Well-stocked bird feeders help to supplement birds’ food when it’s in short supply. Plus, if you’re regularly topping up your bird feeder, the same birds will continue to return as they learn your garden is a good source of food.
Specialist bird cakes, seeds and food like mealworms and flaked maize are all good options and supplying a variety of foods is a good way of attracting a wider range of bird species to your garden.
There’s a wide range of bird feeders on the market in a host of different styles and designs. Some offer additional features such as squirrel proofing and such as a larger cage around the central feeder to stop squirrels and larger birds reaching the bird food.
However, following a study in conjunction with the BTO and the Institute of Zoology, the RSPB has confirmed that trichonomosis spreads more easily in summer and autumn, and on flat surfaces, such as bird tables and at bird baths. It has now changed its bird feeding advice as follows:
Feed safely. Feed seasonally.
Feed seasonally – it’s important to adjust what we feed our garden birds during the summer and autumn months when there’s a higher risk of disease spreading.
- From 1 May to 31 October: pause filling your bird feeders with seed and peanuts to prevent too many birds gathering in one place. It’s okay to keep offering small amounts of mealworms, fat balls, or suet year-round.
Feed safely – just one infected bird can turn your busy feeder into a disease hotspot. To help keep birds healthy, we need to prioritise hygiene.
- Clean and move your feeders weekly: get into the habit of giving your feeders a good clean at least once a week. If possible, place your feeders in a different spot after each clean to prevent the build-up of contaminated debris underneath. Any existing debris should be cleared up
- Change water daily: only offer water if you’re able to change it every day and make sure it’s tap water. Water baths should also be cleaned weekly
- Retire flat-surfaced feeders: research has confirmed that there’s a higher risk of the disease spreading on flat surfaces, where contaminated food can collect for other birds to eat. This means bidding a fond farewell to feeders that have any flat surfaces – including bird tables
For other ways to look after the birds in your garden, read our guides to growing your own bird food, or buying bird seed and bird baths. If you’d like to watch birds, check out our guides on wildlife cameras and bird box cameras.
And if you want to encourage more wildlife to visit your garden, take a look at our selection of bat boxes and hedgehog houses, or be inspired by our guide to wildlife gifts.
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Browse our pick of bird feeders, below:
The best bird feeders
Peckish 100% recycled woodland feast multi feeder
Available from Amazon
Part of a new collection of wild bird feeders made from 100% recycled materials and sustainably sourced wood, this holds around 500g of seed plus two suet cakes. The slate effect roof and sturdy mesh to hold the suet are made using approximately 125 recycled food and drink cartons. It’s easy to clean and comes in plastic free packaging.
Price: £29.99
Buy Peckish 100% recycled woodland feast multi feeder from Amazon
Eco-Blu bird feeder
Available from Wildlife Community
Crafted from recycled ocean plastic that also protects against harmful bacteria, fungi and microbes, this lantern style feeder has a transparent hopper so you can easily see when it needs refilling. With a simple locking system it’s easy to take apart for cleaning and is suitable for sunflower hearts, seeds and kibbled nuts to attract a range of wild birds to your garden.
Price: £17.99
Buy Eco-Blu bird feeder from the Wildlife Community
Finches Friend Cleaner Feeder 1
Available from Finches Friend
Created to help prevent the spread of avian diseases such as Trichomonosis, responsible for the decline in populations of chaffinch and greenfinch, this easy clean feeder is simple to take apart, robust and fully recyclable. It holds 1.79l of food, more than a standard feeder, and it always stays clean and dry.
Price: £44.99
Buy Finches Friend cleaner feeder from Finches Friend
Roamwild Pest Off Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder
Available from Roamwild
To stop squirrels and large birds eating the food, the hatch automatically moves down blocking it off when they land on the perch. Once they leave, the perch returns to normal. The 1.5 litre feeder from Roamwild also has a built-in rain guard to prevent seeds clogging.
Price: £32.99
Ch-eco recycled bird feeder
Available from Welland Valley Feeds
Crafted in the UK in six cheerful colours these eco-friendly feeders are made from recycled plastics and upcycled chewing gum. All plastics can be fully recycled and a bag of bird food is included.
Price: £6.95
Buy Ch-eco recycled bird feeder from the Welland Valley Feeds
RSPB Suet Feeder and Guardian
Available from RSPB
The guardian on this suet feeder ensures that only small birds get to enjoy up to 10 suet balls. Measuring 30cm tall and 24cm wide, this feeder is small enough to find a place in any garden.
Price: £28
Buy RSPB Suet Feeder and Guardian at RSPB
Cleaner Peanut feeder
Available from Finches Friend
Also from the Finches Friend team comes a peanut feeder, a covered, sealed container to keep the nuts dry that’s designed to ensure they’re moved to the feeding area rather than staying stuck in the centre of the feeder. The hopper is removable for easy cleaning and it’s made from recyclable, UV-stabilised polycarbonate so it won’t weaken in the sun. Remember to only use Aflatoxin tested peanuts in your feeder.
Price: £34.95
Buy the Cleaner Peanut feeder from Finches Friend
RSPB Easy-clean Seed Feeder
Available from RSPB
Made from a combination of durable zinc alloy and a polycarbonate tube, the RSPB guarantee it will not crack or discolour in the sun. Available in three sizes, with the largest able to hold 1.5 litres of feed.
Price: £13
Buy RSPB Ultimate Easy-clean Seed Feeder at RSPB
How to choose a bird feeder
Choosing a bird feeder largely depends on two elements; what birds you are looking to attract and the size and layout of your garden.
There are three main types of garden feeders you can buy.
- Seed feeders: A hanging seed feeder can attract a range of small birds including sparrows, tits and finches. These can come in a variety of sizes and are typically made of plastic or metal.
- Nut feeders: Known to attract tits and woodpeckers, nut feeders are made from metal mesh. This mesh needs to be a specific size (approximately 6mm) to be safe. If it is too small, it can damage birds’ beaks but it needs to be small enough to stop birds removing large peanut chunks.
- Suet feeders: Popular with tits and starlings, suet feeders are made from wide metal mesh to give the birds purchase while they eat. Available in a range of sizes, the feeders will hold either suet cakes or balls.
If you’re in need of more advice on how or what to feed the birds in your garden, head to the RSPB website or take a look at more of our bird feeding content.
Where to put a bird feeder
Keeping away predators will be your main consideration when hanging your feeder in the garden. Bird feeders need to be kept out of reach from squirrels and cats for birds to feel safe.
Aim for a quiet and sheltered area and away from any tree, fence or shrub that could be used as a jumping point for either animal. At eye level, or a little above, is best.
Grey squirrels are not only known for eating the food, but can also damage feeders by chewing through the plastic. Some feeders now claim to be squirrel proof as they are either covered in a metal casing the animals cannot chew through or surrounded by a large cage, which is placed around the central feeder.
This Product Guide was last updated in August 2026 and we apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.
