My biggest concern is that the liquid will spoil the seeds over time. Meaning if the bird seed stays outside for several days and isnt eaten soon will it rot? Thks for your time. Marilyn
1614748
My seed never seemed to rot and sometimes was in the feeder for many days to even a week or more. The bigger problem I had was the package leaked. I can't remember if this was directly from Amazon or from another supplier of theirs. I stopped using this stuff because I thought it was too messy and went to other squirrel resistant feeders instead, such as the wild bill and Yankee flipper.
1614749
Sorry, I don't know that answer for sure. We buy seed in big bags so we only mix a bucket-full (cat litter size) of seed at once. We have not had any problems with rotting seed - in several days or even over a week or more - so far doing it that way. Hope this helps and good luck with those nasty squirrels..............
1614750
No that does not seem to be a problem. What I do is pour a portion of seed into a coffee can, add the liquid and then shake shake so the seeds get coated. A little goes a long way. It pours normally into the feeder, doesn't seem to pool or clump, and just makes the seeds a little shinier. It has been out there for a few weeks at a time and no complaints to the chef about spoiled seed from the birdie diners. Hope this helps.
1614751
no, will not rot and this stuff actually works, unlike too many of the remedies proposed all over the place!
1614752
I have not seen this happening with my seed. I think the shells of the sunflower seeds are strong enough to keep the oil out
7255
Yes... it's not sealed so if it's sitting in water the seed may get wet but not from rain or snow.
151610
IF you have it hanging, it needs to be protected from predators & squirrels; IF it's pole-mounted, as long as the feeder is high enough to keep predators away (& hopefully has a baffle of some sort under it to keep squirrels from climbing up). Also make sure that the seed is good (not moldy). BTW - are you using Black Oil Sunflower Seed? Our Cardinals (as well as numerous other species) love it & are on the feeder constantly. We found that the (usually) super cheap "Wild Bird Seed" has so much filler in it that no one wants it & there's a lot of waste. Many Cardinals & others will ground-feed, as well.Good luck! IF you have it hanging, it needs to be protected from predators & squirrels; IF it's pole-mounted, as long as the feeder is high enough to keep predators away (& hopefully has a baffle of some sort under it to keep squirrels from climbing up). Also make sure that the seed is good (not moldy). BTW - are you using Black Oil Sunflower Seed? Our Cardinals (as well as numerous other species) love it & are on the feeder constantly. We found that the (usually) super cheap "Wild Bird Seed" has so much filler in it that no one wants it & there's a lot of waste. Many Cardinals & others will... » Read More IF you have it hanging, it needs to be protected from predators & squirrels; IF it's pole-mounted, as long as the feeder is high enough to keep predators away (& hopefully has a baffle of some sort under it to keep squirrels from climbing up). Also make sure that the seed is good (not moldy). BTW - are you using Black Oil Sunflower Seed? Our Cardinals (as well as numerous other species) love it & are on the feeder constantly. We found that the (usually) super cheap "Wild Bird Seed" has so much filler in it that no one wants it & there's a lot of waste. Many Cardinals & others will ground-feed, as well.Good luck! « Show Less
560562
There are not any drainage holes at the bottom and it hasn't rained here since I got it so I really am not sure what will happen. However, the birds love it so much there usually isn't any seed left. They also recommend washing the feeder with mild soap & water every couple of weeks so I don't think seed rot should be an issue.
2191196
It might have taken a day or two but the birds love the feeder. I use black oil sunflower seeds and they gobble them up every day. Give it a little more time or maybe move it to a different location. I have two of them and they are in a small tree near the bird bath. Good luck I hope it works out for you.
4103
I have a mix of seeds and the same thing happens when the bigger birds knock out the seeds they don't want to get to what they do want. The answer is to have several feeders with a different kind of seed in each one. Someday I might do that, but for now, I just watch the squirrels, chipmunks, , doves, and other ground feeders enjoy the spoils!
2146684
The seeds should be kept in a cool dry place. Unground they last for quiet a bit, once you grind them they should be used within the week. I get the big bag to use for my horses, so refrigeration isn't an option. I keep the bag in a clean garbage can in the garage and use within a few months and never had a problem. 25 lbs goes a long way! **Update** I have been keeping the seeds in an airtight metal container. The last bag I bought was at the beginning of the summer. This past week I ground up the last of it and swept some seeds into the sink. The next day afternoon when I cleaned my drain cover you could see all the seeds had sprouted! I'd say this is a pretty good product and I was storing it well. :)
2051204
It depends. The company claims that the seeds will last 10 years; however, I am always suspicious of this. If the seeds are kept in a cool, dry place then yes, they will last a long time.
620980
I don't think so. It spills when reloading. I have found too much seed all over the ground after a few days up for finches.
2250758
It sounds like you are doing everything right-- offering a water source and trees and shrubs for shelter. Timing could be the issue here. Birds can be pretty suspicious of anything new, and it will take time before they will eat from the feeder (especially since their natural food sources are becoming available as we get further into spring). Just please make sure you are keeping the seed in the feeder fresh-- maybe keep a little less seed in the feeder and change it every few days until you start to get some visitors. Also, are you seeing Finches at any of your other feeders? If not, you may attract them to your area by planting some milkweed or composite plants.
425317
The seed does not get stuck when it rains. With the exception of the small amount in the tray surrounding the feeder, the bulk of it stays dry inside the feeder.
153746
No, I just let it fall to the ground. Other birds clean it up. Thistle seed sold for feeding birds is processed so that it does not produce plants.
1128478
When you clean it out (and taking it apart to clean out is easy) you may find some seed caked on top of the feeding openings. But that's it. The majority of the seed stays dry in its plastic box.
1883591
I'm not sure I said "forever" lol. Seeds are not such that you can place a definite time span on them but some seeds found in King Herod's tomb were planted over 2000 years later and germinated. I'm not in any way saying that you should plan on these or any other seeds lasting that long but by freezing them in the package that they come in, you can expect them to be good for decades.
2148625
There could be any number of factors at work there. If it's not set to close at too light a weight on the perch, then my guess would be food quality. If you're using that inexpensive bird seed from the grocery store that is mostly yellow millet, and your neighbors are using higher-quality stuff, they won't visit your feeder except as a last resort. Try going to PetSmart or someplace like that and springing for the good stuff that has lots of black-stripe sunflower seeds, peanuts, and bits of fruit in it. Another factor could be location. Birds don't feel safe eating from a feeder that is right out in the middle of an open space with no nearby trees or shrubs to flee to if necessary.
1612658
I don't live in a snowy climate, but having lived in one I imagine it would get caked in snow making it unusable during and after a winter storm unless you brushed it off. The seed getting wet doesn't seem to be a problem as the design allows it to ventilate and dry out easily. So far we haven't had a problem with birds larger than cardinals taking over the feeder. They stare at it, but I think the perch is too small for them to try it.
2205397
I haven't had a problem with wet seed. This is an excellent feeder. The interior is divided into three sections/sides which helps keep seed flowing freely