Upside down suet bird feeders are a great addition to your bird feeding station or as a stand alone backyard bird feeder, and having used one for many years, the pros far outweigh the cons!
My upside down feeder attracts a variety of clinging birds including three woodpecker species – red-headed, red-bellied, and downy. Several of the small songbirds, such as chickadees, wrens, and titmouse take advantage of this feeder, as well. Of course, this type of feeder does exclude nuisance birds such as grackles and starlings, and I’m okay with that!
Another positive of an upside down feeder is that the suet is protected from the weather, unlike vertical hanging suet cages or those attached to the sides of hopper feeders.
I’ve tried two types of upside down suet feeders. One was made of metal and the cage attached below the feeder’s house structure. The advantage of this design is that it holds more than one suet cake. A problem that I quickly discovered with this design was that with the cage exposed below the house section, nuisance birds could cling to the side and enjoy the suet. These birds, in turn, prevented desirable birds from coming to the feeding station. Ultimately, that upside down feeder was taken down in short order, and exchanged for the one that I have been using for years.
My upside down feeder is manufactured in New Hampshire by Duncraft. It’s 6 inches square and 3.5 inches in height, so it holds only one suet cake. The house part is made of recycled plastic, is weatherproof, and is showing no signs of wear after almost five years of use. The grid that holds the suet cake in the feeder is metal and slides out for refilling. I particularly like that the suet cake is concealed within the house, not only because it’s out of the weather, but especially because nuisance birds can’t get to the suet. Additionally, because the feeder is manufactured from recycled plastic (has the thickness and feel of composite decking), it's really easy to clean.
As you can see, when it comes to the pros and cons of an upside down suet bird feeder, the pros far outweigh the cons. These bird feeders attract a variety of desirable birds and deter nuisance birds. However, definitely scrutinize the design of an upside down suet feeder prior to purchasing one to ensure that it lives up to your expectations.
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