Bird Feeder Guide
Haith’s Bird Feeder Guide
Start With The Food. Then Choose The Feeder.
Choosing a bird feeder becomes much easier when you begin with what you want to feed. Seed, peanuts, niger seed, suet and softfoods all suit different feeder designs.
From there, watch the birds visiting your garden, see which feeding positions they actually use and adjust your setup over time. There is no need to build the whole bird garden in one go.
A Simple Way To Choose
Seed, peanuts, niger, suet or softfood?
Use a feeder designed for that food format.
See what actually gets used in your garden.
Fresh food, clean equipment and regular checks.
Quick Bird Feeder Chooser
What Do You Want To Feed?
Match the food to a feeder designed to hold and present it appropriately.
01 / Bird Seed Feeders
Seed Mixes, Sunflower Hearts & Straight Seeds
Seed feeders are a practical starting point for many gardens and can be used with compatible seed mixes, sunflower hearts and other suitable straight seeds.
Feeder capacity, port layout and construction vary, so choose according to the food you use, the number of birds visiting and how frequently you want to refill.
02 / Peanut Feeders
Whole Peanuts Need A Suitable Peanut Feeder
Whole peanuts are normally offered through a purpose-designed mesh peanut feeder rather than a conventional seed tube.
Choose from straightforward mesh feeders, more robust metal designs and squirrel-resistant options depending on your garden and feeding setup.
03 / Niger Seed Feeders
Tiny Seed Calls For A Specialist Feeder
Niger seed is very small, which is why niger feeders use feeding ports designed specifically for fine seed.
Tube, metal and clinger-style designs offer different ways to present niger seed. Goldfinches and other finches may use these feeders where they are present locally.
04 / Suet Feeders
Match The Holder To The Suet Format
Fat balls, suet pellets, feasts, cakes and sticks do not all use the same feeder design.
Start with the suet format you want to offer, then choose a holder that fits it securely and can be inspected, cleaned and refilled easily.
05 / Mealworm & Soft Food Feeders
Mealworms And Softfoods Need A Different Approach
Mealworms, calciworms and prepared softfoods can be offered in specialist feeders or suitable trays rather than conventional seed tubes.
Because softer foods can change condition relatively quickly outdoors, choose a feeding setup that makes them easy to inspect and remove when needed.
Beyond The Main Feeder Types
Build The Feeding Setup Around Your Garden
Squirrel-Resistant Feeders
Caged and more robust feeder designs intended to help manage squirrel access and feeder damage.
Explore squirrel-resistant feeders →
Small Bird Feeders
Explore feeding options designed with smaller garden birds and selective access in mind.
Explore small bird feeders →
Window Bird Feeders
Compact feeders that attach to suitable glass and bring feeding activity closer to view.
Explore window feeders →
Bird Feeding Stations
Bring several compatible feeders together in one organised and flexible feeding area.
Explore feeding stations →Food & Feeder At A Glance
Match What You Feed To How You Feed It
| Food | Feeder Type | Useful Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Seed mixes | Bird seed feeder | Seed feeders |
| Sunflower hearts | Compatible seed feeder | Seed feeders |
| Whole peanuts | Mesh peanut feeder | Peanut feeders |
| Niger seed | Niger seed feeder | Niger feeders |
| Fat balls | Fat ball feeder | Suet feeders |
| Suet pellets | Suitable pellet feeder or compatible tray | Suet feeders |
| Mealworms & calciworms | Mealworm feeder or suitable tray | Mealworm feeders |
| Prepared softfoods | Suitable softfood feeder or tray | Soft food feeders |
Choose By Bird
Watch The Birds, Not Just The Feeder
Different birds use feeding equipment in different ways, and the species visiting one garden may be very different from another.
Rather than trying to predict everything in advance, watch the birds you actually see and let those observations guide your food and feeder choices.
Shop By Wild BirdWhere Should A Bird Feeder Go?
Choose A Position You Can Observe And Manage
There is no single position that suits every garden, feeder or bird.
Put feeders where birds can access them and where you can refill, inspect and clean them easily. Watch how birds and other wildlife approach the feeding point and adjust the position if necessary.
Ask Yourself
- 01 Can I inspect the feeder easily?
- 02 Can I reach it for cleaning and refilling?
- 03 Is the food staying in good condition?
- 04 Which birds are actually using it?
- 05 Does anything need adjusting?
Feed Birds Properly
The Right Feeder Still Needs Looking After
Whatever feeder you choose, keep food fresh, remove damp or spoiled material and clean equipment whenever residue, droppings or other material begins to build up.
Allow cleaned feeders to dry before refilling, keep the surrounding feeding area well managed and provide fresh drinking water.
Read Our Responsible Feeding GuideFeed. Watch. Adjust.
- 01 Choose food suited to the feeder.
- 02 Offer manageable amounts.
- 03 Remove old or spoiled food.
- 04 Clean equipment when needed.
- 05 Watch the birds and adjust.
Continue Exploring
Build Your Bird Feeding Setup
Helpful Answers
Bird Feeder FAQs
A practical starting point for choosing and looking after bird feeders.
Which bird feeder should I choose?
Start with the food you want to offer. Seed, whole peanuts, niger seed, suet and softfoods use different feeder designs, so matching the feeder to the food is the simplest starting point.
What feeder should I use for bird seed?
Use a seed feeder compatible with the particular seed mix or straight seed you want to offer. Feeder port size, capacity and construction vary between designs.
What feeder should I use for whole peanuts?
Whole peanuts should be offered through a suitable mesh peanut feeder rather than a conventional seed tube.
Why does niger seed need a special feeder?
Niger seed is very small, so niger feeders use ports designed to hold and dispense fine seed rather than the larger openings found on many conventional seed feeders.
Which feeder should I use for suet?
Match the feeder to the suet format. Fat balls, suet pellets, feasts, cakes and sticks may require different holders or feeder designs.
Can I feed mealworms in a bird feeder?
Yes. Mealworms and calciworms can be offered in a purpose-designed mealworm feeder or suitable tray where the food can be inspected and removed when needed.
Where should I put a bird feeder?
Choose a position where birds can access the feeder and where you can inspect, refill and clean it easily. Watch how birds and other wildlife use the location and adjust it if needed.
How often should I clean a bird feeder?
Clean feeders regularly and whenever food residue, droppings or other material begins to build up. Remove damp or spoiled food promptly and allow cleaned feeders to dry before refilling.
What if birds are not using my new feeder?
Give birds time to investigate it, then consider the food, feeder type and position. Watch what happens and adjust the setup rather than assuming one feeder or location will suit every garden.
Do I need more than one type of bird feeder?
Not necessarily. Start with the food and birds already relevant to your garden. You can add other feeder types later if you want to offer different foods or feeding opportunities.