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I’m considering getting one of these. Is the copper color one actual copper? Will it tarnish or will it hold its color?
Will they learn to use it on their own with dried mealworms? They don’t normally spend a lot of time in my backyard where I would put it and I don’t know how successful I would be training them to use it.
I have the blue one so can’t say. Mine don’t go for dried mealworms. I might start with live ones to really bring them in…
Does anyone have experience with dome feeders like this?
They are much cheaper and well reviewed. You can find it on amazon:
Aspects Vista Dome FeederI have mockingbirds, HOSP, and robbins around who like the mealworms I’ve put out. Not sure who has been eating them out of the dish along with the blues, but I have seen the robbins for certain.
Is there any good reason not to get a dome feeder like that?
Brad, how does this exclude large birds? Looks like it is mainly to keep moisture off the seed. And remember the worms need to be in a slick container or they will crawl out in a heartbeat. Can’t tell if this container is glass or what. Yes, robins love worms or any sort.
Hey Brad, There is an online vendor called Gardens Alive who has the blue caged meal worm feeder (they call it a bluebird barrier feeder). They offer it a bit cheaper than any of the other vendors and there are coupon codes online. The list price is $69.99 everywhere else. I managed to score one today for $44.99 total — including shipping. I used a coupon code 0171239 and I conducted online chat with a representative to get free shipping. I don’t know if this fits your budget, but I thought I would share the good deal.
Susan
PennsylvaniaCarol, the dome lowers as much as you want to keep bigger birds out. Maybe it doesn’t work well, that’s why I was asking if anyone has used a similar one.
Susan, that’s a great price. I tried the same code and it only gave me $53. Ha! I might try that though if I decide to get it. Thanks a lot for the heads up!
Brad, just curious – what photo sharing site are you using to post here – Photobucket is not let us post “3rd party” any more without paying a huge fee. That is what I use and a lot of others here.
I think Brad uses imgur.com because he recommended the site to me several weeks ago when I wanted to post photos.
Susan
PennsylvaniaThe only competition I have in the cage feeder are house wrens. It’s comical to watch the others try to get in though.
Seriously? Photobucket won’t let me share my photos with a third party now? That’s the only reason I have it! That makes this forum here harder to use as far as posting photos for me. I guess I’ll have to look for something else.
I have the bluebird feeder advertised on this site. It’s expensive but very well made and bluebirds take to it quickly. These grid style feeders work well. Just make sure the distance to the cup inside th feeder is far enough so that bigger birds can’t reach the cup. I had a square one that the grackles and starlings could get food by reaching in.Tammy
Brad, just curious – what photo sharing site are you using to post here – Photobucket is not let us post “3rd party” any more without paying a huge fee. That is what I use and a lot of others here.
I use imgur. But in this case I just copied the photo URL from Amazon.
So has no one used a dome feeder? The reviews are pretty good on Amazon for people with blues. Just lower the height of the dome to keep out any bigger birds.
I wonder if I will have problems with HOSP wanting the mealworms. Do they eat them?
Oh YES, the HOSP will eat them!!!!!! The only way I keep them out is to put out just enough worms so that my blues eat them up in a about 2-3 minutes. I feed them in the morning and early evening. They will come to my whistle (try to feed them approximately the same time each day) and when I see them I put the worms out. If you have HOSP around and just put out the worms, they will get them. I’ve even been known (shush, shush) to stand at my patio door and shoo the HOSP away, and the blues will do this if they are around.
I shoo away the HOWR every chance I get! They actually roll around in the worm feeder bowl. One look at that upturned tail and I am a crazy woman trying to scare them. LOL.
The bluebirds learn to come to the feeder. They are a bit picky because if they notice the slightest change they spook a little bit.
I built a perch out of a 1 X 2 piece of wood, drilled a hole through it and put a 5/16 diameter dowel through it. Nailed a plastic dish on the top and placed it near their nest box. It took them a couple of days to hit it, but when they did, they were hooked. Then started moving the perch closer to the caged bluebird feeder until it was right next to the feeder. I then took the dish off the perch and placed it in the cage and it took them about a half day to figure out how to get in the cage, but again, once they got used to it, they had no issues.
I use the blue cage shown on this site and on Sialis.org
Good luck
Brad,
I had the dome feeder and was disappointed with it. No matter how far I lowered the top of it the Starlings were able to figure out how to slip their heads underneath it and eat all the mealworms. I plan on getting the caged bluebird feeder when I can afford one. I will need it in the winter as the Starlings hoard the feeder then. Luckily I haven’t seen any of them at the mealworm feeder all summer. They eat everything and leave nothing for the Bluebirds. It really ticks me off.
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