A suet cage feeds woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees through the cold months: a tail-prop holder such as the WoodLink 26875 lets woodpeckers brace, and the Brome Squirrel Buster Suet closes when a squirrel climbs on.
For woodpeckers
A cedar holder with a long tail prop; the mesh grid lifts out for cleaning.
Keep in mind: WoodLink lists it in its Wild Birds Unlimited range and does not sell it from its own site: ask a Wild Birds Unlimited store for item 26875.
Squirrels around
Holds two cakes behind a shroud that closes under a squirrel’s weight; a crumb port catches pieces.
Keep in mind: Leave at least 18 inches clear around it so a squirrel cannot bypass the closing shroud.
Suet bits under a roof
A covered tray for suet nuggets, mealworms or seed.
Keep in mind: Add suitable placement or a compatible barrier if squirrel access matters; this feeder is not squirrel-resistant.
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Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and jays take suet readily, and bluebirds will eat suet bits in a dish. It is a high-fat food that helps most in the cold months, when insects are scarce.
A plain wire cage holds one standard cake. A tail prop, a board below the cage, lets a woodpecker brace with its tail the way it does on a trunk. Designs that feed only from underneath favour clinging birds such as woodpeckers and nuthatches over starlings. A weight-closing holder such as the Brome Squirrel Buster Suet shuts when a squirrel climbs on. None of the feeders listed here feeds only from underneath; look for one sold as an upside-down suet feeder.
Plain suet softens in summer heat and can turn rancid; offer it in cool weather, or use no-melt cakes and replace them often. Latch the lid after every refill and check the hinge side: a lid left loose, or a gap wide enough for a small head, can trap a bird or a squirrel. Wash the cage when you change cakes, and clear fallen crumbs below.
| Source | Updated |
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| Feeder Types ↗ | |
| How To Clean Your Feeders ↗ | |
| Common Feeder Birds ↗ |
