FAQ: Bowls & Feeders for birds

Choose a feeder with a wide roof that covers the food from rain and snow and with drainage holes in the base. Food in tube feeders is better protected from moisture than on open trays.

Cone-shaped baffles on the pole or above the feeder, feeders inside a metal cage and sturdy metal lids are used. The feeder is worth hanging away from branches and roofs a squirrel could jump from.

Tube feeders and feeders inside a metal cage, whose mesh only small birds can pass through, help. Food that falls to the ground is worth clearing up, as it attracts larger birds.

Yes, a feeder is easy to make from wood or other durable materials. It matters that it has a roof and drainage holes, no sharp edges or protruding nails, and is easy to clean.

Hang the feeder in an open, visible spot, but not too far from bushes or trees where the birds can hide from predators. It must be out of reach of cats and easy for you to refill and clean.

Feeders are usually hung at about head height or a little higher so a cat cannot reach them from the ground. At the same time it should be somewhere a cat cannot jump to from a nearby fence or branch.

Hang the feeder higher and away from dense bushes where a cat could lie in wait, and leave open space around it. A baffle can be fitted on the pole, and it is better not to scatter food on the ground.

Yes, but think about the neighbours: husks and droppings can fall onto the balconies below. A feeder with a husk tray, husk-free food and regular cleaning help, and it is worth checking the building rules before hanging one.

Nearby bushes or trees give birds cover from birds of prey. However, dense bushes that are too close let cats sneak up unseen, so the feeder is worth hanging a few metres away from them.

Several feeders in different places reduce crowding and squabbles, and birds pass diseases to each other less often. Different types of feeder with different food also attract a wider range of birds.

Tits feed well from hanging feeders they can cling to: tube feeders and fat ball and peanut holders. They also readily visit house-style feeders if these hang in a quieter spot.

Blackbirds, chaffinches, robins and other ground feeders prefer low trays or platforms. Such a tray is worth placing in an open spot where the birds can see an approaching cat in good time.

It is a tube or cage of fine metal mesh through which birds peck peanuts in small pieces. That way they cannot carry off whole nuts, which matters in spring so chicks are not fed large pieces.

No, salted, seasoned or roasted food is harmful to wild birds. Put only unsalted nuts, unsalted fat and food intended for birds in feeders.

Birds often need anything from a few days to a few weeks to find a new feeder and trust it. It helps to hang it somewhere visible, not to keep moving it and to refill it regularly.

Fill the feeder with food that many birds eat, such as black sunflower seeds, and for a few days scatter a little on a tray nearby. Consistency and a quiet spot where the birds feel safe matter most.

Wild birds are usually fed from late autumn, when frosts begin and natural food becomes scarce. Feeding matters most during hard frosts and when snow covers the ground.

Yes, birds get used to a feeder and rely on it during cold spells, so feeding should not stop suddenly. In spring, once natural food appears, the amount can be reduced gradually.

Yes, but hygiene is especially important in warm weather, as food and water spoil faster. In spring and summer do not put out whole nuts or large pieces that birds could carry to their chicks.

An outdoor feeder is worth cleaning at least every week or two, and more often in damp, warm weather or when many birds use it. Old, damp leftovers should be thrown out before refilling.