8 Tips on Choosing the Best Bird Feeders

The most popular types of garden bird feeders are seed feeders, ground feeders and nut and nibble feeders.

Seed feeders are ideal for seed mix as they have a small hole or fine mesh to ensure the feed doesn’t fall out. Alternatively, if you prefer to feed peanut kernels, then nut feeders are the ideal choice, as they have slightly larger holes to accommodate the feed.

These two kinds of bird feeders are ideal for small gardens, as they are compact and perfect for hanging on trees. Ground feeders, on the other hand, are trays that can be placed either on the ground or on a table and make a great garden feature – especially for larger gardens.

If your goal is to attract a wide variety of birds to your garden, your best bet is to opt for a combination of different feeder styles.

For example, species such as tits, finches, and sparrows tend to prefer hanging garden bird feeders, while robins, wrens, and blackbirds prefer ground feeders or trays. It’s always best to cater for your existing birds first before inviting more, so ensure they’re getting fed before you expand on your collection of feeders.

When trying to find the best bird feeder for your garden, it’s important to choose the right one for the food you’ll be serving. If you prefer to feed fat balls, then a feeder like the Peckish All Weather Energy Ball Feeder is the ideal choice.

Alternatively, if you fancy attracting Goldfinches to your garden and will be feeding Nyjer seeds, then the Peckish All Weather Large Seed Bird Feeder is a great option. With four feeding ports, this compact bird feeder is sure to tempt beautiful wild finches into your garden.

When it comes to finding the best bird feeder, you should always opt for a durable material. The most common types of bird feeders are made from either metal or plastic, but which is better?

Metal seed feeders are a popular option. Not only are they incredibly durable and more resistant to squirrel damage, but they are also a breeze to keep clean. However, unless the metal is coated, it may rust over time and need to be replaced. Additionally, metal feeders tend to be more expensive than their plastic counterparts, so this is something that’s definitely worth considering when choosing your bird feeder.

As we’ve mentioned, plastic bird feeders tend to be the more budget-friendly option and are often available in a number of different eye-catching colours. However, the downside to plastic feeders is that they aren’t as durable as metal and can be a little more tricky to clean – especially after wear and tear to the plastic.

If you love nothing more than to gaze at the beautiful birds entering your garden, then you’ll want to encourage them to stick around for a little longer with a perch.

Although most garden bird feeders come with a perch attached, you can help the birds out even more by investing in detachable circular perches, or place your feeder somewhere they can comfortably perch, such as in a tree.

Another important factor to consider when choosing the best bird feeder for your garden is the size. Bird feeders are available in a wide range of sizes, so whether you’re looking for bird feeders for small birds or want to attract some larger types – you’re sure to find the perfect feeder for your needs.

Larger bird feeders can accommodate more birds, so it’s important to space out the food so that the less dominant birds get a look in as well. Additionally, they can also be more convenient if you don’t want to be refilling them as often, as they’re able to hold more feed.

However, if you’d rather feed one or two birds at a time, then a smaller feeder with a couple of perches is the ideal choice and are a popular option for those with less space available. Small bird feeders are also a great option for those looking to attract birds to a balcony! After all, you don’t necessarily need a garden in order to enjoy the local wildlife.

An important function of garden bird feeders is to protect birds from predators and pests. One of the most popular styles of bird feeders are ones with guardian cages, like the LFJ Millers 3 in 1 Squirrel Proof Wild Bird Feeder. Not only do they prevent those pesky squirrels from stealing the bird food, but the external cage helps to protect small birds from predators whilst they’re eating.

But that’s not the only way to protect your garden birds – the placement of your feeder is also important. Try not to place it near any large bushes where predators could be lurking, or low to the ground where they’d be at risk from an attack from the neighbour’s cat! After all, if you want to attract birds to your garden, then you need to make sure you’re providing them with a safe space to enjoy their food.

When choosing the best bird feeder, it’s always important to take the weather into account. For instance, if you have a suet feeder, you might find this to be a better choice in the colder weather, as birds need more fat during the winter to store for energy.

However, in the warmer summer weather, suet and fat-based food might melt or go off more quickly, so it’s best to opt for seed feeders during this time.

When choosing the best bird feeder for your garden, there are a few important factors to consider. You need to find out which birds are currently visiting your garden, so you can select a type of food and feeder, as well as establishing how much space you’ve got available to determine what size you need. Whether you opt for a small bird feeder or large feeding station, you’ll be able to provide your garden birds with a healthy diet, while protecting them against predators at the same time.

Explore our extensive collection of wild bird feeders today to find the perfect one for you.