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FAQ in this category 'Bird Feeders' |
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The feeders made by CJ Wildlife include the following great features:
patented ?easy flow base? to minimize clogging and allow access to the last scrap of food
combined feeding port and perch (seed feeders only), easily removed for cleaning or replacement
seed feeder tube made of UV-stable polycarbonate (used in greater thicknesses for riot shield, bullet-proof windows etc)
?fins? on inside of lid to make it very difficult for squirrels to open; the lid is easily removable and the base is retained by the bottom pair of ports, so the whole feeder can be quickly stripped for cleaning. Peanut feeders are even easier!
easy to dismantle for cleaning;
The range begins with the CJWildlife plastic feeders, from there to the CJWildlife metal equivalent, and ends with the Conqueror. Plastic and Metal feeders are 2.5 inches in diameter, and available as seed or peanut feeders, while the CJWildlife Conqueror feeders are 3.5 inches in diameter, and only available as seed feeders. Back to top
Why do wild birds prefer CJ Wildlife feeders?
The tube feeder has been around for a long time & fundamentally remained unchanged from its original design by Peter Kilham. Subtle changes have occurred but these were hardly noticeable until now.
The new C.J.Wildlife tube feeders have made a major step forward. The new Perching Ring not only attracts more birds but the birds are much more comfortable using them. Traditional perch configuration meant birds had to sit sideways on the feeder. This was not very comfortable & the birds were more vulnerable to predators because their vision was obscured by the feeder.
With the perching ring the birds can sit & feed naturally facing the food. Due to their near all round vision by moving their heads slightly the birds can see behind them .This makes them feel more comfortable & they are other safer from preditors.The other big advantage of the perching ring is it will attract a wider range of species to the feeder than the traditional straight perch.
Other outstanding design features are a new patented profiled base, this allows seed to flow more easily to the feeding port, this means the birds can completely empty the feeder, rather than leaving some food potentionally rotting in the bottom of the feeder. Back to top
There could be a number of reasons, most obviously that it is new! Birds are more likely to take to a new feeder during the colder months ? November to March in most areas - but it may well take two or three weeks before the birds are totally comfortable with a new feeder. Other factors are the site (see next question) and type of food provided. Putting unsuitable food in a CJ Wildlife feeder in no way improves the quality of the food! Back to top
Birds need to feel safe when feeding. Locate your feeder so as to give all-round vision to its visitors, and ideally not more than 6 feet from convenient cover such as trees or shrubs. If you are replacing an old feeder, leave it in place until the birds become accustomed to the new one. And remember, it can sometimes take several weeks for birds to have the confidence to start visiting a new feeder, but be careful not to let the food go stale.
Most common garden birds are fundamentally woodland species, and they do not like straying too far from cover. If the birds feel that they can quickly escape into surrounding vegetation in the event of a predator appearing they are much more likely to use the feeder.
Where cats are a problem, the ideal location will avoid low-lying cover below the feeder where ground feeding birds may well forage on spilt seed, as this reduces the chances of an ambush. There are people who successfully use window feeders on the upper stories of apartment buildings in urban areas, but as a general rule, mature gardens with lots of cover will attract more birds than gardens on new developments with minimal cover.
A useful tip in gardens suffering from a shortage of cover is to plant one or more Butterfly Bushes (Buddleia davidii) or other plants which should provide a useful amount of cover in a fairly short time, as well as attracting lots of butterflies.
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No! A seed feeder can produce ideal conditions for growing moulds on peanuts, some of which may be harmful. During the breeding season whole peanuts should not be offered except through a mesh feeder, as there is a danger that they could cause nestlings to choke. It is possible to provide seed mixes in a peanut feeder, but there will probably be a degree of wastage. Back to top
Nothing is totally squirrel-proof! The plastic feeders offer no protection from squirrels, but the metal feeders are highly squirrel resistant. The metal seed feeders are tougher than the peanut feeders, but squirrels will be able to feed from the ports. Back to top
How do I keep squirrels off my feeders?
Try to ensure that squirrels cannot jump onto your feeder from tree branch, fences, up from the ground etc. If this is not possible then guard your feeders with a protective baffle such as those available from CJ Wildlife Back to top
Most items likely to suffer accidental damage or wear and tear over the years can be replaced. The plastic bails in the top of the feeder may need to be replaced annually if the unit is cleaned regularly ? contact CJ Wildlife if you need replacements. Back to top
The CJ Wildelife products are part of a feeding system (see below for explanation of the range). CJ peanut and seed feeders (except the Discovery range) have a thread in the base to allow the feeder to be mounted on top of pole, to have a seed tray fitted, or to allow a special threaded hook to be attached so that items such as peanut cakes can be suspended from the feeder?s base. These items are sold separately. Back to top
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