Customer Reviews

Duncraft 18834 Squirrel Proof Blocker Selective

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been through a few feeders looking for something simple that beats the squirrels. This one fits the bill. Its all metal construction prevents chewing, and the distance between the inner wire mesh feed tube and outer cage is sized to allow the birds to reach the seeds with ease. The squirrels can't get at them. It has attracted woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice and cardinals (which eat seeds that spill on the ground below it). It has a simple locking tab on top that seals the lid but allows for easy refilling.

I just wish it was made in the USA instead of China, like so many other things. I'd happily pay more for that.

For some odd reason the squirrels this year are simply mad. I've had all of my feeders literally torn apart by squirrels. They eat through acrylic and wood and squeal while doing it, which is somewhat amusing to hear. I think they're possessed or something.

I did a lot of on-line research about squirrel proof feeders and this one came up as the best value. The next step is the $60 feeder and it continues to rise in price after that one. Hopefully I'll never have to do that. The birds seem to love the feeder, and I am no longer burning through expensive feed. I get a variety of birds and they don't seem to have any trouble getting to the feed through the wire. I saw one squirrel try to touch the feeder, but he/she gave up after about 5 seconds. Their hands simply can't get to the food. He must have told the others because I haven't seen any others even make an attempt.

As far as food type, you can pretty much use anything you want. The containment area is small enough so wild bird food will not spill out but large enough so sunflower seeds can be eaten as well. I alternate between wild and black sunflower so I get a different type of birds.

There are multiple small drainage hole on the bottom as well. So if you notice your feed on the bottom not moving, chances are it's clogged and mold is growing. You will need a thin stick and a hose for cleaning it out. Just be careful not to bend the cage wire.

Recently it even survived a bear attack! Only repair necessary was to straighten the hanging wire.

UPDATE-Almost three years later and the feeder still looks new and is keeping the squirrels away.

This one really works! I've just purchased my second Duncraft 18834 squirrel-block feeder, since the first one has proved so successful. This is the first feeder of many I've tried over the last 20 years that keeps out squirrels--every last one. Squirrels simply cannot get at the feed because of the wire cage. Although a few tried when I first put it up, they gave up and never attempted it again. It's a pleasure to see only birds at the feeder instead of a squirrel hanging on and keeping away the birds. The little metal disk that is supposed to keep the cap on tightly also does its job. Squirrels can't remove the cap to get at the feed.

But in addition to its squirrel-blocking ability, its construction has other advantages. The feed is contained in a stainless-steel mesh tube rather than a plastic tube like most feeders. This allows air to circulate around the feed and prevent it from getting moldy after a few days of rain. I've had the first feeder over 8 months now and haven't had to clean it out because of soggy, moldy seeds. The other thing I like about it is that the wire cage allows birds to perch, cling, or hang wherever and however they want to. They're not limited to a few perches. Several varieties of woodpecker hang and feed the same way they do when they're clinging to trees.

Totally worth the money if you have a lot of squirrels in your yard.

It's well made and heavy for it's size so it doesn't swing around like a plastic feeder. The Finches love it.

I gave the Duncraft bird feeder an A+ for keeping squirrels out, but a D- for keeping the seeds in. I put sunflower seeds in my feeder and the seeds comes out of the sides and the bottom. When the birds remove the seeds from the feeder the other seeds falls out. I had to refill the feeder at twice a week, because half the seeds were on the ground.

Well built bird feeder. The wire used to suspend the feeder could be heavier gauge. Squirrels can bend and twist the existing wire. Be sure that the feeder is securely attached to its suspension point. Our squirrels lifted the feeder off the hook to which it was attached and dropped it on the ground. When the feeder is on the ground on its side the squirrels can get the lid loose and access the seed. I think one of them has an engineering degree from MIT. We finally solved this problem by suspending the feeder from an eye hook with a continuous oval spring clip purchased in the hardware dept. of Lowes. This clip has one side that is spring loaded and can be pushed in (by people) to remove the feeder from its suspension point.

I have very enterprising squirrels which soon learned they could make the feeder swing to knock seed to the bottom tray and then scoop it out with their paws. After a few months they had pulled off the metal feeder station and then the seed would pour out on the bottom tray and again the squirrels would merrily scoop it out.

I corrected the swinging by attaching a wire from each side to 2 nearby trees. The feeding stations were taped with heavy duty packaging tape to keep the squirrels from pulling them out.

None of these types of feeders from Duncraft are easy to take apart to clean or repair which is a major drawback and why when mine are due for replacement in a few more months I will be changing to something else entirely.

Worth noting as well that the grid is too tight for many birds like grosbeaks and even adult finches though fine for chickadees and other very small birds.

The best style for bird access, easy cleaning, and keeping squirrels out are the ones like the Opus Fortress. Other models have an adjustable skirt so the height can be adjusted to the size birds you want to accommodate which is great for keeping out doves or scrub jays and pigeons if that is a concern.

Opus 51092 Fortress Bird Shelter Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

A very good feeder, strong and yet attractive. Finally a squirrel proof feeder that actually works! A 5 star product!

This feeder does everything it says it does. It is well made, heavy cage wire, top locks down, squirrels go crazy trying to get into it. They climb the pole, grab the feeder, go around it a few times, and give up.

We have chickadees, nuthatches, small woodpecker, titmouse, yellow finch. (We use a fly through type feeder in another location for bigger birds.)

One rather funny incident was the morning we saw a chipmunk squeeze through the outer cage. He/she ended up inside the cage but could not get any seeds. After a while, the chipmunk wanted out and couldn't get out. And there's no way to open up the feeder.

I went outside to see if I could be an encouragement but that didn't work. About 20 minutes later the chipmunk got its head through the cage and finally the rest of its body. We haven't seen the chipmunk since this happened.

We're very happy with this feeder. Birds are at it off and on all day.

This product worked very well for keeping the squirrels away from the seed. We used it for sunflower seeds as smaller seed didn't appear to work very well. However, the birds did not like it. They appeared to have difficulty getting the seed and our enjoyment of many birds utilizing our feeder was reduced. We decided to return it to the seller.