be sure it doesn’t get wet and the house is tightly sealed-otherwise, bacteria and fungus can develop, both of which are dangerous to birds. House feeders can be mounted on a pole or suspended. Hung from a tree or mounted on a pole, “house”-style feeders with seed hoppers and perches on the side will usually entice grosbeaks, cardinals, and jays. Don’t add too much seed at a time-perhaps one or two day’s worth-and shake out the bottom every time you add new seeds. ![]() Even with drainage, the bottom should be removable for fairly frequent cleaning. The best tray feeders have a screened, rather than solid, bottom to promote complete drainage at the very least, tray feeders should have several drainage holes. Note that tray feeders offer limited protection against rain and snow. Place it one to three feet above the ground. If you do wish to cater to a specific kind of feathered friend in your area, consider the following four basic types of feeders: Platform FeederĪ platform feeder or a bird feeder with a built-in tray will attract the widest variety of seed-eating birds, especially ground-feeding birds like juncos, towhees, and mourning doves. Also, look for feeders designed with doors or hatches that will close when triggered by a squirrel’s weight but not by a lighter birds’ weight. To cut down on our “furry bird” consumption, choose metal feeders or designs with thick, sturdy materials that squirrels will be less able to damage. Squirrels! If you have a lot of squirrels in the area, be ready to feed them, too.A bird feeder needs a hook, a pole, and a baffle to keep predators away. (If you’re giving/getting a gift, adding bird food is a great idea!) We have a chart on what different types of birds like to eat: Wild Food Bird Preferences. It can be expensive to keep bird feeders filled, so recognize that you’ll need to keep those feeders filled with seed or suet.
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