I tried a cheap suet feeder versus a cage style one and the results were clear

Last winter I hung a basic plastic suet feeder next to a heavy duty metal cage one, both filled with the same woodpecker blend. The cheap one was empty in two days because starlings could perch all over it, but the cage kept the suet for almost a week and finally got the downy woodpecker I was hoping for. Has anyone else found a specific feeder design that really cuts down on the bully birds?

3 comments

3 Comments

patricia9053mo ago

Ugh, starlings are the worst, aren't they? Your test just proves you sometimes have to spend a bit more for the right design. It's so satisfying when the feeder finally works for the birds you want.

joseph_hart3mo ago

Totally agree. Starlings just bully the smaller birds and hog all the food. It took me three different feeders to finally get one they couldn't wreck. Watching the chickadees and finches come back made the extra cost totally worth it.

skyler_kim151mo ago

That cage design really does force the bully birds to work for it, I love seeing the little ones get their turn. Glad the upgrade worked for you, those starlings are relentless.