Best Overall
Kettle Moraine Cedar Suet Feeder With Tail Prop
Best Bang for the Buck
Nature’s Way Tail-Prop Suet Bird Feeder
Best Suet Cake Feeder
C&S EZ Fill Suet Basket
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The potentially melty , mussy nature of suet requires peculiarly plan suet bird tributary that allow for peckerwood , wrens , chickadee , cardinal , and other shuttle to eat it without making a mess . For this guide , I tested 10 suet boo feeders , each design with unparalleled features for dissimilar bird - feeding needs .
Suet is a especial type of bird food that provides high - calorie nourishment for a wide smorgasbord of backyard birds . This suet for bird is made of generate animal fat merge with seeded player and nut case and compress into cakes , plugs , or shot . As a result , suet wench birdfeeder come in different case and size . Some hold a large book to reduce filling absolute frequency ; some determine access to sealed birds or exclude squirrel , and some hold suet and other type of birdie food .
Choosing the proper suet hoot feeder pop off a long way toward keeping the birds fed , the squirrels at bay , and the mess under mastery . As a Master Naturalist and a lifelong backyard birder , I am always on the lookout for better bird self-feeder . My favorite is theKettle Moraine Cedar Suet Feeder With Tail Propthanks to its splendid design , strength , and bird - viewing relief . delay out the reviews ahead to see details about our other top weft , how each model fared in script - on examination , and why I view them to be some of the good suet birdie feeder on the market today .
How We Tested the Best Suet Bird Feeders
I have beenfeeding the wild birdsin my cubic yard for almost 20 years , so they already know where to number for a hearty meal . I often see downy and red - bellied woodpeckers , chickadee , nuthatches , tit , wrens , warblers , and cardinals feeding on suet . My hands - on testing focus on on the daily aspects of own and sustain these suet bird feeder , including whether they would accommodate or enhance the established eating patterns .
Using my live bird - feed post as a test area , I hung each of the suet feeders and monitored them closely for 1 week . In addition to observing skirt dealings , I note any difficulties with gathering , filling , or cleaning the feeder and how well the confluent protected the suet from rainfall and nuisance fauna .
Our Top Picks
Whether you bid to have suet feed for birds in the form of patty , shot , or plugs , this digest of feeder match the bill from a basic suet cage to several tail prop affluent and other specialised models plan to attract a variety of birds and keep out nuisance coinage . Keep reading to explore the item-by-item mathematical product reviews , all of which admit my reflection from testing to avail you choose from among these upright suet bird feeders available today .
Our Ratings : simpleness of Use5/5 ; Effectiveness5/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value4.2/5
Standard 5 - in straightforward suet cakes come in a extensive range of a function of flavors that pull mountain of birds , and a good tributary need not be complicated . This Kettle Moraine suet bird feeder is made with an insect- and decline - resistant northerly white cedar frame and coated sword interlocking suet compartment for a raw esthetic and years of reliable chick alimentation . The tail property extension below the suet compartment helps birds equilibrise while feeding .
This was my favorite feeder of all the mannikin due to the simple , effective design and the relief of catch birdie as they fed on it . In addition to durable and lightweight cedar tree structure , the more or less longer tail prop and coated steel cable knack loop made it stand out from the other tail airplane propeller feeder designs . The cedar wood was light than reuse credit card and more long-lasting than painted pinewood used in other feeders . The longer stern property made it easier for red - belly woodpeckers and other midsize bird to eat well .
Birds can feed on either side of this — and most other — suet feeders . Mounting with take in in psyche is the key . I fall the feeder on a sheepherder ’s come-on with the narrow-minded border oriented toward my window . It allowed excellent visibility visibility of birds on either side of the feeder while some of the other selection had blind billet .
This suet feeder is not squirrel proof , and a thirsty racoon could tangle it away without additional protection . It also allows wanton eating admission for potentially unsuitable dame like starling . For most exploiter , however , the benefits outbalance those minor drawback .
Get the Kettle Moraine suet hoot feeder atAmazon .
Our evaluation : easiness of Use5/5 ; Effectiveness5/5 ; Durability4/5 ; Value4.4/5
Much like the Best Overall pick , the Nature ’s Way suet feeder is a lightweight wooden ass property - style single - cake suet birdfeeder . It features a coated steel cable length hanger and kerfs carved into the behind airscrew to ply secure basis for snort . The suet sleeping room is confront with coated steel mesh for durability and well-fixed feeding access .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
This feeder learn all the boxes in terms of easy frame-up and sustentation and absolved visibility of feed birds . Plus , the price is one of the grim among the examination group . However , it became apparent early on in my examination that this feeder is best for small birds . The shorter tail airplane propeller extension worked well for downy woodpeckers , but larger ruddy - belly pecker did n’t have quite enough way . The bigger birds shifted around as they fed , prompt their tails back and forth and shaking the whole eater .
The manufacturer express that the feeder is “ made with ” cedar tree and that it is conditions protect with pee - based stain . I could not verify that the entire feeder is cedar , but it did not have the stylemark cedar tree scent like other true cedar feeders . The top is stained , but the suet sleeping accommodation and tail prop are not . Because of these issues , I scored the feeder a point lower on durability .
Get the Nature ’s Way suet bird feeder atAmazon .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4.7/5 ; Effectiveness5/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value4.5/5
run suet does n’t get more flexible or affordable than this conducting wire basketball hoop feeder . The C&S EZ Fill suet basket is a perdurable coat blade mesh John Milton Cage Jr. that you may easily fall from any hook or limb . Used alone or in combination with other razz feeders , it holds one 5 - inch - hearty suet cake to provide eminent - energy food for thought for small and midsize birds .
Although this affluent does not include a empennage prop and does not protect the suet from the elements , birds of many different species and size gravitated to it . The open mesh John Milton Cage Jr. design is exposed on all side for eating , which can be positive or electronegative , calculate on your goals . I watched as all of my common suet - feeder nonchalantly devour the suet cakes while perched on the top , side , and bottom of the cage . Small birdie held on more securely than larger shuttle , but even the red - belly out peckerwood regularly attended the fete .
Photo: amazon.com
While I care the pick of only tossing this feeder in the dishwasher for periodical cleanup , one issue made it more or less more difficult to handle than the nates prop figure . While tail property feeders expend a sliding top occlusion with no latch , this model has a metal door latch that is complicated to operate with gloved hand — a challenge forwinter filling . Over time , the latch bent slenderly so that it alone was not enough to curb the lid in a closed position . I wind the jump on chain through the lid to help procure it .
Get the C&S EZ Fill suet bird bird feeder atAmazon , The Home Depot , Walmart , orChewy .
Best Suet Plug Feeder
Kettle Moraine Cedar Suet Plug Log Feeder
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4.7/5 ; Effectiveness4/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value4/5
While traditional suet feeders can become crowded with all kinds of birds , a suet logarithm feeder offer a specialised alimentation opportunity for clinging birds . The Kettle Moraine suet plug logarithm feeder features four suet ports for selectively feast clingers , such as woodpeckers , nuthatches , chickadees , and titmice .
fill this affluent was the most complicated ( messy ) of the radical as it want pressing ball of gentle suet into the pickle . I purchase 1 - in - diam suet plug to make the process easier but still ended up with quite a bit of no - thaw suet bum on the table subsequently .
Photo: amazon.com
The birdfeeder make as advertised , attracting clingers and excluding percher . Unfortunately , squirrelsare excellent clingers . They were well capable to stab the suet out of the eating gob for a roly-poly feast of their own . In add-on to travel along best exercise for locating the feeder out of reach , I recommend protecting this tributary with a squirrel baffle .
I especially liked the feeling and fit of this feeder in my feeding station . Made of cedar , it await raw and should last a retentive clock time . The elevation of the feeder allow a built - in tail airplane propeller for fowl of all sizes , include pileated woodpecker .
Get the Kettle Moraine suet bird feeder atAmazonorWalmart .
Photo: amazon.com
Best Suet Nugget Feeder
C&S Suet Nugget Feeder
Our evaluation : Ease of Use4.3/5 ; Effectiveness5/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value4.4/5
Suet nuggets can be an excellent supplement for seed eaters like finch . While you could habituate suet nugget in a variety of ways , include fly front - through and board - style feeders , I wish to tote up a layer of conducting wire mesh security to monish messiness . This coated steel mesh C&S suet nugget tributary is a great option , and it bear up to 24 apothecaries' ounce of suet pellets .
mold like a metro cum birdfeeder with three obliterable rod , this mannikin attracted a lot of house finches , chickadee , and titmouse . While the short straight perch did not work for cardinals , the fully accessible mesh sides did play well for cling birds . The self-feeder was evenhandedly well-situated to fill , although I had to altogether slay the top rather of being able to slide it away .
Photo: amazon.com
One of the last - price tributary of the radical , this choice was one of the most versatile as well . The tube chassis and medium mesh also functioned well for feeding goober pea , in - hull helianthus seeds , and dry mealworms .
Get the C&S suet nugget bird feeder atAce Hardware , The Home Depot , orWalmart .
Best Seed and Suet Feeder
Woodlink Going Green Premier Feeder With Suet Cages
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4.3/5 ; Effectiveness5/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value4.3/5
When distance is limited , a combining source - and - suet fowl feeder makes a commodious all - in - one chick feeding station . The Woodlink break Green Premier suet feeder include a large seed hop-picker with perches for feeding along both sides as well as mesh suet cake holder at either ending . It ’s an fantabulous resource for feeding a divers backyard great deal in a small infinite .
This feeder is made of recycled plastic lumber with acrylic panes on the hopper side and coated steel mesh suet basket . The front - loading baskets are hinge at the bottom with a rubbing latch on top for easy operation , even with gloved hands . The roof features a pianoforte - style hinge along the ridgepole , allowing one half of the roof to swing up to open up the seed hopper .
Photo: acehardware.com
The metre - test seed hopper design is a perennial favorite for its rustic aesthetic and repose of use . This simulation holds about 5.5 pounds of mixedbirdseed . In my thou , that was enough for a full week with about 10 per centum still in the grounder at the close of the week . The two suet bar were on gait to last a calendar month .
design to feed a mixed slew of wild birds , this feeder was a success . All of my regular visitors seemed to feel at home eating from it , including cardinal , the larger red - bellied woodpeckers , and bluejays .
My only concern with the suet baskets was the potential for intruders . The top door latch mould fine but did n’t need much drive to open . The run workweek was uneventful , but it could be a matter of time before a peculiar squirrel or racoon pop out it open , and I have to prepare a more secure closure .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Woodlink suet bird feeder atAmazon , Wayfair , Target , orWild Bird Store Online .
Best for Large Birds
Birds Choice Two-Cake Suet Feeder With Tail Prop
Our rating : Ease of Use4.7/5 ; Effectiveness5/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value4/5
It sounds simple , but marvellous birds require tall feeders with more nutrient . At 7.75 in broad and well-nigh 21 inches tall , the generous proportions of the Birds Choice suet confluent adapt both large and small birds . Larger birds like pileated peckerwood will appreciate this feeder ’s forked - height suet compartment and extra - long empennage prop .
Made with UV - tolerant reuse plastic timber and coated metal meshing , the self-feeder is build for the rigors of foresightful - term outside exposure and active feeding . Although pileated woodpeckers are a rarity at my feeding place , the red - bellied woodpeckers determine themselves in a comfortable feeding position , with room to part with .
Photo: amazon.com
The drawback of such a big feeder is its free weight and duration . It could be too long for a standard shepherd ’s hook . A tree diagram arm might be the best mounting positioning , but the weight unit of the full birdfeeder will require a strong one .
Get the Birds Choice 2 - cake suet razzing self-feeder atAmazonorThe Home Depot .
Best with Tail Prop
Birds Choice Single-Cake Suet Feeder With Tail Prop
A tone tail prop suet feeder has to pop the question the morphologic support that larger birds need for soft feeding , and it should also be durable for years of service . At an inch shorter than the Best Overall pick , this Birds Choice suet feeder worked about as well for small and midsize doll . It also boast extremely long-lived recycled plastic expression .
I give the Kettle Moraine cedar tush airscrew birdfeeder the edge for the Best Overall pick due to the more or less long property and because I preferred the true cedar construction over plastic . However , I have no doubt this confluent will outlive the wooden one . The sliding top made it prosperous to dilute , even with gloved hands , and all but the largest birds could lie well-to-do while pecking the suet .
Like the Best Overall pick , this feeder is also not squirrel validation and does n’t forestall birds that some may consider unwanted from feed . Also , the design of the hang loop may leave it susceptible to being pull away by raccoons . Additional protective covering will be necessary .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Birds Choice single - cake suet wench feeder atAmazon .
Best Upside-Down Feeder
Songbird Essentials Small Upside-Down Suet Feeder
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4.7/5 ; Effectiveness4/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value4.3/5
Some birds , such as starling , hill myna , and even larger birds like Crow , can become a pain in the neck by gobbling up all the suet and give chase other wench by . If you require to save the suet principally for smaller clinging birds , then this Songbird Essentials upside - down suet feeder can help . The feeder holds one 5 - column inch - straight suet bar securely beneath the recycled credit card cap , where only clinging bird can easily eat it .
have a suet feeder upside down is an effective solution for rule out most perching birds , although some of the more persistent starlings made valorous attempt . Agile and inquisitive chickadees , wrens , and nuthatches quickly conform and enjoyed the amplitude . A couple of problem for wench - watchers , though , are that fewer Bronx cheer can feed due to one - sided memory access , and the shaded eating country makes it a bit more difficult to see the birds . For those reasons , this confluent might be unspoilt for a eating station that you may observe from a faithful distance . It would also be good to hang it moderately high than other feeder so you have a better view from below .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Songbird Essentials suet bird feeder atAmazonorAce Hardware .
Best Squirrel-Proof
Brome Squirrel Buster Suet Feeder
Our Ratings : simplicity of Use4/5 ; Effectiveness5/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value4.2/5
Squirrels may or may not be sound , but they are inquisitive and unquestionably persistent . If there is a agency they can get to the suet , they will find it in clock time . The Brome Squirrel Buster suet feeder physically carry off this theory by closing the doors when squirrels are present .
This bird feeder hold two 5 - inch suet cakes , one facing the front and the other face up the back . The weight - sensitive superstructure allows lightweight bird to feed uninterrupted , but the system of weights of a squirrel deplume down a cover plate to block the food .
Photo: amazon.com
Where squirrel are most active and destructive , this feeder could be an first-class — but expensive — result . My squirrel universe is not so scurrilous to fowl tributary that I could absolve the cost , but I did see the closure on several occasions . It worked as advertised .
I recommend this self-feeder for desperate birders with theworst squirrel problems . The eater itself is quite large and impenetrable . It solve with a standard shepherd ’s lure , but the bottom was so close to the ground that squirrels could jump up and hang on . It would be undecomposed if mounted higher . Also , the big size of it of the bird feeder made it more difficult to watch both sides of the eater at the same prison term , so birds on the back side were blot out .
Get the Brome suet razzing feeder atAmazon , Nature Niche , orBirdertown .
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing a Suet Bird Feeder
Suet feeders for bird come in a variety oftypes , shape , and sizes . Before buying based on Cartesian product critique , be trusted to agree the feeder to your essential . Here are some central considerations to keep in mind as you research the best suet Bronx cheer feeder .
Materials
Most suet feeders will include an area of plastic or vinyl group - coat metal mesh that allows wench to pick at through and eat up the suet . The size of the mesh openings may range from as small as about ¼ inch up to about ½ inch .
The rest of the feeder may be made of wood , charge card , or coated metal . Coated metallic element feeder are generally bound to squirrel - proof figure or the most canonic suet baskets . Sir Henry Wood and plastic are used interchangeably for other design types , and each has benefits and drawback .
plastic are very durable , but the best UV - protected case are often quite great in equivalence to wood . They will last a foresighted time but require stronger reinforcement . Cedar is the good wood for Bronx cheer bird feeder because it is lightweight and extremely resistant to dirt ball and radioactive decay . Wood feeders can be hang on lightweight support systems but will break down quicker in the elements .
Cake Capacity
Suet bar feeders generally hold one or two standard 5 - inch - substantial suet cake . Single - cake feeders that birds can get at from both sides at the same clock time , like the tail end prop feeders earlier in this guide , are consumed the fastest . To extend the time between filling , consider instal two of these feeders or a double - cake feeder that places one suet cake above the other . undivided - patty confluent that only supply alimentation access on one side , like the upside - down feeder , are consumed more slowly .
Additional Features
Other considerations admit the closure system , squirrel tribute , and compatibility with other feeders in the eating station . Because bird eat more suet in cold weather , it ’s nice to have a closing system that you’re able to easily manipulate with gloved hands . The heave - off top on tail airscrew feeders are the easygoing to manipulate but shew less secure than the metallic element latch on some of the cage or basket - style suet affluent .
user can incorporate squirrel protections into the affluent design or add them later . The secure squirrel - cogent evidence confluent innovation include a physical barrier , such as a closure system or a mesh grid that lowly razz can enter but squirrels can not climb through .
When append a suet feeder to an existing bird - feeding station , you may wish to incorporate similar styling or colors . In some instances , it may be necessary to choose a small suet eater — or replace an live seed bird feeder with a combination source and suet tributary — due to space limitation .
FAQs
Now that you ’ve had a chance to critique the top choice and examination observations , you may have a few lingering question . If you are still not quite sure which is the good suet bird feeder for your backyard birds , this FAQ section may help .
As with other bird affluent , users will want to locate a suet bird feeder high enough to keep predators from attacking the bird , but low enough for convenient pick and maintenance . For that reason , verify to place the bottom of the feeder 5 to 6 foot above the ground .
Suet attracts a broad variety of birds and can be peculiarly good during cold weather . Offer suet in a specially designed suet feeder that admit birds to eat it expeditiously without get a flock .
dame suet is made of fork out creature fat and other ingredients , such as seeds , nuts , cereal , and dried fruit . The sticky brute fat bind the ingredients and provides valuable kilocalorie .
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a author and product tester with an extensive desktop in the glasshouse and landscaping industries . For more than 20 long time , he mow , edged , planted , pruned , work , irrigated , and revive beautiful landscape painting . Now , he tests and write inspection about the late outside power equipment , hand tools , lawn attention products , and other outdoor livelihood goods .
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