Advantages of Hopper Feeders
Hopper feeders have a built in benefit – their size. A number of feeders have very tiny feeder platforms that are too fragile or shaky for larger birds. But hopper feeders can accommodate birds of all sizes. Additionally, if you buy one that has an ample feeding platform, it will allow many birds to feed at a time. This gives you the possibility of having many different bird species sharing your garden space.
On the other hand, if you’re afraid of the feeder being taken over by larger birds you may decide that you don’t want larger birds in your garden. In that case, one nice feature you should look for in a hopper feeder is weight sensitive perches. This lets you calibrate the feeder so that only birds of the size you desire will can the feeder.
Avoid buying a hopper feeder made out of plastic or cheap wood. Plastic feeders have a tendency to discolor, especially when exposed to the bright sun all day. They also tend to cloud up and become “grungy looking” over time. A well made wood feeder can be a beautiful addition to your yard and last for years. Feeders made of cheap wood will likely crack or split and need replacing within a couple of year.
Hopper feeders are among the easiest feeders that you can buy. They are almost maintenance free. The only simpler type of feeder is the platform feeder which, while inexpensive, leaves the bird seeds totally exposed to the weather and other critters.
Your first decision will be where to position the feeder? Fortunately, hopper feeders are so versatile that you can place them just about anywhere in your garden. You can hang it from a tree in your yard or you can afix it to a pole. If you have more than one tree, you can hang your hopper feeder from a wire stretched between them. Wherever you place it, you can count on your bird feeder giving you many years of enjoyment
You can find more bird oriented resources such as wood bird houses and blue bird houses / boxes at our website.
