You raise birds at home or in your garden. In addition to the cage, it is highly recommended to buy a feeder. Depending on where the feeder will be installed, the price or the material will not necessarily be the same. Save time and read this comparison guide to find the right bird feeder for you.
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Our selection
"The Emsa 514491 multipurpose feeder was designed and developed by birders. Too bad for the mini dimensions and the massive use of polypropylene."
"For our pleasure, Ecol-Logica has made the Wegue, a real wood feeder. Its size makes it a model for small birds. 5 L."
"The Gardman A04391 is definitely one of the most beautiful power stations today. However, avoid the stand proposed by the seller."
"Easy to install, the Sahara Sailor is installed outside. It is intended for the wild birds which pass from time to time in your garden."
The Emsa 514491 multipurpose feeder was designed and developed by birders. Too bad for the mini dimensions and the massive use of polypropylene.
18,31 £ on AmazonThe Emsa 514491 is a polypropylene feeder. It was developed by ornithologists and designed for year-round use. It can be used as a feeder in winter, as a bath or a watering hole in summer, provided that the water drain in the inner tray is plugged. The dimensions 14 x 14 x 20 cm make it an ideal shelter for small songbirds.
The manufacturer offers many mounting options with matching brackets for this feeder. Its size makes it ideal for balconies. A special support is provided for this purpose. We appreciate the good stability of the structure as well as its resistance to bad weather.
For our pleasure, Ecol-Logica has made the Wegue, a real wood feeder. Its size makes it a model for small birds. 5 L.
12,76 £ on AmazonWhen it comes to feeders, the high price does not always reflect the quality and efficiency. The Ecol-Logic Wegue is proof of this. Made entirely of wood, this feeder attracts many small birds. The color of the bird feeder matches the color of the tree branches. The small seed tray is well placed, but not removable. Too bad for cleaning and maintenance.
Accessible from 3 sides, the Ecol-Logic Wegue can be hung or wall mounted. Its large opening attracts more easily the shy birds. Indeed, they can leave at any time. If you are afraid of losing seeds to the wind, you can close the sides with a piece of board or sheet metal.
The Gardman A04391 is definitely one of the most beautiful power stations today. However, avoid the stand proposed by the seller.
63,04 £ on AmazonThe Gardman A04391 is a very well designed bird feeding station. The structure has 5 finial hooks. There is also a large bird bath with support rings, a feeding tray, 3 black steel feeders and 1 fat block feeder. Note, however, that the feeding tray is not removable, which does not make cleaning easy. Also, avoid ordering the recommended stand, as it is not compatible with the structure rod.
Installed in the yard, the Gardman A04391 will soon enough become a place of incessant ballet of blue tits, passerines, peony bullfinches and other beautiful winged creatures. The shape of the station also makes it easy to distinguish them, unlike individual feeders hanging from branches or walls. The fully extended height reaches 226 cm.
Easy to install, the Sahara Sailor is installed outside. It is intended for the wild birds which pass from time to time in your garden.
20,79 £ on AmazonAny specific needs?
Your guide :
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| TOP OF THE LINE | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Emsa 514491
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Wegue from Ecol-Logic
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Gardman A04391
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Sahara Sailor
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The Emsa 514491 multipurpose feeder was designed and developed by birders. Too bad for the mini dimensions and the massive use of polypropylene.
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For our pleasure, Ecol-Logica has made the Wegue, a real wood feeder. Its size makes it a model for small birds. 5 L.
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The Gardman A04391 is definitely one of the most beautiful power stations today. However, avoid the stand proposed by the seller.
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Easy to install, the Sahara Sailor is installed outside. It is intended for the wild birds which pass from time to time in your garden.
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Practicality
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Type
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Hopper feeder
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Tray feeder
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Complete feeding station
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Tubular feeder
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Material
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Polypropylene
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Natural wood
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Metal
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Metal
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Dimensions
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14 x 15 x 21 cm
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12 x 16 x 15 cm
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45 x 45 x 226 cm
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29.1 x 17.2 x 17.2 cm
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Installation
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Standing or hanging
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Mural
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To be placed on the ground
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Hanging
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Instead of using multiple feeders, you can set up one that is a good size. During the winter, you should set up large feeders (50 x 50 x 121 cm) to provide enough food. You can attach the medium-sized ones to every corner of your garden. That way, they will also serve as decorations.
However, they just need to be guaranteed squirrel and rodent proof. That is, you must make them inaccessible so that they are installed at least 1 m from the ground. Still, you can opt for small feeders, including a tubular feeder surrounded by a cage with spaces that only birds can pass through.
The style of the feeder is crucial especially for people who are new to feeding birds in the garden or on the balcony. In other words, the style should match the place where you will place your trough. So the most common styles are :
You can choose a bird feeder with any material you like, but it just needs to have good weather resistance. For example, if you opt for the wooden models, this is an excellent choice, as all types of wood have a beautiful natural look and are particularlydurable. Plus, birds will always be naturally attracted to these types of feeders.
As for those that are made of stainless steel, these will save you money in the long run. This is because they will not crack or yellow over time. Moreover, you can attach them to multiple feeding areas.
Finding the right clean and hygienic location for a birdhouse is very important. Once you've chosen the model of your liking, all that's left is to find the place to install it. However, the reflex to adopt is not to hide the feeder at the bottom of a hedge or under a roof, thinking that it will give even more shelter to birds. Thus, dry and semi-shaded places are ideal. Bushes or shrubs can also be near bird feeders, as long as other enemies can't sneak too close.
Bird feeders can get a little grimy. If you're placing more birdhouses in different locations away from your home, you should favor ones that require less maintenance. Opt for stainless steel models. Just keep in mind that this type of material does not prevent the grains from getting damaged by rain or moisture.
Since natural food sources are generally scarcer in winter, more birds may be attracted to backyard feeders and they will need to be cleaned with hot water and dried several times during the season.
Bird feeders need to be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis to prevent disease transmission. It is imperative to do this as often as possible to avoid any risk of contamination, as bacteria and viruses are transmitted through droppings, but also through direct contact between birds.
It is important to make sure that a large quantity of uneaten food has not been left on the feeder. Indeed, these leftover food or seeds that are left in the feeder for too long could quickly turn into a nest of filth. And this will increase the risk of contamination to some people.
Cleaning a bird feeder is very simple. You just have to use products that are not toxic for birds. Soapy water and a hard bristle brush are highly recommended for this purpose. You should use a bottle brush to clean the tubes.
Apart from that, there are a few other things you should do when using a bird feeder, again to reduce the risk of disease transmission. First of all, don't forget to brush the feeder and to pick up all the waste every time you feed your birds.
In addition, it is highly recommended to change the water regularly if you use it. Feeders should also be changed regularly to avoid creating bacteria nests under the feeders. Finally, it is very important and especially not to forget to wash your hands after each use of the feeder to avoid being affected by certain bird diseases.
Usually shaped like a small house, a free-standing bird feeder completes the decor of a garden. It can hold a large amount of seed, which inevitably attracts birds. The advantage of this type of feeder is that it can be used to feed other pets such as chickens. Other feeders have a double-sided feeder. You can put in several types of seeds.
On the other hand, the free-standing bird feeder can help some species of birds survive the harsh winter months. However, there can be some problems with its use. The fact that it is placed on the ground easily attracts rodents such as rats.
This is a very simple bird feeder that keeps rodents away. The hanging bird feeder usually offers 6 feeding ports. And sometimes, it is made of metal so that it will not be eaten by squirrels simply. This type of bird feeder is very convenient because it can be dismantled quickly and does not require much maintenance. In addition, it is more accessible to birds.
However, the size of a hanging bird feeder is still smaller than the standing model and will not feed larger birds. It is also possible that the areas where the feeders are not suitable for the birds will have a serious impact on their productivity.
Choose a hanging bird feeder to feed your birds all winter long. However, if you love to watch birds from the comfort of your own garden, or if the birds that come to the feeder do not stay all year round, the free-standing feeder is more suitable.
Feeders will be more useful in winter.
In general, birds benefit most from feeders during the winter, when cold days require them to expend more energy to stay warm. Studies show that birds visit feeders even more frequently when extreme weather events limit their access to natural food sources.
Protect birds from cats.
If
you own cats or have cats that frequently visit your garden, avoid placing bird feeders on the ground or too close to bushes or other cover under which a cat might hide. Don't give cats any chance to harm the birds.
Choose the colour according to the birds you want to attract.
Brightly colored feeders attract many birds because the color mimics the hues of various food sources (such as fruits and berries). Some birds, however, are more attracted to dull feeders because they provide better camouflage. Build your feeders with this in mind.
Cheap seed mixes can be wasteful.
Sunflower, cracked corn, white millet, and niger (also called nyger or thistle) seeds are among the most popular seeds for wild birds. Inexpensive seed mixes usually contain only small amounts of these bird-friendly seeds. Instead, the mixes contain mostly undesirable seeds, such as red millet and flax.
Installing a bird feeder is only the first step.
After
setting up your bird feeder, be patient, as it may take a little time for the birds to discover your feeder. It is also important to remember that feeders only attract certain species of birds. To attract a wider variety of birds to your property, build a bird bath, where they can drink and clean their feathers.
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