What actually decides whether a feeder gets busy#
Most people who put up a feeder and see nothing have made one of four mistakes, and all four are fixable in an afternoon.
The seed is wrong. Supermarket mixes are mostly milo, wheat and red millet, which most feeder birds cannot digest well. They rake it onto the ground to reach the few sunflower seeds underneath, and the rest rots. Start with black oil sunflower and nothing else.
The seed is old. Sunflower goes rancid, and birds detect it long before you do. A full feeder that nothing touches is usually a stale feeder. Store it sealed and cool, and buy quantities you will use within a month.
The position is wrong. Birds will not feed in the open with no escape route, and they will not feed where a cat can reach them. The working distance is 10 to 12 feet (3 to 3.5 m) from cover.
Not enough time has passed. Three weeks is normal. Chickadees and titmice roam constantly and usually find a new feeder first; other species follow them. Here is the realistic timeline.
The three distances worth memorizing#
Almost every placement question on this site resolves to one of these numbers.
| Distance | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| 10 to 12 feet (3 to 3.5 m) from cover | Close enough for a bird to dash to safety, far enough that a cat cannot ambush from inside the shrub |
| Under 3 feet (1 m) or over 30 feet (9 m) from glass | Very close, a startled bird cannot build lethal speed. Far away, it will not mistake a reflection for sky. The middle distances are the dangerous ones |
| 5 feet (1.5 m) up, 10 feet (3 m) from any launch point | Squirrel geometry. A fence, a roof edge or a branch counts as a launch point, and a baffle on the pole does the rest |
Water does more than another feeder#
The single highest-return upgrade after your first feeder is not a second feeder. It is a shallow dish of water about 2 inches (5 cm) deep.
Every bird drinks and bathes, including the warblers, thrushes and vireos that will never touch seed. Add movement, even a slow drip from a bucket, and the effect roughly doubles. In winter, open water is often scarcer in a neighborhood than food is.
Where this site stands#
ProBirdFeeder does not test products, rank them, or earn a commission on anything you buy. That is a deliberate constraint: it means the buying guides teach you the selection criteria (metal ports, a base that comes off without tools, real drainage, capacity matched to a week of eating) instead of steering you toward a model. Criteria outlast models.
It also means we will tell you when the right answer is to stop. Take feeders down during a disease outbreak, during bear season, and whenever seed has gone moldy. Feeders concentrate birds, and concentrated birds share what they carry, which is why cleaning is not optional. More on all of this in our editorial policy.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the best bird seed to start with?
Black oil sunflower seed. It has a thin shell that small birds can crack, high fat content, and it appeals to more North American feeder species than anything else you can buy. Avoid cheap mixes containing milo, wheat or red millet, which most feeder birds reject.
How long does it take for birds to find a new feeder?
Usually a few days to three weeks. Chickadees and titmice tend to arrive first because they scout constantly, and other species follow them. If four weeks pass with nothing, the cause is almost always stale seed, poor siting, or a cat or hawk patrolling the yard.
Where should I hang a bird feeder?
About 10 to 12 feet (3 to 3.5 m) from a shrub or tree, so birds have an escape route but a cat cannot ambush them. Keep it either under 3 feet (1 m) or over 30 feet (9 m) from any window, and 5 feet (1.5 m) up on a baffled pole at least 10 feet (3 m) from any surface a squirrel can jump from.
How do I stop squirrels getting into my bird feeder?
Geometry beats gadgets. Mount the feeder on a smooth pole with a correctly sized baffle, 5 feet (1.5 m) up and 10 feet (3 m) horizontally from anything a squirrel can launch off. Switching to safflower seed helps as a second layer. Never grease a pole: oil on feathers destroys their insulation and can be fatal.
How often should I clean my bird feeder?
Every two weeks in mild or wet weather, monthly in dry cold, and immediately if you see clumped seed or a sick bird. Wash in hot soapy water, soak for about 10 minutes in 1 part household bleach to 9 parts water, rinse thoroughly and dry completely before refilling.
Is it bad to stop feeding birds once I have started?
No. Wild birds get most of their food from natural sources and move on readily when a feeder empties, so a vacation harms nobody. Being reliable is still kinder during a hard winter, and there are times you should stop entirely, such as a local disease outbreak or bear activity.