My Mascot
This house wren was playing in the woodpile just outside our window on the deck. Doesn’t he (or she) look like a Curious Wren?
What're YOU lookin' at?
Where are the bugs?
Brome Squirrel Buster vs Yankee Whipper
Seed Leakage - comparison after 5 days
Comparison Test #1 — Seed leakage from ports. Check out the photo showing each feeder after 24 hours hanging in the exact same spot with the same weather conditions. The Brome seems to have ports that leak more seed. I had this suspicion just eyeing the feeder after filling it up the first time with seed.
The photo shows the 24-hour test results. I measured the seed loss in cups as well, and the Brome lost an additional cup over the 24 hour period.
Two Great Feeders: Head-to-Head Tests
As you know from prior posts, my “Gold Standard” all-around champion feeder is the Droll Yankees Yankee Whipper.
However, the #1 selling feeder on Duncraft’s site is the Brome Squirrel-Buster Plus, made by the great nation of Kanuckistan, just north of my home state. It costs about $100 retail, but on Amazon it’s about $75.
So I bought the latest model (Plus) and the cardinal ring (which allows them to perch easily).
Brome Squirrel Buster Plus Bird Feeder
Assembly was simple, and I attached the cardinal ring right away.
Cardinal Ring for Brome Squirrel Buster Plus Bird Feeder
The patented squirrel-proofing feature of this feeder is the The Squirrel Buster’s adjustable, weight-sensitive, metal skirt that drops down with the weight of a squirrel or large bird to block the six ports.
It comes out of the box calibrated to keep out squirrels, but you can change the calibration after you see how it’s working in your yard. Might take a few fine-tunings to get it exactly right to keep out grackles or whatever pesky birds you’re trying to thward. Here’s a photo of the part you adjust:
Calibration Mechanism on the Brome Squirrel Buster bird feeder
And the instructions show you how to calibrate.
Calibration Instructions for Brome Squirrel Buster bird feeder
So here it is, hung off my deck, with a new customer.
Proof that Cardinal Ring really works!
Brome Peanut Plus Feeder – 1st Week
The Brome Peanut + Feeder arrived and I hung it out promptly. Within 10 minutes I had a chickadee at it. Chickadees are always first due to their curiousity and fearlessness.
Chickadee Gets First Pick!
Next in boldness was the white-breasted nuthatch, who likes to hang upside down to eat:
White-Breasted Nuthatch
Then came the downy woodpeckers:
Downy Woodpecker
Review: Brome Peanut Plus Feeder
The feeder came and I immediately filled it with peanuts (it holds 3 cups). I glanced at the directions to make sure that the factory setting on the calibration would keep the squirrels from accessing the feeder ports — yup! All set to hang.
Brome Squirrel Buster Peanut Plus
Here are some close-up photos of how it works. The upper part of the mesh cylinder gets weighted down and covers the feeder ports of anything heavier than a bird clings to it.
Normal Position - Peanuts Accessible
Peanuts Blocked when Cylinder Comes Down
Looks like a smart design that will work well, but let’s hang it up and see. Full review to come after some time observing how it handles birds and varmints.
Custom Baffle for Small Tube Feeder
Custom Baffle That Fits Tight!
I bought the perfect baffle for my small Audubon-brand tube feeder. It has a slot in the top made just for these types of hangers, so the baffle doesn’t rattle around in the wind, or hang there at a jaunty slant. This keeps the seed dry, which is important with sunflower chips, so they don’t rot.
New Peanut Feeder – I just ordered!
Review coming soon on this squirrel-proof (and big-bird-proof) feeder. It has a mesh sleeve that lowers down to block the feeding ports if something too heavy lands on it. So you can calibrate it, just like the Brome tube feeders. I’m curious to see if I can keep the blue jays off, but still allow the larger woodpeckers.
Brome peanut bird feeder
Birds Choice Thistle Feeder – One Year Later
One-year follow up on the yellow feeder I reviewed. OK, so I’m not as impressed as I was at first.  This feeder leaks way too much seed — the mesh is not woven tightly enough.  Too bad, because it has so much going for it otherwise. I have gone back and modified my review to lower the rating a little.
So I have switched over to my old stand-by, the Droll Yankees feeder.
And since this one is so miserly on seed (with its tiny little ports where birds peck the seeds out), I splurged on some extra-nice finch feed.
Kaytee Ultra Wild Finch Seed
Yankee Whipper – Easy Cleaning
Another reason I think this is the best feeder around: easy to clean. To dismantle it for dishwasher cleaning, just undo four screws. Even a monkey (with the right tool) could do it.
Dismantling is Easy
Then you have the tube separated from the unit with the perches. I put the big tube on the lower rack of dishwasher and the blue part on the upper rack.  I also throw the lid on the top rack. For sanitation reasons, wash your feeder BY ITSELF, since it may have bird poop on it, and hence bacteria.
Top Rack
Baffled by Baffles?
If you saw my post back in July about the red squirrel on my suet feeder, rest assured that I put a stop to this rodent invasion post-haste! I bought this Duncraft “weather guard” baffle and it works great!
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I know he’ll never fit through the 1/4 inch hole on this one!
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