Sky Cafe hopper style bird feeder review:

Simply put, this is a great bird feeder. There are several good features about it but our favorite is the fact that it is has larger capacity hopper that can hold up to ten lbs of seed. Also, since the reservoir is clear, you can easily see when the feeder needs to be re-filled. If you have been a backyard bird watcher for some time, you’ll know how much easier these two issues make your hobby! If you are new to bird watching, take these features into consideration.

The tray is wide enough to suit larger birds such as cardinals, which is a benefit.  The top is squirrel proof due to it’s shape. Any squirrel approaching from above will slide off - the distance from the hanging chain an anything a squirrel can reach is too far. The sky cafe is designed as a hanging feeder so take into consideration placement if you intend it for a squirrel proof feeder. It will still need to be placed far enough away from spots squirrels can’t jump from the sides or below. It is only squirrel proof from the top. It may be pole mounted but requires an adapter kit.

The sky cafe comes with different color roof options - red, clear, blue or green. We have found it to be very weather resistant and good for keeping bird food dry in foul weather. We recommend feeding black oil in it, a mix with a smaller seed will just spill out, as is the case with most hoppers.

Really, we have no negative points about the sky cafe. If you have the right spot for it, it is a great bird feeder. If you only have one bird feeder, it’s a best pick. The sky cafe with BOSS is going to attract and suit a large variety of songbirds. Please visit our hopper bird feeders page for a larger selection, including the sky cafe with different color roofs or find out more about the sky cafe hopper bird feeder.

Here is a new product for backyard bird watchers that we think we are just going to have to buy for ourselves. It’s a wire mesh bird feeder made of stainless steel and has a porcelain roof. The roof is extra wide to help protect seeds or peanuts against weather. The overall design of this bird feeder is just beautiful! And it looks like a feeder that is not only pretty, but the birds can actually use it, and birders can actually clean it. Now that combo can be hard to come by.  The feeder features attractive ring, circle perches around the hopper.

You can use this wire feeder for sunflower seeds, nuggets or peanuts. We think it will be the perfect peanut feeder. Our current peanut feeder is similar and also stainless steel, which is a material we can recommend. It holds up great for years.  If you have one, let us know what you think, good or bad.  It’s just so attractive! See more wire mesh bird feeders or find out more about the Porcelain Roof Stainless Steel Wire Bird Feeder.

Hummingbird and Oriole Nectar Feeder Cleaning

Your hummingbird feeders need to be cleaned, and nectar changed every 3-4 days to avoid the sugar water solution from getting spoiled and unhealthy for the birds. You might need to do this more frequently in hotter weather. If you see black flecks inside your feeder take it down and clean it right away. Sugar water is a great breeding ground for mold and bacteria, so take precautions to keep hummingbird and oriole nectar feeders clean! Back speckles in the feeder could be mold, so scrub it out well with a effective bottle brush. If you can not get to the inside the reservoir with a bottle brush, try a light bleach solution with water and agitate the feeder to remove the mold. Rinse very well! Then rinse again just to be sure. Rinse and clean hummingbird nectar feeder every time you change the food.

Using bleach could cause the color on the feeder’s plastic components to fade. We do not use bleach on our feeders parts that are colored, only on the clear reservoir. Alternatively, hot soapy water is used on red parts of nectar feeders. If a plastic feeder is listed as dishwasher safe we put the whole dang thing in the dishwasher, red parts and all.

As an option to bleach, we have heard of people utilizing grains of uncooked rice BBs and even sand as tiny abrasive “scrubbers. to clean with” The method is, using a funnel, put 1/4 c. rice or BBs into the feeder and fill it halfway with warm water. Cover the opening and shake well. We have not tried out this system, but if you do not care to use bleach, it is an alternative.

A cotton swab is your friend and quite helpful in removing dirt or mold stuck in feeder ports., but the easiest solution to throughly cleaning out tiny feeding port holes is specialty small brushes:

Hummingbird Feeder Cleaning Brush

These brushes are also available in complete sets which are handy for bottle style hummer feeders, including brushes convenient for bottle style feeders:

Hummingbird Feeder Cleaning Brush Set

You can shop for a variety of hummingbird feeder cleaning supplies at Hummingbird Feeder Accessories.

Platform/Tray Bird Feeder Plans for Woodworkers

This set of bird feeder plans are for a medium size platform feeder with a roof covering. It’s rather a hopper platform hybrid with a roof, partial sides and open front for the birds to land on. Any type of bird food can be used in this feeder, and the roof and sides give the seeds or food of choice you use some protection from the rain and weather. Be aware that the seed is not completely enclosed so therefore still has some exposure to weather.

Click on image for larger version

A platform style bird feeder requires more maintenance than other styles because it will need to be re-filled and cleaned more often, but is very attractive to a wide variety of songbirds. The birds can see the seeds easily and birds large and small can land on it. The open front allows good visibility for the bird watcher - it’s very easy to see what birds land on your feeder.

This feeder plan can be pole or wall mounted and will require squirrel / raccoon protection, unless of course you are trying to feed the squirrels and raccoons! Be sure to place the opening away from the direction rain and wind usually comes from in your yard. Drill small drainage holes in the bottom of the feeder to allow rain water to run out and keep seeds drier. Keep cleaning in mind when you place your feeder and be certain that it is accessible. You will need to empty out any shells left behind from seeds and to clean any build up of debris in the bottom tray. Keeping bird feeders is clean is important to the health and hygiene of your backyard birds.

Wall or Post Mounted Small Hopper Feeder Plans

These plans are for a small hopper seed feeder which are great for smaller birds such as chickadees, titmice and wrens. You can hang it on a wall or mount the back to a post. They work well on deck or porch posts and are a good size if you live in an apartment, townhouse or condominium. If you use this design on your deck or porch, smaller birds will feed from the tray, giving you a good view of our feathered friends. We don’t recommend hanging simply because the feeder will be front heavy and lean forward, spilling seed.

Click the image for a larger version

A hopper feeder like this is designed to to hold seeds. Black oil sunflower, stripped sunflower, hulled sunflower or mixes all work well. For those apartment, townhouse or condominium dwellers, try hulled sunflower seeds so there is little to no mess for your neighbors to be concerned over. Peanuts can also be served up or a bird seed mix which includes peanuts.

You will need to use glass or Plexiglas in the front for the seed reservoir. We prefer plexi. What can we say - we are not that graceful and less likely to break is always best for us. It is held in by a dowel across the top and slides into grooves cut on the inside side walls. Your side walls must be wood which is at least 1/2″ thick to accommodate the grooves. Do not cut the grooves to the bottom of the wood, but leave a small space above the floor for the seeds to spill out from under the glass on to the tray area. The floor will need drain holes to keep water from building up in the seed tray during rain!
Our personal preference is always for unpainted wood. Rough cedar is our favorite building material for bird feeders and houses. Do not use pressure treated wood as it releases toxins as it cures.

Bird Feeder Plans: Platform - Ground, Pole or Hanging

A plan for woodworkers for building a simple, open platform bird feeder. They can be hanging, table, ground or pole mounted bird feeders and host a wide variety of songbirds.

Click on the image for a bigger version.

It’s rough, so please forgive us! In our opinion, these open feeders are the best for attracting the widest variety of songbirds to your backyard habitat. All bird species can land on them and since they are open, the bird watcher has a great view. Our platform feeder is hanging and very active all day long. Different species will land on it at the same time, from woodpeckers to chickadees to nuthatches and cardinals.

You do have to clean and fill them more often, and they are exposed to the weather, so this is not our primary feeder. We tend to keep up with the higher maintenance though because of the use it gets.

Basically, build two frames and sandwich some heavy mesh in between the frames. Screw these together from the BOTTOM using wood screws - pre-drill your screw holes to keep the wood from splitting. Place a screw 1″ away from each corner and at each center point in the bottom of the platform frame.

TOP: The top frame should be made of wood which is 1/2″ thick. Just go ahead and use the thicker wood in your plans, it will be sturdy and last for years. The top layer of the platform should be 1 1/2″ deep in order to hold bird seed or whatever you offer your backyard friends

MESH: The second layer is galvanized mesh which is outdoor quality and will weather well. Use a tighter weave on your mesh choice so seeds and food do not fall through!!! You can use screen for this but screen tears under clawed bird feet and can’t take the scrubbing it will occasionally need when you clean your platform feeder. We actually use a double layer of mesh on our platform feeder and it’s 10 years old and doing just dandy.

BOTTOM: The third layer is the bottom of the platform feeder and 3/4″ deep from 1/2″ thick wood. A 4 1/2″ support bar is run through the center. This not only gives your platform feeder strength but allows you the option of pole mounting it if you wish. A platform feeder without a support bar will sag in the middle. It is made from the same 1/2 thick wood we used on the top and bottom frames.

WOOD TYPE: We always use rough cedar on these as it holds up well, can take a fierce cleaning and does not need to be painted. We do not recommend painting feeders or bird houses. The natural cedar is very attractive to the birds and easy for them to grip - ask our woodpeckers who prefer to hang off the sides to eat instead of actually landing on the platform. You can use white pine or cypress as other choices. Do not use pressure treated wood as it releases toxic chemicals as it ages.

MOUNTING: This platform feeder can be pole mounted using a pipe flange screwed into the bottom support bar, or post mounted with “L” brackets which can also be screwed into the bottom support bar.

HANGING: To hang your platform feeder, use an eye bolt and nut about 1″ from the shorter, 1 foot SIDES of the feeder. Be sure to only use an eye bolt and nut combo long enough to go fully through the 1 1/2″ sides. Do not use screw eyes, these will just work their way out. Do not screw through the top of the platform with screw eyes as again, they will just work their way out. You can use decorative outdoor chain or vinyl coated wire to hang your new platform feeder.

Another option is to add a long screw from the bottom up through the middle support bar so that the screw sticks out the top (in the middle of the tray) several inches. This will create a short pole in the center of your platform. You can skewer fruit such as apples on this.

TABLE FEEDER: This can easily be turned into a table or ground bird feeder by adding legs. The legs should raise the platform about 8″ off the ground.

Suet / Peanut Bird Feeder Plans - Build a Simple Suet Feeder

This is a set of plans to build an easy suet bird feeder. It’s a project you can do with kids and your new feeder should last you a long time. You can also use this style bird feeder for fruit slices such as apples or larger nuts.

Materials:

Wood - 1″ x 2″
A miter box and hand saw
1/4″ wire mesh - plastic coated hardware cloth
Wire cutter
Nails
Double-pointed U nails
Pliers
Hammer
Tape measure
Pencil
Drill and bits
20″ rope or wire - vinyl coated wire works well

1. Cut 1″ x 2″ pieces of wood into two two that are 5″ long and two 9″ long pieces.

2. In the two 5″ boards, drill one hole about 1 1/4 inch from an end. You will thread your rope through this later, allowing you to open the suet feeder from the top. Set these aside.

3. Drill two holes in one of the 9″ boards, about 1″ from each end. This is where your rope will go through on the top of the suet feeder. Set this aside - it is the top of your suet feeder.

4. Nail the two shorter 5″ pieces of wood inside the remaining 9″ piece of wood with the holes you drilled in the 5″ board on the top. These should be about 2″ from the ends of the 9″ board.

5. Cut two pieces of wire mesh about 7″by 7″. Fold over the edges so sharp points of the wire will not be exposed, flatting out completely with light hammer taps.

6. Nail the mesh to the outside of the 5″ boards with the U nails, forming a small cage.

7. On the reverse side, again using the double-pointed U nails, attach the second piece of mesh to the 5″ boards.

8. Take the 20″ rope and tie a tight knot in one end. Thread this through the 5″ holes on the inside of the cage. T

9. Thread the rope through one of the holes in the top 9″ board that you had set aside earlier, and then thread the rope through the other hole on the other end of the 9″ board.

10. Thread the rope through the outside of the cage to the inside. Your top should now be attached to the cage. Tie a tight knot at the end of the rope. You should be able to lift the top of the cage and open it by sliding it up the rope. This is how you will fill your suet feeder and replace suet cakes.

Your suet feeder should be ready to hang! Take it outside, fill with suet cake or slices of fruit and enjoy the birds when they come to visit!

Tip: Rough cedar is our first choice in wood. It is the best because it can be left unpainted, and not painting is best for the birds along with being natural for them, therefore more attractive. It’s easy for birds to land on. White pine or fir also make good choices. Yellow pine tends to seep pitch, so we avoid it. Do not use pressure treated as the chemicals used to treat the wood can be toxic.

Discourage Starlings, Crows, Jays, Bully Birds at Feeders

Are you are having problems with larger birds taking over your bird feeders? Such birds can be blue jays, European starlings, cowbirds, blackbirds, pigeons or crows who will not share the bird feeders and often run other smaller birds off . They arrive in large groups, are rowdy and bicker endlessly, spilling and food and scaring off other feathered friends. Keep in mind while these may be undesirable birds at a feeder they can have their advantages to your yard. They can be important in the control of pest insects on your property. For example, In the spring animal protein in the form of grubs and insects makes up 90% of starlings’ diet.

You can still take steps to prevent bullying at your feeder.

Use feeders specifically designed for smaller birds. These can be tube feeders or feeders with cages around them. Feeders with cages only allow smaller birds in, with the cages extending several inches around the feeder, surrounding it. Tube feeders have small perches which larger birds can not land on. Do not use a seed tray on either style. Cardinals and grosbeaks can usually land on these style feeders so you likely can still have them. Bully birds will still feed off any seed which has fallen on the ground.
Another feeder option are those made to close if an animal gets on it that is above a certain weight. These work well for keeping out larger birds as well as squirrels and raccoons.

Place secondary feeders just for larger birds away from your small bird feeding station. A platform feeder works well as larger birds can easily use these. Often bully birds prefer to feed off the ground, so ground platform feeders work well. Jays, European starlings, cowbirds, blackbirds, pigeons and crows all find this style so much easier than other styles to land on that they will use it. Place the platform feeder near your primary feeding station and the larger birds will make their way to it simply out of ease of use. Keep moving the platform feeder further and further away from the feeding station you wish smaller birds to use until it is far enough not to be disruptive to the primary station.Use alternate foods for bully birds. Dry dog food is an inexpensive solution, or cracked corn. Jays, European starlings, cowbirds, blackbirds, pigeons and crows will all eat cracked corn, and from what we have seen, dry dog food.