A while back someone had asked about our bluebird feeders. We have them spread around near the bluebird houses but these are two that I keep in front of the house so I can watch them. From what we’ve read, bluebirds like to get inside the feeders where other birds don’t harass them while they’re feeding. I’m also adding links to these that we purchased. Most of what we have are feeders that Vince made and they’re similar to the wooden one below.
There are a lot of feeders out there and I tried to choose ones that had positive reviews and I’ve been happy with the ones I purchased. It has taken a while for the blue birds to seem comfortable going into the feeders but they don’t seem to have any apprehension about them now.
The first one is a Kettle Moraine Cedar feeder. Vince did take it completely apart and add a finish/weather protector to the wood. He will do that at least once a year, when he takes down all the bird houses to clean and refinish them. I sprinkle meal worms on the “floor” and they do climb up the sides a bit but they fall back down. We were going to glue some slippery plastic onto the sides to keep the worms from climbing up the sides and going out the hole but that ended up not being a problem.
This feeder is very well made and made in the U.S. At the current time, it’s $32 with free shipping and I think it’s worth it. I may order more of these to put around the house.
Bluebird Feeder
The second feeder is the Duncraft Mini Bluebird Cage feeder. It is currently on Amazon for $26.95 plus $8.95 shipping. The little cup inside this one is attached and would have to be unscrewed to remove it for cleaning so I simply insert a little glass up inside that one and I can remove my glass cup, wash it and re-fill it as needed. The bluebirds seem to like it equally as well as the other one.
Bluebird Feeder
One of these days, Vince is going to figure out how much I’m spending feeding birds and he’s liable to put them on a diet! 🙂
They’re so fun to watch .. and even though I go through a lot of bird seed and meal worms, it’s still pretty cheap entertainment. In fact, it’s time to get the hummingbird feeders in, scrubbed and filled. They’ll be here soon, if they aren’t already here .. just waiting or me to fill their feeders.
Judy Snider says
Hi Judy
Here in West Tn I feed alot of hummingbird over the summer. We think we have about a thousand by August. We have fifteen feeders and we have to fill them (30 oz size) a couple time a day. We go thru sugar by the 25 lb bag.
Here is the website where you can check on the migration of the birds and report your first siting in your location. http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html
I checked this AM and didn’t see any reported for 2015. You can also go back and look at previous years to get a good date for putting up your feeders.
Since we are snowed in I’m going to work on a quilting project today.
Thanks for the interesting blog
Judy Snider
JudyL says
Thanks for the link. What feeders do you prefer for the hummers?
Judy Snider says
I use Perky Pets 30 oz glass feeders with 6 feeding stations. I think this tiny link should work. http://tinyurl.com/mnh3pp3
I’m glad you were talking about hummers because it reminded me I needed a few new feeders. Now I’m ready for when the get here about the end of March in W TN
Marilyn S says
Judy, we have hummers year round here in the Palm Springs area. They have been busy building their nests.
We have two feeders on our patio, one of which is a new purchase and the hummers just love. I will see if I still have and info on it. We do occasionally have an ant problem but by taking a water bottle cap (and poking a hole in it or notching the top edge), filling it with Vaseline above the feeder, sliding it on has solved the problem.
Spend hours watching them. Also feed the finches – both yellow and red. Love my birds!
Diana in RR,TX says
If Vince ever decides the birds need to go on a diet, have him talk to Galen. We do keep the seed people in business! We don’t seem to have much luck getting blue birds in the yard, but there are a lot around.
they have good habitat near by.Talked to some people at the “bird meeting” Monday night. They said the bluebirds around here were scouting out their blue bird boxes in December.
kwiltnkats says
Judy are there any problems with squirrels getting into the bluebird feeders? My folks have found only one feeder that the squirrels can’t figure out. I’ll have to give Judy Snider’s link a look see. Sandi
AmyM says
We have had a group of bluebirds at the regular feeders… I did get a worm house..like the first one you posted… and they go in sometimes, but so do smaller birds. Right now the worms would freeze if I put them out… so waiting.
But I did make my own suet with peanut butter, coconut oil, corn meal, oat meal, seeds and raisins and spread it one some pine cones. All the birds seem to be loving it.
sherryl says
Hi Judy! Okay, so this comment doesn’t have anything to do with the bird feeders (which I love by the way and yes, I too, spend a bit too much feeding the birds – have you ever put out peanut feeder for the blue jays? so fun to watch!) Anyway, I just noticed that you had a Prepping Challenge that you started last year. Wow, am I behind or what? I thought I’d see if I could take your challenges, even though I’m a year behind, but it looks like you stopped after two challenges. Was that because you didn’t get enough participation? I think it’s a great idea!
Deb says
Everything ok? Hope your just having technical diffeculties and nothing serious. …