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Weapons-Grade Feeders That Last for Years!
Aren't you tired of wasting money on crummy feeders from Hardware Frank or Wal-Target?
Get the benefit of my years of buying and testing! Instead of spending $80 on 4 or 5 junky feeders that last a season or two, why not buy one great one that will last a long time AND defeat the squirrels?
Scroll down for my recommended feeders.
New Score: Humans 1, Squirrels 0
The BIG news is that the latest squirrel-proof feeders really work -- with no ugly baffles!Whether it's through special perches or cages that surround the feeder, many models really do defeat squirrels. Some of them require calibration (to shut doors to food ports for any creature too heavy), but my favorites have collapsing perches that foil squirrels nicely.
My Top Picks -- The Droll Yankees Line
Pick #1 - The Yankee Whipper
If I could only recommend one feeder, this is it. Lifetime guarantee on this bad boy!Spend about $75 (Amazon price -- order from link below) and be happy for years and years!
Droll Yankees makes fantastic tube feeders that are truly squirrel-proof. How does this one work? The perches bend (they are springy) when anything too heavy lands on them, and the tube is too long for a squirrel to hang down from the top and munch. This saves you seed -- and money! Because of their brilliant design, you can hang them nearly anywhere. You can also get replacement parts, and with the lifetime warranty, you can bequeath it to your grandchildren!
My favorite is the Yankee Whipper because it accomodates small and medium-sized birds.
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 WILL NOT accomodate 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.
Squirrels Hate the Yankee Whipper's Collapsing Perches!
Here are three photos to show how the spring-loaded perches collapse.
My #1 Pick
Droll Yankees YCPW180 Whipper Bird Feeder, Dark Blue
Read my recommendations above!
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $72.99 (as of 12/29/2009) 
Birds Love the Yankee Whipper!
Click on photos to enlarge
Great Christmas Gift!
The Yankee Whipper is #1 in my book
Buy this feeder for your mom or dad, and it will be the last feeder they ever need!It will last so long that they will probably bequeath it to you in their will. What goes around comes around!
See the link above to buy at Amazon.
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. I bought this for my mom, and the tray ends up getting messy with shells. And small birds like chickadees have trouble reaching the seed ports. But it's great for bigger birds, and it did keep squirrels off.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $90.49 (as of 12/29/2009)
Droll Yankees YCPD90 Dipper Squirrell Proof Bird Feeder
The Yankee Dipper -- has short perches. CHOOSE THIS IF: you don't care about feeding medium-sized birds like cardinals, grosbeaks, jays and the like.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $76.70 (as of 12/29/2009)
The Squirrel Buster -- Another Good Bet
Brome 1024 Squirrel Buster Plus Wild Bird Feeder with Cardinal Perch Ring
This is a popular feeder. I owned one years ago and it worked well. It just requires some adjustment to calibrate it correctly for birds only. This takes a little trial and error, but it's easy.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $60.15 (as of 12/29/2009)
Great Christmas Gift - Under $10
Junior Holiday Thistle Sack Green And Red
Amazon Price: $10.16 (as of 12/29/2009)
Jumbo Holiday Thistle Sack Green And Red/Gift Sack
Amazon Price: $9.78 (as of 12/29/2009)
Reg. Holiday Thistle Sack Red And Green
Amazon Price: $10.47 (as of 12/29/2009)
Best Suet Flavors
Buy Brown, not Yellow
I have done some taste-testing studies to see which suet flavor birds love best. The winner is Kaytee brand "Woodpecker Suet." I get it at Fleet Farm. It's not cheap, but the woodpeckers really love it.So look for types heavy on peanuts -- they'll be more brown than yellow, because they aren't filled with corn.
This is a photo of two pileated woodpeckers dining on this suet!
Cage Out the Squirrels!
Duncraft 18834 Selective Squirrel Block Feeder
This has a 1.5 lb. seed capacity. Duncraft makes good products.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $27.75 (as of 12/29/2009)
My Newest Feeder - Peanuts that stay dry
I needed a peanut feeder that woodpeckers could cling to easily -- even big species like the hairy and the red-bellied. These feeders have rough wood sides and waterproof bins for the nuts. You can find them at Amazon for $30-35 (see below).It took the woodpeckers a while to learn how to get the seeds (at first they pecked at the plexiglass "window"), but now they love it. Here's a picture of a red-bellied at this feeder. So far, the blue jays are unable to steal from it!
Peanut Feeders
Try feeding raw peanuts!
Songbird Cedar Ultimate Woodpecker Feeder
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $34.29 (as of 12/29/2009)
No-Mess Sunflower Heart Feeder
It didn't exist, so I made one!
I looked everywhere and couldn't find a feeder with ports made for sunflower hearts (or "chips"). Yet I love to feed this because it's like caviar to birds and makes no mess of shells on my deck.So I bought the four-port thistle feeder (under $12 - see Amazon link below) and made the holes slightly bigger with a metal drill bit. Now the birds can peck out the chips, but they don't fall out. This is perfect because this seed ain't cheap!
This feeder has big perches, so even downy woodpeckers can use it.
Sunflower Heart Feeder - I modified this one
Seed Tube Feeder
Nice heavy metal, with tight-fitting cap to keep water out. I bored out the ports to make this feeder hold sunflower hearts (see story above).
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $11.39 (as of 12/29/2009)
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 12/29/2009)
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: $12.40 (as of 12/29/2009)
Best Thistle Seed Bag Feeders - from Mad Mountain
- Click here for 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. Just click on the blue headline above to go straight to his Ebay page.
Mad Mountain Finch Sack
Here's a picture of some goldfinches on my sack of niger seed. 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: $22.40 (as of 12/29/2009)
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.
Feeding Orioles
Where I live (Minnesota), Baltimore orioles go crazy for grape jelly. A good option is any feeder with a covered dish area.
Or try feeding nectar to attract these gorgeous birds. Recipe -- dissolve 1 part granulated sugar into 6 parts water.
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.
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: $57.19 (as of 12/29/2009)
Duncraft Squirrel Proof Platform Feeder
$34.95. Plastic version without roof.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $39.95 (as of 12/29/2009)
Feeder Fun
- Project Feeder Watch
- Help the ornithologists at Cornell University by sending your feeder data to them! They really need help in the winter seasons. 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"
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 / nyger 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.
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 aren't too interested.
Hopper feeders are a time-honored style, but few are squirrel-proof.
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 new technology! 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.
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.
Safflower are white seeds, much loved by cardinals and grosbeaks.
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.
Varmint-Proof Storage
Behrens 6110 Galvanized Garbage Can
Lightweight, but put the handle in the upright position and it locks down the lid. Critters can't get inside.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $17.40 (as of 12/29/2009)
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Check out my 30 other lenses. Most are about birding, but also about iPods, kitchen stuff and Trader Joe's.
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