Hanging a bird feeder is more than providing food for birds. It’s a safe place where birds can find comfort away from predators. Moreover, the type of bird feeder you put out plays an important role in attracting different species of birds. But before you start shopping, do you know how high to hang a bird feeder?
Quick Answer
The ideal height of a bird feeder should be 5 feet above the ground. Moreover, it should be 10 feet away from trees and shrubs. The goal of hanging a bird feeder is to prevent other animals from snatching bird seeds or the birds themselves. The higher the bird feeder, the better, but don’t place it on the roof because birds might become an easy target for stray cats.
How to Hang a Bird Feeder?
When it comes to hanging bird feeders, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Many birdfeeders come with wires and hooks, and all you need to do is find a safe place. Here is how you can hang a bird feeder.
Use a Long Rope: If you have a bird feeder with a hook, you can use a long rope to hang it next to your house. Simply hammer some nails in the wall and hang your bird feeder. But make sure you hang the feeder away from the window.
Hanging Brackets: This is the most convenient option for hanging bird feeders. You can fix these brackets anywhere in your backyard and move them as per your requirements. If you feel like the area you have chosen attracts squirrels, find a place that’s hard for squirrels to reach or attach a squirrel guard.
Yard Feeder Poles: Yard feeders poles are on the expensive side of the spectrum, but they provide the ultimate bird feeding experience. You can even make yard poles the center of your bird feeding station and set up birdbaths as well. Plus, adding a dripper or mister to the yard pole will attract different birds to your yard, improving your birdwatching experience.
4 Types of Bird Feeders and Their Usage
The best bird feeders are strong enough to withstand winter, tight enough to keep seeds dry, and, most importantly, easy to clean. If you want to attract the greatest variety of birds to your backyard, you’ll need to try the feeders mentioned below.
It’s important to remember that some birds are finicky and only eat from specific feeders. So you might want to put out more than one feeder. Here are all the types of feeders you can get.
Platform Feeders Are Best for Large Birds: Mourning doves, pigeons, starlings, and sparrows are attracted to large feeders. When using a platform feeder, ensure that it has holes in the bottom or a mesh layer to allow drainage. Otherwise, your seeds will either rot or sprout. Always fill a platform feeder just enough so it can last for a day or two. Over-filling can lead to seeds being dislodged.
Tube Feeders Are Ideal For Birds That Eat Seeds: Tube feeders are cylindrical with feeding doors. They attract house finches, northern cardinals, tufted titmice, and grosbeaks. Some tube feeders come with a weighed feature that keeps out squirrels.
Nyjer Feeders Are Best For Finches: Nyjer feeders are made from plastic and have a plastic mesh. To attract American Goldfinches, you can fill your Nyjer feeder with black thistle seed.
Window Feeders Are Great for Birdwatching: These feeders stick directly to your window through suction cups and have a tabletop. This means you need to regularly clean them. Since these feeders are directly attached to your window, they provide an up-close and personal view of birds.
What’s The Best Place To Hang Bird Feeders?
When deciding where to hang your bird feeder, you should choose a spot safe from other animals. You don’t want your feathered friends to be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Plus, bird feeders should always be 10 feet away from tree’s branches and shrubs where predators hide. So the best spot to hang bird feeders is at eye level, far from trees and branches. Moreover, birds don’t prefer noisy places so try to hang the feeder away from your house. Otherwise, you won’t attract many birds.
How Long Does It Take For Birds To Use My Feeder?
The key to hanging a bird feeder is patience. Don’t be discouraged if birds don’t show up on your feeder the next day. This is because they usually take time to switch places. So you will attract new birds, and for that, you need to wait. It’s common for birds to take from a few days to several weeks before they start using your feeder. Sometimes, birds can’t see your feeder because it’s under a roof. Plus, if your feeder is under a shade, it won’t be visible to many birds flying over it. Therefore, it’s best to place a bird feeder where it’s visible.
Do Birds Eat When Feeders Are too Close Together?
Birds often avoid feeders that are too close together. Therefore, it’s best to place feeders 50-60 feet apart. Here are 3 reasons birds don’t eat when feeders are closely packed.
- Due to excessive noise from your house
- They see a reflection of themselves in the window and assume it’s a competitor
- It doesn’t mimic how they eat in the wild
- There isn’t enough space
- Bully birds on the large feeder might prevent smaller birds from eating
Why Do Birds Drop Seeds From The Feeder?
Birds are fussy eaters, and they look for the good stuff. Here are 4 reasons why they drop seeds.
- To find different seeds
- Because they don’t like what you are feeding them
- They throw the outer covering of sunflower seeds
- Your feeder doesn’t have coverage on the side.
The Bottom Line
Hanging a bird feeder is about providing a safe space for birds. The location of your bird feeder matter a lot because if it’s close to trees and branches, birds won’t come to eat. Moreover, you should avoid hanging your feeder next to a window because the bird might collide with it. Finally, birds won’t eat if your feeders are too close together because it doesn’t mimic how they eat in the wild.
Now that you know how high to hang a bird feeder, you should have no problem attracting different birds. So which feeder do you plan to use? If you have had any experiences with the feeders mentioned above, share your thoughts in the comment section!