Grey squirrels will
often roll off the feeder but not every time.
Sometimes grey
squirrels will crawl and befuddle around on the Rollerfeeder, and
sometimes they will hang from the bottom trying to figure out the
design.
They will also
crawl down the hanger side and try to reach around - the feeder
housing turns and closes access to the seed trays when they attempt
from the side.
They will often
hang on the feeder and stick their nose through the grid but at an
angle that prevents them from accessing the seed tray.
Rollerfeeder is guaranteed
grey squirrel proof and other medium-large size squirrels.
Red squirrels act
very much like above grey squirrels, they are lighter and more agile
in their efforts to defeat the feeder.
Due to the smaller and wider size variations of the red squirrel,
RollerFeeder markets the design as highly effective against red
squirrels.
Our current models
using wire grid has been in the field for over 5 years in red-squirrel
country without them breaching the design. Many customers
purchase our feeder for small red squirrel problems and write to us
about their success.
See also testimonialsabout smaller red/pine squirrels and the success people have
with Rollerfeeder.
Larger Blue Jays
(American Blue Jay): Rollerfeeder is effective at preventing
most larger blue jays - smaller scrub jays can likely adapt to the
feeder..
Cowbirds:
Effective against cowbirds.
* Starlings:
Effective at preventing Starling - see below note.
* Red-winged
Blackbirds: Mostly effective - see below note. See video below.
*Notes:
(1)
Generally speaking the larger the bird the more effective Rollerfeeder
is in preventing them. Crows and other larger birds, Rollerfeeder
is typically 100% effective at keeping them from pilfering seed.
Birds closer in size to a cardinal such as Starlings and Red-winged
Blackbirds can land on the feeder but they tend to flutter and flap
their wings and give up in a short time. There is a very fine line
between allowing Cardinals and preventing the smaller nuisance birds
like Starlings - the easier a feeder is for Cardinals the easier it is
for birds similar in size like Starlings and smaller blackbirds.
(2)
Although the feeder is effective against larger nuisance birds, we do
not guarantee 100% large-bird proof due to the wide range and types of
larger birds out there. Please read our testimonials
regarding the prevention of large nuisance birds.
(3)
If you have flocks of nuisance birds - use black oil sunflower seed in
the shell and block one side of the feeder this will help prevent them
from counter balancing on both sides.
Rollerfeeder will not prevent
chipmunks if they can gain access to the feeder. This is typically
true with all feeders on the market if chipmunks can gain access to
the feeder.
There is really no such thing as a
chipmunk proof bird feeder that we are aware of.
Bird feeder makers that design
feeders to prevent squirrels call them squirrel proof with no word
of chipmunks - some work better than others at preventing squirrels.
Rollerfeeder is guaranteed squirrel proof.
Chipmunks are very
small, light, and agile with the ability to crawl through small
openings if they can gain access to the feeder.
However, It is easy
to prevent chipmunks by placing the feeder above a pole baffle/dish
so they cannot bypass the baffle - typically larger squirrels can
bypass pole baffles by jumping up or across or down from another
location - but chipmunks don't have the ability to jump very far.
Chipmunks cannot
jump like larger grey squirrels so considering placement, and
baffles blocking access to the feeder is important in preventing
them.
The same thing applies to Flying
squirrels as it does for chipmunks - with the exception they can jump (or fly)
much longer distances to gain access to a bird feeder.
There is no such
thing as a flying squirrel proof bird feeder, when manufacturers
refer to squirrel proof they are referring to the number one trouble
maker with birds feeders, grey squirrels.
Flying squirrels
are like a large mouse - a lot of their size is perceived because of
the skin folds they use to fly. Their small mouse-like size allows them to
crawl through the smallest openings.
Deer can be very problematic with
bird feeders - their height is close to the height of pole hanging
feeders so that makes it easier for them to pilfer bird seed.
Typically they will extend their tongue and lick at the feeder to
pilfer seed. Sometimes they will jump at a feeder and try to
knock seed out with their front legs.
Rollerfeeder's
spinning/rotating housing closes on Deer the same way it does when a
squirrel or other animals puts weight on the feeder.
The best position
for Deer is above or below head height so when they put weight on
the feeder is closes - try to avoid directly across from head
height.
We do not guarantee
our product deer-proof due to the many variables out of our control,
however many customers with deer problems purchase our product and
report back with deer-proof type responses.
Rollerfeeder is a hanging style
bird feeder as apposed to a pole mounted feeder.
Rollerfeeder needs
to hang to allow the outer housing to roll and spin when squirrel
tries to defeat the feeder.
The hanger is one
piece and comes together at the top (as photo illustrates) with a center bump for hanging -
it can be used with wire or chain or hang directly from a yard hook.
We believe Rollerfeeder seed
feeders are the easiest feeders on the market to fill.
Simply turn the outer
feeder housing 90 degrees, using a plastic water pitcher filled with seed or other
container, pour seed slowly into the open hopper. Once filled let go
of feeder housing and the Rollerfeeder will correct itself into feeding position.
There is no need to
take the feeder down, or caps to remove, no locking clips to unlock,
or other security measures other feeders makers employ to keep
squirrel out. Turn housing and pour seed slowly into hopper -
you do need to aim a little while you're pouring the seed.
How to Clean
Clean by using a garden
hose or tub hose and spray the inside of the feeder gently (using preferably
warmer water).
You can remove the
roof for a more thorough cleaning to gain access to the inside of
the feeder housing and easy access to the seed hopper..
Use mild dish soap
and soft rag for wiping the parts clean.
If you use a tub,
soak in warm/hot water to loosen the debris before wiping the debris
out.
Rinse thoroughly
with warm water to remove any left over soap and bird seed debris.
Let completely dry
before filling with seed and hanging.
We do not recommend
disassembly of the entire feeder unless you are mechanically
inclined - however the feeder is designed to replace any part if
ever needed and comes apart with Phillips a screw driver.
Even though we
consider the Rollerfeeder to be a dishwasher safe bird feeder, we
highly discourage you from cleaning a bird feeder in the dishwasher
for the following reasons:
We consider
"Dishwasher safe" a marketing gimmick since most bird
feeders can be washed in the dishwater with little to no damage on
the proper dishwasher setting and rack placement.
The main issue is
you are likely introducing possible bird soiling and possible bird diseases
into your dishwasher - which we all know is for your dishes you use
to eat from. There is no scientific evidence these germs and
bacteria are killed during the dishwasher cycle so why take the
chance.
Birds can spread
bacterial diseases using their beaks from one feeder to another
where other birds contract the germ. These germs or viruses
can be on the bird feeder and when another bird uses the feeder it
catches the germ.
Soiling is another
common issue - even though birds feed mostly outside the seed area -
they soil in many other areas while accessing the feeder and vying
for a place to feed.
We recommend
avoiding the dishwasher to clean any feeder and just use a warm pale
of water, or wash tub with mild detergent and rinse thoroughly with
warm/hot water and let dry completely.
Hanger Dimension: 12" Wide X
21" High - the length of the hanger is required to
prevent large squirrels and animals from hanging down from
above. Squirrels will pilfer seed from a short hanger feeder
or feeder with seed posts at the top of the feeder.
Feeder Housing
Dimension: 9" Wide X 6 1/2" Square with extending perches
on 2 sides of the feeder.
Overall Dimensions:
12" Wide X 24" High
Weight: 3-4 pounds
depending on model and seed used.
Seed Capacity
Standard Hopper: Plastic or steel hopper 2 Quarts.
Extra Capacity
Hopper: Available in steel only 2.5 Quarts
Approx.
2-3/4 lbs of seed using sunflower hearts & extra capacity
hopper.
For customers that
use our standard order form, the order confirmation is the web page
that loads right after you click the order submit button at the
bottom of the order page.
The order confirmation
is title "Order Confirmation" in large bold letters at the
top of the web-page.
The Order Confirmation
gives a summary of your order, only the products with a number like
(1) in the order selection are ordered - a full list of products
will be shown on the confirmation list but only the product with
your quantity selection is ordered.
Shipping time
changes depending on order amounts and orders are shipped in line by
date and time the order is received.
Ship-first option
is fee based and puts the order to the front of the processing for
early shipment.
The extra-duty accessory is
designed for older models with metal pan bottom.
The accessory makes
the older RollerFeeder heavy duty preventing any squirrel attempts.
The extra-duty
accessory does not fit or work with the newer wire grid model
feeders.
The newer style
feeders have been on the market for over 5 years and incorporates the extra-duty accessory feature into the feeder - without the extra
cost.
Due to large animal feeder
problems including bear, raccoons, deer, large possum, and other
large animals, perches are separated from the lifetime housing
warranty. We rarely have issues with perches and if perches are bent by a large animal, most of the time they can be
bent back into place with little effort.
The perches allow
for some flex and up/down adjustment by lightly moving them in the
direction you want to. They are best adjusted so the main
landing section of the perch is horizontal with the ground or with slight angle
up a few degrees.
If you have ongoing
problems with large animals and they are damaging the perches on a
regular basis, we have extra heavy-duty perches available for near our
cost. The heavy duty perches are nearly twice as thick
and rigid as
the standard perches.
Email for the
Heavy-Duty perches cost and our standard flat rate shipping to
cover postage, packaging materials & handling, and trip to the
post office.
To order only the
Heavy-Duty perches fill out the order form (without selecting a
feeder) and write Extra Duty Perches in the Comments Box of
the order form. Also include the Color of the Perches you
want either Gold or Moss Green.
During the first
year of ownership, if you are having problems with the perches and
it is not due to larger animals like raccoons, bear, deer, abuse
etc. E-mail us a photo with explanation
and we will review your request. If we determine the perch has
a defect, we will replace the parts with our heavy duty perches at
no cost for the parts. Our standard flat rate shipping applies
on all parts. send e-mail to info@rollerfeeder.com
We consider Rollerfeeder a rain
proof bird feeder, the roof angle prevents all regular rain and it
is effective under most stormy conditions. The
benefit is the rain prevention feature is built-in and does not
require an overhead dome which can cost $20-$30 or more.
Rollerfeeder will
prevent snow in many conditions especially if the snow is dry and
fluffy, we would consider Rollerfeeder snow resistant but not snow
proof - see next comment.
Heavy Wet Snow 1:
For wet heavy snow, if the snow is deep and heavy enough, the weight
of the snow will turn
the feeder since the snow is heavier than the counterbalance weight
at the bottom of the feeder. If this condition occurs simply wipe the snow
off with a broom or your hand and it will correct itself. Try
to keep ahead of the snow build-up if you can.
Heavy Wet Snow 2: If you live in
an area where heavy wet snow occurs often, the best defense is a
cover above or hang in an area that provides natural cover, or under
an overhang etc.
Steel seed hoppers are available
to convert the suet feeder into a seed feeder. To order the
seed hopper, write steel seed hopper in the comments sections of the
order form - the cost is $14 plus shipping. The
cost of the part is a couple dollar increase from our cost.
Rollerfeeder is designed for small
to medium size songbirds up to Cardinal size.
The list includes favorites like Chickadees, Nuthatches, Finches
(Gold/Purple/House/Other), Tufted Titmice, and other small medium
size birds.
Some customers report Wrens, Painted Bunting, and
other less common medium size birds.
Make sure Rollerfeeder is hung high enough
(5'-6"-8' min.) so the flying approach is adequate. Cardinals need much more room than
smaller birds to fly in and land on feeders. Avoid plant yard hooks
that are low to the ground, use yard hooks designed for birds feeder
which are much taller with wider hooks.
Use mostly sunflower hearts (50%) mixed
with black oil sunflower (25%) and safflower seed (25%), OR 100%
sunflower hearts.
Customer's that use this seed mix have the best results with
Cardinals.
Cardinals usually acclimate to the
Rollerfeeder in due time, if they are having trouble, tie a small helper
stick (twig/small branch) on the perch with thin wire or string - this should
help assist a Cardinal land and acclimate to the feeder. Be
aware it might also assist larger nuisance birds land and possibly
feed. Don't allow the twig to interfere with the rolling
housing.
Cardinal Helper
Perch Ideas
Many customers get visiting
cardinals without helper perches, for some the feedback for helper
perches is that they seem to make it a little easier for the larger
cardinal to land and access the seed.
Tie a twig on or
stick with blunt ends, nothing with sharp or pointy ends or sticking
straight out, at an angle or to the side is best. It could be as
simple as a popsicle stick with rounded edges or a tree stick with
rounded edges, try to use something natural first.
Use a commercial 18" "gear
tie and loop from one perch to the other as shown in below photo
links. Gear ties can be found in many stores including home depot >
Home Depot Gear Tie
Based on Customer photos, 100s of
testimonials, and our own testing, Rollerfeeder will accommodate bird
sizes Chickadee up to Cardinals. Cardinals
can often take a while because they are at the high end of the bird
size RollerFeeder will accomodate, and also because of their skittish personality and natural
feeding habits. Cardinals are ground feeders by nature and will
typically always feed from the ground first if seed has dropped
below feeders. read more below.
A Cardinals personality is more skittish and
nervous than smaller bird feeder visitors.
Cardinals tend to be more leery and cautious when flying around,
perching, and trying out new feeders. The slightest movement
will send them flying away compared to a fearless chickadee that
will eat from your hand.
RollerFeeder has been tested by a nation-wide bird feeder supply store
and it past their testing for birds sizes Chickadee - Cardinals.
We also
receive customer e-mails often about Cardinals using their feeder.
See our testimonials.
Cardinals visit our test feeders on a regular basis. They may be more
prevalent during certain times of the year like winter or late
fall. Natural food supplies can affect how often Cardinals
visit - if natural food sources are abundant in your area they will typically feed from
natural food sources first.
Keep in mind, Rollerfeeder is also
designed to help prevent larger nuisance birds like Blackbirds
which are very close in size (slightly larger) to a Cardinal.
It may
take more time for Cardinals to adjust to the design compared to small-medium
size birds like a chickadee, nuthatch, finch, tufted titmouse, or other
smaller birds.
Cardinals have a wider flying pattern/approach
whereas small
birds can zip in & out of a feeder location. Make sure it
is high enough and some room to maneuver and approach the
feeder.
Cardinals are considered
"ground feeders" which means their natural method of
feeding in the wild is hopping around the ground looking for berries
and seeds. Read more about feeding habits and diet of Cardinals on
Wikipedia > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cardinal#Diet
If there is seed on the ground,
Cardinals will almost always feed from the ground first before going
to feeders.
Some customers get Cardinals
coming to their feeder early and often and others have more waiting
time - we are not sure why but think the existing food source,
regional sizes, type of seed, height of feeder and location of feeder
play a role in customer's success with Cardinals.
See also our feeding
tips about seed, location and height of your Rollerfeeder.
If you have existing feeders birds
have been using they will shy away from new feeders for what seems
like a long time. Birds are extreme creatures
of habit, much more than humans, and a new item in the yard will
take time for them to start using it. The best solution is to follow
good bird feeding tips and patience. You may need to let the
older feeders go dry for a while so they can acclimate to the new
bird feeder. see our tips page at the link below for "start-up
issues"
Use the best seed
in the new feeder - see feeding tips and below tips on bird seed.
Make sure it's in a
good location.
Make sure the
height is high enough
Customer's that
follow our tips have the fastest results with birds starting to use
the feeder and widest variety of birds.
Avoid
inexpensive bird seed with cheap seed fillers - see below and
feeding tips.
Start the new Rollerfeeder using
whole sunflower kernels. Sunflower kernels are also called
"sunflower hearts". Kernels or hearts are the whole
seed kernel from shelled Black-oil sunflower seed - so if you remove
the outer black shell from black oil sunflower seed you have whole
kernels or hearts. This is a premium seed and
will help kick-start the feeder and increase bird traffic, and help
produce a wider variety of songbirds visiting the feeder. Keep
in mind you also need to follow other good feeding
tipslike location, height of feeder, water for birds and
other tips.
The time it takes
for birds to acclimate to a new feeder ranges from the first day you
put it out to a month or longer - this all depends on following good
bird feeding tips, your bird environment (rural or urban, new
development), how many
trees, schrubs, etc. that is conducive to a good bird environment. If you live
on a 3rd floor apartment, or new development with few trees with
little bird habitat it will take much longer than if you live in the
woods etc. Other factors include
existing feeders birds having been using likely for years (already mentioned), time of year you start
feeding, migration patterns, weather, natural food supply, neighbor
competing feeders and bird seed choices which is the #1 factor. See customer
testimonials also.
After the birds
acclimate to the feeder consider switching to our preferred seed mix
which includes whole sunflower kernels, black oil sunflower (with
the shell) and safflower seed. See also bird
feeding tips for photos of the seed and a video of birds
using the Rollerfeeder using whole sunflower kernels.
Peanut parts can be
used, we recommend smaller peanut parts mixed in with our
recommended seed mix or mixed in with sunflower kernels. If
the entire hopper is filled with peanut parts - the parts might now
flow to the bottom as easily so you can lightly giggle the feeder to
help when it gets low.
Inexpensive seed
mix (commercial mixes) should be avoided, it has less appealing
filler seed that native songbirds typically do not like. This
seed gets swiped away by the birds landing on the ground most of the
time. Commercial mixes will reduce bird traffic and might even
attract undesirable birds like house sparrows, blackbirds, grackles
and others. Filler seed includes red-proso millet, red milo,
cracked corn, mixed grains, oat, and other fillers that add weight
to the seed mix. We cannot stress enough that using cheaper
commercial seed mixes will hinder your feeder activity and actually
cost you more in the long run with less quality birds, and less bird
activity, and less quality seed at a higher price per pound.
For Suet Feeders, use only
suet with a high percentage of actual suet (beef/animal fat). Since suet
feeders have
become popular, like commercial birdseed mixes, suet products has been cheapened by adding
inexpensive less appealing filler mixes so it is important to search
out quality suet. Good quality suet is soft and looks
like lard with some sunflower in it or peanut parts - poor quality
suet is hard and packed with millet/cracked corn and other inexpensive
fillers. Poor quality suet really is over 90% inexpensive
fillers and very little suet.
Also consider beef suet from your local butchers
counter or freezer.
Suet feeders are an
alternate food source for birds so they typically will not generate
the bird activity and visits compared to a seed feeder with quality
seed in it.
Suet feeders can be
used throughout the year, however they typically attract more birds
during winter months when food supply is lower and the high fat
content of suet provides a good energy source during the colder
months.
Just like seed
feeders, it usually takes a while for birds to acclimate to a New
suet feeder so using quality suet and following good bird feeding
tips is important.
Common Questions 
Secure 