This is what your wire mesh should look like now. Looks like a wire tube with flower petals at the end. Or kinda like a very minimal version of one of those Alien pods the Facehuggers hatch from. Anyway, enough with the random nerd break, onward. If your yard doesn’t typically attract a large amount of birds or you’ve never owned a bird feeder before, we recommend the Squirrel Buster Mini Squirrel-Proof Feeder. While this feeder’s capacity is the smallest on our list (just 0.98 pounds of feed), we think it’s a great compromise compared to the larger bird feeders on our list that may require more frequent cleanings. We also think this bird feeder has a smart design to attract both perching and clinging birds thanks to four metal perches and a cage surrounding the feeder. Much like the Nature's Market option as featured above, simply pull up the hanger for a hook up straight - to then lift up the lid that attaches itself to the hanging hoop.

Unlike a feeder with ports, this design doesn’t limit the number of birds that can access the cakes at once thanks to the grid design. Plus, it’s easy to monitor how much of the suet is left from a window in your home. The cover ensures the cakes stay dry during winter weather, but the drainage holes on the bottom tray are slightly small, so it might be best to drill large ones if you live in an especially wet area.Surely in buying a RSPB certified or made by peanut feeder, you can be assured you are in good hangs right... well that's actually what you get. So when the peanuts get a little short you should notice the nuts pulling over to the mesh side - that is due to a slope on the base to make sure peanuts come within reach of feeding birds.

Then randomly, I had to go get garden watering supplies from an Ace Hardware store and what do you know? The perfect sized wire cloth! (1/4″ metal mesh to be exact) So finally, a year later, here’s the Acorn Bird Feeder tutorial for your viewing pleasure. I’m sure all your neighborhood birds will appreciate it this winter! Don't be fooled with the multiple perches because you see, while its still a large peanut feeder, its one that is within a standard length, if not a little bit bigger only. Don't be afraid to replenish your large peanut bird feeder with a tonne of wild bird nuts, but only if they are guaranteed to be gobbled up to avoid waste. Emma Phelps is an associate editor for The Spruce who specializes in writing about home improvement, air quality, home decor, and appliances. Phelps has previously covered a number of gardening topics including the best gardening tools and the best gardening gloves. For this list, she researched a variety of bird feeder types before making final selections based on feeder durability and squirrel-proofing mechanisms.Fold two of the facing sides inward and use your needle nose pliers to interconnect the open wire ends. Repeat with the other facing sides.

Gather supplies. Super easy step if you bought my craft kit! If not, like I mentioned above, try Ace Hardware for the metal mesh and a thrift store for the bowl. Tube Feeders: This style of bird feeder typically has ports around the bottom of a polycarbonate tube. These feeders can be filled from the top with loose seeds. You can easily monitor the feed level, and they’re pretty durable compared to some metal feeders which can wear down. However, be on the lookout for tube feeders that are specifically designed against wear from UV rays to avoid the plastic tube yellowing over time. You’ll find these feeders in both hanging, like our best hanging, the Perky Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone Bird Feeder, and pole-mounted variations, like our best pole-mounted, the Bird’s Choice NP431 Classic Wild Bird Pole Mount. As far as squirrel proofing, this style of feeder is most often accompanied by weight-activated perches, which will cover the feed ports when a heavy critter lands on it. So do feed little peanuts as possible to make sure they are eaten before going rotten in the peanut feeder. A squirrel-proof bird feeder provides nourishment for your feathered friends and keeps mischievous squirrels out of their food. Unlike standard bird feeders that have large wire mesh openings that allow squirrels to easily grab seeds, squirrel-proof bird feeders have mechanisms that activate when a squirrel lands on the bird perch or tray. You can find these bird feeders in a variety of styles, including hanging, platforms, and pole-mounted.The Brome Squirrel Buster Plus Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder is one of the most versatile bird feeders on the market, making it our top choice on our list. This feeder has weight-activated perches that will close the seed openings when a heavier pest like a squirrel or crow tries to land on it. In addition to having six perches around the bottom of this feeder, it also comes with a cardinal ring, which is designed to make feeding easier since they cannot turn their heads as easily as other birds. Rather than replacing your entire set of birdhouses and feeders, you could always try a pole that keeps the squirrels away. This pole from Squirrel Stopper has four hooks so you can hang a mixture of birdhouses and feeders. The baffle moves up and down and sways side to side when squirrels land on it or climb on it so they really aren’t a match against the erratic motion. But what else it offers is it must be up straight to allow the user - that's you - to pull up the lid with no fuss to replenish with peanuts every once in a while.

This feeding station comes with an auger and a twist rod to easily drive it into the ground before screwing on the pole extensions. We also love that this pole is relatively lightweight so it’s easy to set up alone, but we do wonder if it will stay upright during heavy winds or a major rainstorm. Thankfully, it's constructed from steel and has a weather-resistant powder coated for extra durability.The larger perches also ensure a variety of birds come to enjoy the feeder. However, we don’t love that the perches can be flipped up, which could prevent birds from accessing the feed. Just like other feeders in our list, this design is weight-activated to seal the ports when a squirrel or even a raccoon tries to access the feed. No matter your concern—weather-related or pest-related—this bird feeder is a great, extra-durable option to keep your feed in the tube and your feathered friends happy. So its promoted as such but in fact most peanut feeders of this kind use the same practical method for opening up the lid. Wildtier Herz: Large Metal Nut Feeder Cage Feeders: These are most often designed as suet feeders, which hold solid cakes of bird seed, rather than loose seed. Cage feeders are mostly effective against squirrels as they usually feature two layers of wiring to prevent squirrels from reaching the cakes at the center of the cage. Small songbirds and medium birds with long beaks can easily still reach the center for feeding. Our best suet feeder, the Kingsyard Squirrel-Proof Suet Feeder, is a great cage feeder option thanks to its wide diameter which helps prevent the suet from getting wet and ensures squirrels can’t reach the feed. Cage feeders are most often found with hanging mount options.