Feeders- which and where??

[honeysuckle]

Hi again:)

I have been pretty baffled by the huge array of feeders available to buy and the great difference in cost and wanted to know from those more experienced than me which feeders you think the birds prefer? I know that different birds prefer different feeding methods, it is the particular feeder that I am interested in. To clarify things these are some of the things I have been wondering????

An open bird table or covered?
Plastic feeders or metal?
Straight perches or perching rings (like those from CJ's)?
Large or small?
Best peanut feeders (ball or tubular?)

Finally what is the best position for all of these? (sheltered or open?, high or low?)

All advice welcomed;) ;)

Many Thanks:D

[PiratesAhoy!]

Hate to say this, but it depends on your birds!

If you have a large enough space, and you're really keen, offer something of everything. We have a couple of ground feeding stations, one open table and one roofed, and various hanging feeders.

Really, you need to tailor the feeders to what birds you get, or perhaps what you want to get in your garden.

Where it comes to metal or plastic feeders - do you have squirrels? If so, metal. If not, plastic's just as good mostly. Perches depend on the bird - although in my experience they prefer the stick type to the ring type.

Large feeders if you go away often or your birds are greedy like our greenfinches ;) Small if you don't mind refilling - keeps it fresh and hygenic.

I have no opinion on the ball peanut feeders - never used them to be honest.

[stormy]

also if you have squirrels go for those which have a cage around them so to speak, because they will chew the wire, and even remove the bird feeder and bury it.
what ever bird feeders you go for is trial and error to start with, do you have a bird table?
have fun xxx

[Loopy]

If you have squirrels, I suggest hanging feeders on chains! I used hooks and the squirrels manage to knock the feeders off so they can help themselves from the ground. Pesky things!