It is not clear how the seed is contained and how the birds get the seed. Please explain.
855181
Hi Christine, Thanks for your question. Basically, the way it works is that you add your black oil sunflower seeds into the center portion (called the seed tank) which is accessible by removing the top part of the cage with a simple screw. Put the top back on, and when filled, some seeds stick out, and due to the double cage design, it allows birds to be able to stick their head/beak in between the outer cage holes and get to the seeds without problem. However, Squirrels cannot fit their heads or mouths through the outer holes as its too small and uncomfortable. Hope this helps! Mark ======= Skinny Squirrel Cages
1487793
See Bob's answer below. Also, FWIW, I have a problem w/ raccoons coming to eat the seeds the birds drop on the ground, so I rigged a light-weight, plastic (plant) tray to hang underneath the feeder (from the Cardinal ring) to catch the seeds. Being able to adjust the sensitivity of the 'closing' option of the feeder allowed me to tighten the spring so that the weight of the tray wouldn't close the feeder's holes. Also, I thought I was going to have to clean the tray of all the dropped seeds, but other birds sit on the edge of the tray and eat the seeds for me. I punched numerous small drain holes in the tray so rain water would flow through. It's a great product. See Bob's answer below. Also, FWIW, I have a problem w/ raccoons coming to eat the seeds the birds drop on the ground, so I rigged a light-weight, plastic (plant) tray to hang underneath the feeder (from the Cardinal ring) to catch the seeds. Being able to adjust the sensitivity of the 'closing' option of the feeder allowed me to tighten the spring so that the weight of the tray wouldn't close the feeder's holes. Also, I thought I was going to have to clean the tray of all the dropped seeds, but other birds sit on the edge of the tray and eat the seeds for me. I punched numerous small drain... » Read More See Bob's answer below. Also, FWIW, I have a problem w/ raccoons coming to eat the seeds the birds drop on the ground, so I rigged a light-weight, plastic (plant) tray to hang underneath the feeder (from the Cardinal ring) to catch the seeds. Being able to adjust the sensitivity of the 'closing' option of the feeder allowed me to tighten the spring so that the weight of the tray wouldn't close the feeder's holes. Also, I thought I was going to have to clean the tray of all the dropped seeds, but other birds sit on the edge of the tray and eat the seeds for me. I punched numerous small drain holes in the tray so rain water would flow through. It's a great product. « Show Less
597624
Oh sure. Birds always do that regardless of the feeder. I've even seen them go out of their way to pick out items from a suet cake and drop them. All you can do is try to stock as much of the "favorite food" of the majority of the birds that visit your feeder. That might limit the variety of birds though. My chickadees only seem to want peanuts or corn while the finches eat only millet. Most of the niger seeds and sunflower seeds go over the side but the towhees and squirrels police those up off the ground. All just "part of the show."
309924
Go to your favorite store and buy Ultra song bird seed. The birds will eat it all up pretty quickly. It's not the feeder.
4103
I have a mix of seeds and the same thing happens when the bigger birds knock out the seeds they don't want to get to what they do want. The answer is to have several feeders with a different kind of seed in each one. Someday I might do that, but for now, I just watch the squirrels, chipmunks, , doves, and other ground feeders enjoy the spoils!
1753831
No problem. The seed access closes when something heavier than a bird gets on the perch so even if a squirrel climbs down he still can't get access.
4099
Birds are messy. We hung our feeder over a patch of unused scrubby grass. It's pretty bald now because we feed our birds regularly. Seeds spill out when I fill the feeder and I'm sure some also get dropped. I suggest hanging the feeder over a piece of ground you don't care about or over some paved portion.
2148626
There could be any number of factors at work there. If it's not set to close at too light a weight on the perch, then my guess would be food quality. If you're using that inexpensive bird seed from the grocery store that is mostly yellow millet, and your neighbors are using higher-quality stuff, they won't visit your feeder except as a last resort. Try going to PetSmart or someplace like that and springing for the good stuff that has lots of black-stripe sunflower seeds, peanuts, and bits of fruit in it. Another factor could be location. Birds don't feel safe eating from a feeder that is right out in the middle of an open space with no nearby trees or shrubs to flee to if necessary. There could be any number of factors at work there. If it's not set to close at too light a weight on the perch, then my guess would be food quality. If you're using that inexpensive bird seed from the grocery store that is mostly yellow millet, and your neighbors are using higher-quality stuff, they won't visit your feeder except as a last resort. Try going to PetSmart or someplace like that and springing for the good stuff that has lots of black-stripe sunflower seeds, peanuts, and bits of fruit in it. Another factor could be location. Birds don't feel safe eating from a... » Read More There could be any number of factors at work there. If it's not set to close at too light a weight on the perch, then my guess would be food quality. If you're using that inexpensive bird seed from the grocery store that is mostly yellow millet, and your neighbors are using higher-quality stuff, they won't visit your feeder except as a last resort. Try going to PetSmart or someplace like that and springing for the good stuff that has lots of black-stripe sunflower seeds, peanuts, and bits of fruit in it. Another factor could be location. Birds don't feel safe eating from a feeder that is right out in the middle of an open space with no nearby trees or shrubs to flee to if necessary. « Show Less
1061398
I agree with the first comment. Cardinals can use the feeder, but seem to prefer a platform style feeder. I have seen them sitting on the ground under the Squirrel Solutions Feeder waiting for another bird to spill seed onto the ground!
1178540
Yes, the roof keeps 90% of the seeds dry. The only seeds that get wet are those at the bottom where the birds feed. I put my bird feeder up under a tree and have attracted numerous birds to the feeder in no time...
2027715
I started with shelled cracked sunflower seeds which practically fall out of the slot. Then when the birds got the idea I slowly added in whole seeds over time. Birds love shelled cracked seed but it is more expensive and harder to find.
825876
Hello, concerning your question, grackles and starlings leave this feeder alone. They just wait for the sparrows to drop the seed. I have seen bluejays hang on to the bottom and get some seed and take off. Pigeons and dove are confused to. Squirrels can't get it either.Happy Feeding.
2267460
It takes the birds a few days to figure out how to fly into the feeder. I put sunflower seeds and millet in mine. I also add a mix every once in a while. I get lots of birds.
1319759
There is a plastic "tray" that sits in the bottom of the feeder. THis lets seed gradually fill the four feeding slots. However, bird seed does spill out a little when more active birds feed - finches, grackles etc.
1461723
The only seed lost is whatever the birds have left on the tray. The feeder closes when squirrel puts any weight on it. This is the second identical feeder like this we have bought and it is the best one we have had.
1629276
its just a little lighter than 3 lbs. with the seed, it is heavy. I fill it about 3/4 of the way to carry it. Birds really enjoy it.
1127051
I don't know the technical answer to that so you should google that and see what comes back, however, I do have two that are in the sun for a good part of the day and the birds seem to enjoy them and the group hasn't gotten any thinner.