Bird Feeders That Keep Seed Dry

Bird feeders come in a variety of styles, shapes and sizes, but keeping seed dry in rain, snow and sleet presents a challenge. If birdseed gets wet and is not cleaned out quickly, it can become moldy, and most wild birds will no longer come to your feeder. Worse yet, birds can get sick from moldy bird seed. To prevent moldy seed, consider using a bird feeder designed to keep seed dry and safe. Fill your feeders, then sit back and enjoy watching the birds that show up for the feast.

The ultimate in keeping seed dry, this feeder provides two covers. In addition to featuring a cover that sits on top of the feeder to keep things dry, a second separate cover protects each of the feeding ports. The feeder works by allowing birds to sit on perches under the lower cover and pull seeds out from the ports. This feeder prevents seed from getting wet even if the rain or snow is coming at a strong horizontal angle. Best yet, you don’t have to fill it very often since it holds 4 or 6 quarts of seed at a time.

Hopper feeders funnel the seed to the bottom of the feeder as the seed is eaten. This keeps the seed dry until it drops into the tray. Look for hopper feeders with a roof on top because this provides additional protection from the elements while the seed sits in the tray waiting for the birds to eat it.

Tube feeders appeal to smaller birds that can land on the small perches these cylinder-style feeders offer. The seed stays dry in the cylinder until the bird pulls a seed from the slit. Tube feeders also offer an ideal way to feed goldfinches and pine siskins niger or thistle seed while keeping it dry and mold-free during bad weather.

A variety of birds, especially woodpeckers, like to eat suet filled with bird seed. To keep suet dry, look for feeders that offer a roof on top. Or look for feeders that keep the suet inside a wire cage with a solid top–these feeders not only offer protection from rain, snow and sleet, but also keep unwanted birds from eating the suet. Instead, smaller birds like chickadees and nuthatches walk though the bars of the cage to eat, while woodpeckers with their long beaks can reach the suet from outside the cage. Larger birds and birds without long beaks cannot access the suet, thus preventing it from being quickly depleted.

Platform feeders, also known as tray feeders, offer large, stable surfaces from which food can be accessed by almost any sized bird. Simply throw seeds or nuts onto the tray, and the birds will come and pick what they want. To protect and keep seed dry, make sure you buy a platform feeder with a roof. Better yet, choose a platform seed feeder made from metal so it lasts longer.