Bird Feeders Buying Guide
Having a few birds 
around the garden is nice, relaxing, and fun. Getting a feeder for the kinds of birds you want attracted to your garden is all about minor research. You will want to find out what kind of birds are in your area, find the kind of feed they like, and then find a bird feeder to match you tastes. Then you'll have (theoretically, unless you have a cat with great jumping abilities) birds flocking to your garden!
What Should I Consider?
Feeders are quite attractive and can add a lot to the look and feel of your garden. There are a lot of different types of feeders to choose from, and many less expensive feeders do the same job as the pricier ones; it just depends on your budget and what strikes your fancy. It's really up to you, your budget, how often you would like to fill your feeder, what size works for you, and what works best for your garden.
- Seed feeders are the most common; you can buy the seed in bulk, the feeders are easy to install, and a lot of different kinds of birds will eat the seed. Unfortunately, this will also attract squirrels, snakes, and neighbourhood pets to your garden, and the birds themselves can also get messy.
- There are the nectar feeders and suet feeders, which attract specific bird types and require nectar, fruit, or suet.
Different Kinds of Seed Feeders
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Hanging Feeder - Works great if you have a tree.
- Many feeders hang.
- Deters pets (most of the time).
- Gives birds a perch.
- Takes lots of kinds of seed.
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Pole Mounted Feeder - Great if you don't have a tree.
- Space saver.
- Great if there are local snakes.
- Works great with seed.
- Also gives a perch.
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Ground Feeder - Works great if you have no pets.
- Perfect for seed.
- Great for smaller birds.
- Not so great for rainy areas.
- Adds to your garden.
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Window Feeder - Great for seed.
- Lets you see the birds up close.
- Adds to your kitchen or sun room.
- Will frustrate pets.
- Lots of birds in your house area.
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Goldfinch Feeder - Works for gold finches.
- Also works for birds who eat upside down.
- Works for small beaked birds.
- Discourages squirrels.
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Suet Feeders
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Suet and suet feeders : - Great for birds who need extra fat for winter.
- No messy seeds.
- Made from animal fat.
- Squirrels don't like it.
- Not to be used in summer.
- Not all birds will enjoy this, especially the seed-eating ones.
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Fruit Feeders
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Fruit feeders : - Great for birds who eat fruit.
- Other animals like fruit too, so watch out.
- Sticky mess.
- Attracts birds who don't eat seed.
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Nectar Feeders
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Nectar feeders : - Great for birds who eat nectar.
- Hummingbird food mix is generally required.
- Also works with just sugar and water.
- Requires cleaning.
- Attracts ants.
- Not messy in your garden.
- Attracts hummingbirds.
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Other Types of Feeders
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Mealworm Feeders - For birds who eat bugs.
- Mealworms are available in pet stores.
- Snakes really like mealworms.
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Combination Feeders - Attracts lots of different kinds of birds.
- Might start bird fights.
- Noisy.
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Squirrel Feeders - Feeds squirrels.
- Works with seed or other foods.
- Keeps squirrels away from actual bird feeders.
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Squirrel Proofing
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Baffles - Keep squirrels off.
- Generally easy to install.
- Some feeders come with them already.
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Squirrel-proof Feeders - Generally keeps squirrels off.
- Some come with a wire cage around the feeder.
- Works best for smaller birds.
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