Clogging seed feeder

[dave gore]

dave asked

hope anyone can help, i have seed feeder in the garden hanging on the clothes line close to the bird table, about 12 inches tall with 4 feeding holes and with plaes for the birds to perch but the problem is that it is always getting clogged, i am forever having to tip all the seed out, normally once a week and put fresh into it as the bottom 4 or 5 inches of the seeds all get clogged together, is it impossible to stop this happening to the seed or are there any more feeders available in the uk which are more waterproof or more protected against the elements or am i just going to have to persevere with my cleaning ritual??

any help appreciated

dave

[IanF]

Hi Dave,

I guess it's just a thing about this time of year. The moist atmosphere doesn't help at all.

We use the plastic tube type feeders with feeding ports where the bird has to stick it's head in to what I suppose is a shelterd area from the rain.

We put mixed seed, niger and sunflower hearts in this type of feeder and use the wire mesh ones for peanuts.

The only other thing I can suggest is try moving the feeder to somewhere closer a building wall where it will be a bit more sheltered or hang it below the canopy level of tree or bush.

[digi-birder]

Feeders should be cleaned out on a regular basis anyway to prevent disease. Ours are the same and 'im indoors has to soak the feeders in a large tub and then give them a good scrub with a stiff brush. You can get a special solution for soaking/washing feeders from various bird food companies.

[nobby]

Is your feeder made of metal with the feeding holes at the bottom? I used to have the same problem with my old feeder. I had to drill out the drainage holes in the bottom of the feeder as these tended to become blocked causing the water to "wick" up the stored bird seed and jam. I also enlarged the feeding ports.In the end I replaced it with a clear plastic feeder with feeding ports which is 100% reliable.

[christineredgate]

You can purchase a plastic hood which fits halfway down the feeder and it does keep out a lot of the rain.Available from the major mail order bird food outlets,or try hanging the feeders under the bird table,this helps,but it does depend on the wind.
Christine.