Droll Yankees YCPD90 Dipper Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

by Droll Yankees

Product Features

• Hanging bird feeder for small birds and resisting pests from the bird-savvy manufacturers at Droll Yankees
• Crafted with stainless steel wire, metal cap and base, and a long UV-stabilized polycarbonate tube that discourages squirrel access
• 4 feeding ports release seed gradually; perches collapse under weight of larger, pesky birds and critters
• Regular cleaning of the feeder protects our feather friends from bacteria and disease; holds up to 5 pounds of seed
• Feeder measures 21 inches long with a 4-3/4-inch diameter and weighs 11 pounds upon shipping; limited lifetime warranty

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.8 x 4.8 x 21 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00068561Y
• Item model number: DROCPD90
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,403 in Patio, Lawn & Garden (See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden)
  • #57 in Patio, Lawn & Garden > Backyard Birding > Bird Feeders & Accessories > Tube Feeders

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

With cheerful songs and gentle grace, birds bring charm and enrich the natural environment of most every yard. While plants, flowers, and bird feeders provide food for our feathered friends, smaller birds must compete with pesky squirrels and large nuisance birds, for a bite of birdseed. To encourage these small, feathered friends, the ornithological-minded folks at Droll Yankees created this Dipper bird feeder. The feeder holds seed in a slender tube that greedy squirrel paws struggle to grasp while the tube is extra long to prevent squirrels from hanging down from an above perch to wrest seed from the feeding ports. Smaller birds like cardinals, finches, chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers dine comfortably on a special perch that will collapse from the weight of a bothersome crow or starling, virtually pulling the chair out from underneath these pests.

Thoughtfully designed, the feeder hangs from stainless-steel wire, bail-looped to limit mobility. The durable die-cast metal cap and feeder base assist in keeping seed secure. The easy-to- fill, UV-stabilized polycarbonate tube resists coloring while holding up to 5 pounds of birdseed. Inner baffling ensures steady seed distribution while four feeding ports control seed flow as needed. Users should regularly clean the feeder with equal parts water and white vinegar to protect the birds from bacteria and disease. Wet or moldy food often host for such germs and should be discharged. Do not use chemicals on the bird feeder. For the best results, hang the bird feeder near trees and bushes rather than in the open. Droll Yankees offers a lifetime warranty for defective parts, workmanship, or excessive squirrel damage. The feeder is 21 inches long with a 4-3/4-inch diameter and weighs 11 pounds upon shipping. --Jessica Reuling

Product Description

The Yankee Dipper features collapsible mechanical perches that are weight-activated using a patented Droll Yankees design. Small birds can perch and eat, but large birds and squirrels on the perches cause them to collapse. They re-set automatically. 21" long tubular feeder with 5 lb seed capacity. Sturdy stainless steel wire hanger will not rust. Metal cap fits snugly so that squirrels cannot pry it off. 4-1/2" diameter seed tube is made of UV stabilized polycarbonate for durability. Tube is long enough so that squirrels can't hang down from the top and reach seed. Interior is properly baffled to direct seed to the seed ports. Four seed ports are positioned around the tube. Metal parts have a burgundy finish.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars droll yankee truly lived up to its word of 'squirrel proof'..., July 23, 2006

By 

Lori (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

I've gone through numerous of bird feeders in my lifetime and i am just tired of the squirrels eating the seeds and chewing on the feeders. I gave up a few years back then realized how much i really miss watching the birds. So I decided there has got to be a "real" squirrel proof feeder. I saw this one and told myself that if i saw one darn squirrel on this or even a blue jay, it was going back to the retailer and i'm getting my money back. I've had it 2 years and NOT ONE DARN SQUIRREL!!!! Not only that, the cardinals were able to feed off on this feeder. It's rather a cool innovation. The perch are design to only support birds of cardinals or smaller. Anything heavier, the perch collapse and they either fall off or fly off, then the perch springs back. I'm actually looking to buy a couple more of the feeders. Worth every darn penny 'cuz I know this is going to be the last one and the high quality of this birdfeeder will be around for years to come.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Squirrel resistent but not squirrel proof, August 21, 2009

By 

D. Smith (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Droll Yankees YCPD90 Dipper Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder (Lawn & Patio)

I own two Yankee Flippers, one Whipper and one Dipper. Droll Yankee does make quality products and stands behind their warranties but the only one that is squirrel proof, excluding red squirrels, is the Flipper.

Dipper. It's only squirrel resistant. It took the squirrels about one week before they were hanging on the feeder. My feeders are on a cable between two trees about 20 feet apart and the bottom of the feeders are about 6 feet from the ground. What they would do is walk out on the cable, slide down to the top of the feeder and hang their self over as far as possible from the top, then let go, and as they slide past the perches and feeding holes they put their paws into the feeder holes and hang there and eat. It's the more mature squirrels that do it best but it even takes them 6 or 7 tries before they finally succeed grabbing the holes as they slide by. The Dipper is not for you if you're feeding the heavier birds. Although it is very well built we had flocks of grackles migrate through for about a 2 or 3 week duration and they literally wore out some of the perches. Because of their weight, they need to flap their wings to stay on causing the perches to constantly go up and down thus wearing out the cable inside the perch. It was replaced under the warranty.

Whipper. It's only squirrel resistant. Like the Dipper mentioned above the squirrels do the same gymnastics but they had this one solved in 1 day versus a week. Why is it easier for them to solve, simply because the perches are curved and so even when the perches are turned fully downward that some of the perch still horizontally juts out from the base and is just enough for their paws to grab. If you're debating just between the Dipper and Whipper I would recommend the Whipper because it holds some of the heavier birds and is easier for cardinals because of the curved perch.

Flipper. It works really great and I had used them for about three years but they have one major flaw. Both my motor/battery sticks failed to hold a charge towards the end of the third year. The major problem is that you cannot go out and replace the batteries yourself and so you have to buy the motor/battery stick that costs $39 plus $10 shipping. In essence, plan on paying $50 for the motor/battery stick every 3 years. You have no other option. Yankee should redesign the motor/battery stick so an individual could purchase "C" size rechargeable batteries locally and manually insert them. I refuse to pay the $50 every 3 years and so I purchased Whipper and Dipper bases as replacements since the bottoms of these feeders are interchangeable.

I solved my problem by "squirrel proofing" the cable by stringing empty 2-liter plastic bottles through the cable and now can hang any bird feeder.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely as advertised, February 26, 2008

By 

Laurie Fletcher "Laurie Fletcher" (Casper, Wyoming, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Droll Yankees YCPD90 Dipper Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder (Lawn & Patio)

I've waited a year to write this review (purchased this in Feb 2007) because I wanted to be sure that this feeder was truly the answer to our squirrel problems. We've certainly had squirrels make well-choreographed attempts at this feeder but, in this past year, we have not seen a single success. Another big plus for us is how well this feeder has fared in the tough Wyoming winters. It isn't just the snow; we have extremes in day/night temperatures with relentless wind and the feeder has been out nearly all winter. This was truly worth the expense and I'm so glad to be able to recommend it.

August 2008 update: has now withstood raccoons!

December 2009 update: still going strong. We only take it down in extremely high winds; otherwise this has been out in the weather for nearly three years. Outstanding!

July 2010 update: Believe it or not, we still have this feeder and it is still in great shape.

November 2011 update: Yup! Still going strong. The perches started disintegrating this past year and I contacted the manufacturer to see about my options. I fully expected to pay for a new set of perches or perhaps a new feeder, but they sent me a replacement perch assembly at no cost and it is light years beyond the previous perch set in design and sturdiness. I look forward to many more seasons with this feeder. Outstanding product!