Free Standing Bird Feeder

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Free standing bird feeders not only provide a secure and comfortable spot for all of your neighborhood bird friends to come and eat, but you also don’t have to worry about them getting caught on any tree branches due to their standalone design. Our design experts have put together a list of the best classic and modern free standing bird feeders available.

Tara Gosselin Interior Design Expert

Tara is a San Antonio-based award-winning landscape architect, writer and educator, passionate about eco-friendly solutions and growing her own food. She knows all it takes to help you create a sustainable backyard retreat that combines blissful charm with a modern take on landscaping.

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Updated 12/07/2023

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Free Standing Bird Feeder

Buying Guide

It can be easy to feed precious creatures such as birds. However, more often than not, novice birders make simple mistakes which can keep the animals from enjoying their feeders. Although some mistakes can only make the feeders unattractive, there may be some that you commit unknowingly which can endanger their lives or even traumatize them from ever coming back.

To ensure you provide your garden a new stunning addition and give several bird species a nutritious buffet, keep on reading as we’ve prepared a buying guide on freestanding bird feeders.

How to protect a bird feeder from predators?

There are several forms of wildlife which will gladly raid the feeders of birds. Squirrels, rats, deer, raccoons, and even bears are known to snack at feeders. This means the supply of seeds for the birds you’re hoping to feed will be depleted.

Also, unprotected feeders can expose these beautiful animals to predators, especially when the senses of birds are dulled when they're feeding. The best freestanding bird feeder, therefore, is one that’s designed to be predator-proof.

Additionally, you can apply a coat of oil at the base and pole of your bird feeder to make it really slippery that rats and other predators won’t get to the actual feeder.

As you wouldn’t want to harm the animals, choose the freestanding bird feeder that doesn’t have any sharp points or edges. Select the design that allows the animals to perch as well to keep the seeds or suet cakes from being soiled. If possible, get more than one bird feeder so the birds get ample space while feasting on your treats. It will also help avoid overcrowding.

How to clean and maintain a free-standing bird feeder?

Birds expel in the same place where they eat; therefore, you will be tasked to sanitize and clean the bird feeders regularly. If you are looking for a feeder that's easy to clean and can be kept germ-free, don’t opt for wood or clay as both of them are absorbent. They are also difficult to sanitize. Instead, go for the one made of either glass, steel or plastic.

Bird feeding is like all other investments you make. It takes commitment and research to take care of lives. Overall, the feeder you choose should be one that’s easily filled, cleaned, and emptied.

What are the common types of bird feeders?

Perching - A perching feeder comes with a seed chamber at the center of the unit with multiple feeding ports. A common perching feeder is the tube type.
Platform - A platform feeder is for ground-feeding bird species that prefer to eat on an open platform that’s elevated several feet from the ground like field sparrows, juncos, and tree sparrows. These birds love white proso millet. For cardinals and grosbeaks, you can give them black-oil sunflower seed as that's what they are attracted to.
Clinging - A clinging freestanding bird feeder is for clingers like nuthatches, chickadees, and woodpeckers. Their preference is to grab their food. A good clinging feeder is a suet feeder. Suet cakes can be added into it or compressed seeds that are glued together using non-toxic glue.