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Weapons-Grade Feeders That Last For Years!
Tired of wasting money on crummy feeders?
Get the benefit of my years of testing various feeders! Now I've finally landed on the best of the best.
The big news is that the latest squirrel-proof feeders really are!
No bias here. I am not associated with any manufacturer or retailer or e-commerce seller. (I wish I were -- maybe I'd get a volume discount!)
The Curious Wren - Your Birding Guide
Let the Curious Wren be your guide to birding.She has a whole series of lenses about birding, bird feeders, field guides, bird books, gifts and equipment.
Some lenses are "How To" lenses.
One part of her series is state-by-state birding guides -- Florida, California and more!
Go to the Curious Wren hub for links to all her lenses.
My Top Picks -- The Droll Yankees Line
Pick #1 - The Yankee Whipper
If I could only recommend one feeder, this is it.Spend about $75 (Amazon price -- order from link below) and be happy for years and years! (In the end, it's cheaper than buying junky $20 feeders over and over from Target or Home Depot.)
Droll Yankees makes fantastic tube feeders that are truly squirrel-proof. Because of their brilliant design, you can hang them nearly anywhere. The perches collapse if anything heavier than a bird comes to eat. This saves you seed! Lifetime guarantee too.
My favorite is the Yankee Whipper. You can find it online for about $65 (search on Froogle.com).
This line also includes:
* The Yankee Tipper (Amazon - Order from link below), -- this has a tray that tips. Small birds like chickadees have trouble reaching the seed ports. But it's great for bigger birds.
* The Yankee Dipper (Amazon - Order from link below), -- has short perches, ideal for small birds like chickadees. But too short for cardinals, grossbeaks, jays and the like.
* The Yankee Flipper (Amazon - Order from link below), like the Whipper, can accommodate all sized birds. It flings the squirrel off with a (rechargeable) battery-powered motor.
My #1 Pick
Droll Yankees YCPW180 Whipper Bird Feeder, Dark Blue
Read my recommendations above!
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $84.63 (as of 07/11/2009) 
My Yankee Whipper
Here's a male rose-breasted grosbeak at my Yankee Whipper feeder. More Droll Yankees Winners
More Excellent Feeders
Droll Yankees YCPT360 Yankee Tipper Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder
The Yankee Tipper -- this has a tray that tips, so squirrels slide off. Small birds like chickadees have trouble reaching the seed ports. But it's great for bigger birds.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $88.00 (as of 07/11/2009)
Droll Yankees YCPD90 Dipper Squirrell Proof Bird Feeder
The Yankee Dipper -- has short perches, ideal for small birds like chickadees. NOTE: Perches are too short for cardinals, grosbeaks, jays and the like.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $79.95 (as of 07/11/2009)
Great Suet Feeders -- Some Squirrel-Proof!
Flicker Cedar Suet Feeder (Squirrel-Proof)
$21.95 Allows flickers and long-beaked woodpeckers and to feed but keeps starlings out with unique dual screen system. Floor shield restricts starlings from feeding on fallen crumbs. The top lid lifts easily for convenient refilling. Hanging wire is metal to deter chewing by squirrels. Hooks on top of feeder keep the squirrel from being able to lift the lid.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Forest FriendTM Suet Feeder
$26.95. Made of recycled plastic. Nice tail prop. Not squirrel-proof.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
MORE BIRD STUFF from The Curious Wren
Check Out My Other Lenses
Great Birdbaths and Fountains -- a nice selection of practical baths, drippers, fountains and accessories.Hummingbirds! -- Facts, feeders, books and fun merchandise for hummer lovers.
Bird Shirts and Hats -- Shirts and hats featuring wild birds!
Great Gifts for Birders -- Gadgets, gear, clothing, CDs, DVDs -- everything a birder would love.
Best Field Guides (and Other Books) -- Your best selection of field guides.
For Little Birds Only
Duncraft Sonata Finch Feeder
$40.24. Squirrel proof bird feeder. Wrap around grid is powder coated in soft sage green. Small songbirds can feed from anywhere on the wire caging. Stainless steel mesh is a breeze to clean. 1-1/4 pound capacity.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Peanut Feeders
Try feeding raw peanuts!
Songbird Cedar Ultimate Woodpecker Feeder
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $41.49 (as of 07/11/2009)
Offer Water Too!
First Nature Nature's Niche Bird Bath and Waterer
$13.49. Great new idea -- large capacity, and small troughs that let birds drink, but are less likely to get pooped in! Holds 100 oz. Hangs from hook or just set on your deck.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $11.25 (as of 07/11/2009)
Window Feeders
Droll Yankees OWF Observer Window Bird Feeder
$11.49. With an ample capacity, sleek lines and a tapered overhanging roof to deflect the weather, it's the best value in window feeders on the market. Attach it securely to your window using the three suction cups. 7" x 3" x 2" dish x 7" tall. 2-cup capacity.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
Best Thistle Seed Bag Feeders
- Durable Thistle Seed Feeders from Ebay Seller
- This guy has a winning product. I've purchased 3 of these feeders and they hold up very well.
All-Metal Sunflower Seed Feeders
Collapsible metal baskets. No assembly required. Dishwasher safe. Rain and snow just blow right through. Squirrel-resistant, as long as the squirrel can't get inside the basket! Comes in many colors and sizes.
No/No Hourglass Bird Feeder, Bronze
$29.23. Holds over 6 pounds of black-oil sunflower seeds.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $24.49 (as of 07/11/2009)
Tufted Titmouse
This titmouse was a fun visitor to my peanut feeder last winter. They usually don't come this far north (Minneapolis, Minnesota). Best Oriole Feeders
Or try feeding nectar to attract these gorgeous birds. Recipe -- dissolve 1 part granulated sugar into 6 parts water.
Orange and Jelly Feeder
$29.95 from Audubon Products. Has dish to hold grape jelly, and post to skewer an orange.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Looking for Hummingbird Feeders?
- Go to my lens on Hummingbirds!
- Click the link above to go to my lens on hummingbirds. You'll find feeder advice there.
Platform feeders -- Squirrel-Proof!
Duncraft 1744 Champion Squirrel Blocker Platform Feeder
Metal version. I own this feeder and it's really squirrel-proof. The only downside is that it only holds about 1 lb. of seed, and you have to dismantle the roof structure to re-fill it. Kind of a pain. But it's so hard to find a covered platform feeder that's squirrel-proof!
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $59.95 (as of 07/11/2009)
Duncraft Squirrel Proof Platform Feeder
$34.95. Plastic version without roof.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Feeder Fun
- Project Feeder Watch
- Help the ornithologists at Cornell University by sending your feeder data to them! They really need help in the 2006-7 winter season. Just $15 to join the project and provide valuable data on bird abundance. Great for getting kids interested in science!
- Operation Rubythroat
- Learn about ruby-throated hummingbirds. Includes STUDENT ACTIVITIES section.
The Basics on Seed Feeders
"You Get What You Pay For"
Luckily, technology has advanced in the past few years in the human vs. rodent battle. You'll be amazed how the new feeder technology can actually keep squirrels (and unwanted birds) away.
Stick with the brands that specialize in manufacturing feeders, like Droll Yankees, Duncraft, Woodlink and Rubicon - many of them have guarantees.
There are four basic types of seed feeders:
-- tubes (or silos)
-- mesh bags (thistle only)
-- hoppers (shaped like a barn or covered bridge)
-- platforms
Tube feeders come in large-capacity models, and they offer the best squirrel-proofing technology. Tube feeders for thistle are different because they have smaller seed ports. You'll even find "upside down" thistle feeders -- many birds don't mind standing on their heads to eat!
For thistle only, mesh bags are now commonplace. Some types of bag material hold up better than others (synthetic is better than cotton), although they don't get too much abuse because squirrels usually show little interest. But the bags will need periodic replacing.
Hopper feeders are a time-honored style, but keeping squirrels away can be difficult. The best defense is to mount them on a pole with a squirrel baffle.
The last type, platforms, have been problematic. But nowadays, some come with coverings (to keep snow out) and chicken-wire fencing (to deter squirrels and large birds). The benefit of a platform is that it allows more species to feed. Ground-feeders, like cardinals and doves, prefer platforms. These feeders can either be placed on the ground or suspended from a wire.
Cautions & Tips on Seed Feeders
Feeders that lack squirrel-proofing technology will cost you lots of extra money due to (1) chewed-up feeders that need replacing; and (2) all the seed consumed by the varmints. So buy the technology. Baffles alone aren't always successful. Also, when it comes to perching areas, metal parts are better than plastic. It's a myth that birds' feet will stick to metal in the cold - it's not possible, since birds have no sweat glands there.
TIPS
Look for a tube feeder that's easy to clean, or buy a special brush to do so. Look for a feeder with a lifetime guarantee, like the Droll Yankees brand. They cost more, but in the long run will save you money replacing cheap feeders that go bust. If you want to attract cardinals or grossbeaks, make sure the perches are long enough to accommodate them.
How About Something Exotic?
Redi-MealTM Mealworms 2,000 count
$14.95 for 2,000 worms. Dried mealworms supply the protein, fat and potassium insect-loving birds need to maintain their energy levels.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Tips on Seeds and Other Foods
"Give Them What They Love"
Songbirds love seed, so depending on your geographic area, you'll attract chickadees, finches, cardinals, grossbeaks and woodpeckers.
You'll see many types of seed for sale, but the classic favorite among all is the sunflower seed, and birds prefer the black-oil variety. Lots of species enjoy this highly nutritious seed, so it's a great one to start with.
Avoid the cheap "wild bird seed" (mostly yellow) sold at grocery stores. It contains very few sunflowers and mainly attracts sparrows. Not that there's anything wrong with sparrows, but a whole flock can dominate a feeder and prevent songbirds from coming.
The next most popular seed is thistle (also called niger or nyger). All types of wild finches enjoy it, so be prepared for a whole flock to appear.
PEANUTS
If you're willing to spend a little more, you can feed cracked peanuts - but again, they require a specially-designed feeder. Peanuts for birds should always be roasted, with no salt or sugar. Peanuts can get moldy, so make sure they stay fresh in the feeder.
SUET
Suet is a high-energy fatty treat that can really help keep birds warm (from the inside) in the winter. Woodpeckers especially love it. You can buy raw suet from the butcher or grocery store and hang it in a netted bag (an onion bag) for the cheapest possible option. But rendered suet (that has been boiled to kill bacteria) is best. You can buy rendered suet bricks that fit nicely into hanging feeders. These are often "no-melt" and work great even in very hot weather. Some bricks have seed or different flavorings added. Commercial cakes come in many varieties, and can attract birds who like seeds, nuts, fruits or insects.
by nancoix
Check out my 30 other lenses. Most are about birding, but also about iPods, kitchen stuff and Trader Joe's.
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