Duncraft constructed the platform feeder entirely in metal for durability in all weathers, while prohibiting chewing from squirrels or other mammals. To keep squirrels out of the birdseed, the platform uses two grids and mesh screen to provide beak access only. The feeder holds up to 1 pound of sunflower seeds in its tray. The overhead metal roof protects birdfeed from excessive rain exposure. Small holes in the feeder base allow ample drainage to further discourage mold and mildew from developing. To clean the feeder, users can take the platform apart without difficulty. Users should regularly clean the feeder with equal parts water and white vinegar to protect the birds from bacteria and disease and restock with fresh seed. For the best results, hang the bird feeder near trees and bushes rather than in the open where birds feel vulnerable to predators. To stand upright, the feeder fits on any 1-inch diameter post. The feeder does not come with birdseed. Duncraft offers limited five-year warranty for this item. The feeder tray measures 14-1/2 by 12 by 1-1/2 inches while the roof spans 16 by 13-3/4 inches. The 10-1/2-inch tall feeder weighs 6.3 pounds upon shipping. --Jessica Reuling
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53 of 53 people found the following review helpful: By This review is from: Duncraft 15401 Champion Squirrel Blocker Platform Feeder (Lawn & Patio) We have had the less expensive plastic version of this feeder for a few years. It has been a good feeder, but it's finally disintegrated. We bought the all-metal Champion feeder as a replacement. Duncraft has addressed all the design deficiencies of the previous plastic version:
- The mesh at the bottom of the unit is much smaller, so seeds won't fall through as easily. With the previous plastic version, we had to insert a piece of window screen material to keep seeds from falling through the larger holes in the mesh, and that meant one more item to clean. - The white grid is now a one-piece epoxy-coated metal unit, and is more rigid than the previous two-piece metal and plastic grid. It can be cleaned easily with a bottle brush. - The roof is metal, which will avoid the problem with the previous version of the roof cracking where the metal vertical supports were inserted, as well as avoid the problem of the plastic mottling and fading...Read more 29 of 29 people found the following review helpful: By J Bone (Maryland) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Duncraft 15401 Champion Squirrel Blocker Platform Feeder (Lawn & Patio) Squirrels have been a major nuisance to my bird feeding efforts. After a lot of trial and error and a small fortune spent on feeders, I have found several solutions. For woodpeckers and nuthatches, I use a wire cage suet feeder and buy only pure suet or hot pepper suet. The squirrels seem to leave them alone. For pine siskins and goldfinches, a nylon mesh "sock" style feeder with pure thistle seed works well. Squirrels have no use for the thistle. I have a wire mesh tube enclosed in a green metal cage, also manufactured by Duncraft, for black oil sunflower seeds which attracts a wide variety of birds and keeps out squirrels. The last feeder in my arsenal is the one you see here. Cardinals in particular like to feed from a platform or on the ground, and this feeder works well for that. When I fill it with sunflower seeds, the squirrels do their best to get at it but for the most part fail. I have gradually switched it over to safflower seed, which is great for the cardinals but seems...Read more 23 of 23 people found the following review helpful: By This review is from: Duncraft 15401 Champion Squirrel Blocker Platform Feeder (Lawn & Patio) One of these days I'll find the perfect feeder. This one is not it. Having many type feeders in the yard, I thought I'd add one more platform style to appease cardinals. Almost two months later and still not one cardinal has used it. Mind you, I have a yard full of cardinals, but they don't go near that feeder. Squirrels can and do, although there is a limit as to just how much seed they can extract. Little birds use it too, but they use every other type feeder in the yard as well, and they weren't the reason I bought another feeder in the first place. So, both my reasons, to satisfy cardinals and keep out squirrels, failed. I wish I had never bought this expensive and hard to clean feeder. Update: I've now had this feeder almost eight months and still no cardinal usage. As a matter of fact, this feeder is used the least (by any birds) of the seven hanging around the yard. |