Dual suet feeder for fat balls & cakes

3.5882352941 out of 5

17

I biught 2 of these earlier this year, but have been unable to use as intended. The cage falls away from the roof, as the fixings are not up to the job, as soon as try to hang. My feeders are now roofless and wedged among branches

I have to agree with other reviewers who pointe out the weakness in the build. The roof takes all the weight but it is held on with very flimsy, thin folded strips of soft metal. It is doubtful that it would hold with a full load of suet blocks. I decided to buy it in the hope that the problem had been fixed. As a temporary measure, I have used lengths of garden wire wrapped around the end fixings on the handle and through the top of the basket to provide extra support. Hopefully it will suffice while I think of something better. At least the basket is of reasonable quality, apart from problems with the door as reported by another reviewer. We'll see!

The cage is sturdy, the roof and wire attachment really strong ..... but the fixings between the roof and cage are made from very thin, pliable metal that isn’t fit for purpose resulting in a separation of the lid from the cage when several small birds try to use the feeder at the same time. Not worth it, really disappointed.

The cage and roof of this feeder are good and solid, but the roof is connected by small flimsy pieces of metal, which do not bear the weight of a feeder and fat blocks.

I put 4 suet balls in this feeder but, as I was hanging it, the roof came off and the rest of the feeder fell to the ground. The clasps holding the roof to the cage are of very soft and fragile metal and will unfold under the weight of the suet balls. Very poor quality and poor value. The RSPB should not be stocking such items and, if I could give it zero stars, I would.

Yes, it gives good access to suet cakes, but the corvids in our garden have demolished it three times now. They can open the cage with ease. When I reinforced it with garden wire they just threw it off the tree and demolished it on the ground. Their most recent exploit was to pull the roof off, throw it to the ground and demolish the contents, aided by pigeons, sparrows, a pheasant and several herring gulls. Not recommended for gardens with a regular influx of large corvids.

I've had three of these and have used them for the square suet cakes. Because I'm trying to keep the corvids away from the seed feeders the suet is all hung from a tree at the back of the garden and the seeds from a tree at the front. Over the last 6 months the corvids have become increasingly resourceful. First it was just pulling the cage open so that the suet cakes fell to the ground - the catches are not particularly strong. I managed to retrieve the cakes from the rather dense lavender bush into which they had fallen, but if they fall on to the open ground they are pounced on not only by the corvids but also by the resident pair of herring gulls. I reinforced the catches with paper clips. The whole cage was knocked to the ground, the paper-clips torn off and the flanges in the roof holding the cage partially opened. I actually saw a carrion crow knocking the whole assemblage off the tree. I'm now trying some extra reinforcement using garden wire. It's costing me an arm and a leg in suet cakes. I suppose corvids have to live, and at least it's stopping the magpies ambushing the goldfinches and tits.
But the bottom line is this - the whole thing needs to be made much stronger.

This feels really sturdy. It's easy to clean. The birds are all over it.

I've had one of these feeders for a few years but now need to replace it as the squirrels/magpies and jackdaws' constant attacks kept pulling the lid from the cage - with the cage ending up on the floor - and it's no longer fixable. The clips connecting the cage to the lid are a very soft metal - could do with something stronger. It's also necessary to fasten the door with extra garden wire to stop the aforementioned critters opening the door and dropping the contents onto the floor. However, there isn't anything else on the market like this feeder, the old one has lasted - with numerous repairs - for a long time, so I'm now ordering a replacement. Can't see the smaller birds go without their suet feed because of the vandals that also use it.

Another lovely feeder to add to my collection. Looks good, easy to fill. I’m sure it will fit 3 suet Cakes. Very pleased

I have had one of these feeders for approx 12 months now. I agree with the other positive reviews about this product. I too keep the door closed by wrapping coated garden wire around the bottom (opening) to stop the door from coming open. One other thing I do when I fill the feeder each time, is I put a long twig at each end, through the bottom holes (the twig goes right through the feeder). This allows some birds to perch on the twigs to feed, rather than on the feeder itself. (I've seen a robin do this). Suet blocks rest on the twigs so they remain in place.

very versatile feeder, looks lovely too. Nice and strong, the squirrels have to do a lot of gymnastic to get at it, but can't open it.
A word of caution, though, if you have parakeets visiting your garden: they hang from the door side and then it opens! I've fixed it by tying the door to the cage with a small piece of garden wire. (yes, it was the parakeets, not the squirrels, I've saw them do it!)
May be it could have a butterfly screw to close it?

RSPB response: Thank your for your review we are glad you are enjoying your Dual suet feeder. Your feedback regarding the door has been passed on to our product manager.

Wanted a double suet cake feeder,as I can go through 2 before I've got out of bed on a morning. As it happens,I can fit 3 in,which is even better, The feeder is as popular with the birds,as any other suet cake feeder I've used. Got it on offer for half-price too,so no complaints here.

Had no problem like Jacqueline with regards to the roof. I had been using a circular suet feeder and cutting the blocks up to fit them in, so decided to get one the correct shape!
I could hear the woodpecker waiting to be fed - his distinctive ""chip"" sounding very impatient!
I filled the feeder and hung it up and by the time I got in the house and looked out of the window, he was already on it!
All the other birds use it too - the suet blocks seem to be a firm favourite with them all. Even saw a chaffinch feeding her babies from it..... Makes it all worthwhile!

Having had success with the smaller suet cake feeder I thought I would purchase the dual suet ball/cake feeder. This fits more into it and I was amazed how quickly it was empty again. The little blue tits especially keep flying to this feeder. Lovely to watch.

I thought I would try this feeder as a replacement for a smaller one that has become worn out. I am very pleased with it. It is sturdy and I like the protective covering, strong handle and secure opening. The covering also seems to put the squirrels off - more than for my other more exposed feeders. I found 2 suet blocks were fine in it or 4 buggy balls at a time. I am so pleased with it I have ordered 2 more to replace other worn out feeders. I don't have a problem with suet cakes going mouldy as mentioned by another reviewer. I guess I'm lucky with them being eaten up fairly quickly by feathered guests (and squirrels - who have to go to a lot of effort to nibble at the suet while dangling precariously).

I found I can fit 3 slabs in it (at a squeeze) - one of each 'type' (insect, mealworm, raisin). Nearly a kilo of suet meant having to rotate other feeders around the pole to balance it out a bit. Looks and seems robust enough - will have to see how it survives the test of time. I had trouble with mouldy cakes during the winter. Maybe the 'lid' will make a difference, maybe not. Tits took to it from day 1, sampling all 3 types of cake, whereas they have been turning their proverbial noses up at the fat balls. The starlings haven't worked out how access it - yet. Maybe because the cakes are such a tight fit (with there being 3 rather than 2). Maybe 2 or 3mm extra on the dimensions and 3 cakes would be a 'truer' fit. I put 2 in and it looked a bit empty. The cakes are a bit soft in my opinion, but given that they were immediately attractive to the tits and they came at a quid discount for 2 bundles with the feeder feeder, who am I to complain :)