Well I have some pretty persistent fox squirrels. So I was doing and online search for a squirrel proof-weather proof hanging feeder. I do have one hanging weather proof bird feeder that I love. I did do a post on it last year when I bought it. I have a picture of it in my photo's if you want to take a look. It cost me 60.00 dollars and I didn't want to spend that much on another one. Plus the squirrels can get on it and eat the seed. So I had been searching and searching the web when I was ready to give up. Then low and behold I found it. Perky-Pet 5109 hanging feeder ( photo / image / picture from Tooty2shoes's Garden ) Pine Siskings using new feeder. ( photo / image / picture from Tooty2shoes's Garden ) As you can see in the first pic it has a clear plastic bell shaped weather guard to keep the seed dry. The birds have to reach up inside it to eat out of 4 port holes one on each side. (took them awhile to figure out how to eat out of it). Where the wired hanger goes threw the metal roof there could be the possibility of rain getting in around the wire. So I put a piece of flexible rope caulk around the bottom of the wire where it goes threw the metal cap. You take the cape off to fill the feeder so I will have to replace it every time I refill the feeder. But that's do big deal. Yesterday we had rain all day and the seed is dry. Yippy! The perch where the birds sit is spring loaded. So if a squirrel jumps on it the port holes close up and they do not get a free snack. I like the fact that there is not tray to catch any dropped food. Any food on the ground gets eaten by my ground feeding birds. I still have been having birds dye of salmonella poisoning. So sad. If a sick bird would land on the feeder platform and eat the seeds on it. Then wipe their beaks off or poop on it. That would contaminate the seed or the landing area with their poop. Then the next bird comes along as can pick up the disease and it starts all over. So now once a week I take a bleach solution and wipe down the surfaces of where the birds sit to make sure I get rid of this horrible disease. I purchased two of them from JC's Wildlife at amazon.com for about 26.00 a piece. The shipping was free! The full name of the feeder is quite a mouth full. Perky-Pet 5109 Fortress Bird Shelter, Squirrel Proof Wild bird Feeder. Say that fast several times.
Quite a mouthful to say but well worth the money!! I have squirrel proof feeders but they're not weatherproof. I hate cleaning them out when the seed gets wet but it's better than the birds picking up some horrible disease from the damp seed. I'm going to have a look on Amazon for some of the ones you have. :-D
I really like these feeders. I to hated all the wet bird seed. It seemed such a waste of money. But like you said you want to keep your little feathered friends safe. If you do get one of these feeders. I know you will really like it. A store called All About Birds want me to let them know if they work really well. She said she is always looking for a good feeder to carry in her store.
Hi... everytime I get a so called weather proof feeder it leaks at the top or in a seam and all of the food gets wet. Let us know if yours ever gets wet, I would like one if it is as good as they claim. I see the birds like it ....
Sherry--so far so good. No wet seed. One thing I did do to make it more weather proof. Was to take a small piece of rope caulk and wrap it around the bottom of the wire where it goes threw the cover as there is a small space that rain might be able to get in. When I have to put seed in it I bring it in the house and remove the rope caulk, unscrew the lid put in the seed and squeeze the piece of rope caulk back around the base of the wire where it comes out of the cover. There are no other seams where the rain could get in. The first weather proof feeder that cost me 60.00 does not leak at all. But like I said. I couldn't see spending that kind of money again. If you would order one I don't think you would be disappointed.
That is a good hint to use on feeders, that is where I always get leakage. I even have disks over things or plastic covers and the rain always seems to follow down where you hang them. Thank you.
