Ever wonder why one bird feeder might cost $10 less than another of the same size? I did — so I did a little product research to find the answer. It boils down to quality. A quality bird feeder is designed to last longer and will end up costing you less although the sale price may be higher.

Cheap bird feeders would last forever if it weren’t for one unavoidable problem — squirrels. Squirrels have the intelligence and desire to destroy any bird feeder you may place outside. Cheap bird feeders will not last but a few months. Quality bird feeders are built so that they present a challenge to our little furry friends and have much longer life expectancies.

Squirrels will widen openings to get to the seed inside by chewing whatever piece of plastic they can grasp with their teeth. The portals to quality bird feeders are re-enforced with metal to prevent the squirrel from being able to get a good hold.

Manufacturers of quality feeders offer optional equipment such as domes and trays that fit easily onto the original feeder.

The base of a quality tube feeder is designed so no seed is left inside the bottom of the tube where birds can’t reach.

Quality bird feeders will carry a lifetime warrantee. Manufacturers of high-quality bird feeders believe in their product so much that they are willing to replace the feeder if it is ever damaged by squirrels to the extent that the feeder does not work.

This year we are replacing our “cheap” brands of plastic bird feeders with quality brands such as Aspects and Droll Yankee. In fact, we’ve brought in whole new lines of wild bird feeders, seed and suet not available in department and grocery stores. See them!