Odds are, at this level you’ve most likely seen or know somebody who has a wise chook feeder. They’re pretty recognizable from a distance with their clear housing, cameras, and photo voltaic panels, and maybe a buddy or member of the family has despatched you a photograph or video of a brilliant goldfinch or good-looking woodpecker (responsible). The query at this level, then, is whether or not this stuff are actually well worth the $100-plus price ticket. Are they really sturdy? And what in regards to the squirrel downside?
Fortunate for you we’ve been testing the preferred sensible chook feeder fashions, together with Netvue’s authentic Birdfy feeder ($135) and Hen Buddy’s new Professional mannequin ($219), for months on finish—in rain, snow, and warmth, and in a yard with persistent squirrels. We’ve explored the apps and notification settings, put in any non-obligatory photo voltaic panels, and used Cornell Lab’s All About Birds—in addition to Google Lens and our personal native experience—to confirm the accuracy of AI identifications.
Up to date Could 2025 : We added Birdfy’s Polygon sensible birdhouse and Hen Buddy’s Professional hummingbird feeder as picks; a hummingbird feeder from Harymor, seed feeders from Sehmua, IsYoung, and PeckPerk; and a brand new evaluation of the FeatherSnap Scout. We additionally added data on coping with squirrels.
Desk of Contents
Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano examined some feeders on a balcony in Texas and one in a yard in Pennsylvania. In Texas, she set them up each on a desk in addition to secured to the railing with the included mounting straps. In Pennsylvania, she used the bracket mounts to connect to a pole. WIRED reviewer Kat Merck examined feeders in a rural-surburban neighborhood in southwest Washington. The feeders have been mounted immediately on the home or on a fence with the included bracket mounts, or hung from a shepherd’s hook.
After setup, we stuffed them with chook seed (or, within the case of the hummingbird feeders, a nectar combination of 4-to-1 granulated sugar and water) and patiently waited for the native birds to search out them. We checked out all of the included app options, seeing how typically we obtained notifications and noting whether or not they’re precisely selecting up simply birds or any sort of outside motion, and the way nicely they’re capable of distinguish chook species. We disassembled and cleaned them, returning them to their mounts after. We check each for 2 weeks at minimal, however often for over a month.
Suggestions for a Higher Hen Feeder Expertise
- Maintain feeders tremendous clear. The very last thing you wish to do to your feathered friends is make them sick from consuming moldy seeds or unfold avian illnesses. Each two weeks, scrub feeders with heat, soapy water after which both soak them in a single half bleach to 9 elements water or one half white vinegar to at least one half water—each strategies are beneficial by Audubon. Rinse and dry totally earlier than including extra seed (you don’t need bleach residue both). Keep watch over chook flu outbreaks and take note of what the birds appear like at your individual feeders. In case you suspect one thing, you will wish to take away the feeder till issues look higher.
- Solely get a hummingbird feeder when you’re devoted to protecting it spotless. You should be much more diligent about cleanliness right here. You should clear a hummingbird feeder each two to a few days. Nectar sitting within the solar harbors micro organism progress rapidly, which might trigger hummingbird tongues to swell and nearly all the time ends of their demise. Crimson attracts these birds, however do not use purple nectar. There aren’t any research conclusively proving that dye harms birds, however at finest it is pointless and at worst may make them sick. As a substitute, go for feeders with purple items to get their consideration or keep on with planting hummingbird-friendly flowers and skip the feeder altogether.
- Add a water supply too. Birds want clear water for ingesting and bathing, so you may make your yard extra of an oasis by offering it. The identical cleansing method outlined above goes for baths. You may also contemplate including common chook homes for birds to nest.
- Give birds time. You seemingly will not see birds at your feeder day one. Give them time to search out it and belief it. If after a couple of weeks you continue to haven’t got guests, it may be time to reevaluate what sort of chook seeds you are utilizing or the place you’ve got positioned it.
{Photograph}: Kat Merck
As is the case with any chook feeder, squirrels like to eat at sensible chook feeders, which aren’t squirrel-proof, no matter advertising claims. Nevertheless, a lot of the sensible feeders we’ve examined are simply as sturdy, if not in some circumstances sturdier, than analog chook feeders. If the feeder is hanging, the worst that may most likely occur is that the squirrel’s weight will trigger it to swing wildly, spilling seed onto the bottom. If it’s mounted, the worst-case state of affairs is probably going the squirrel consuming all of the seed, chewing the sides, and protecting up the digital camera with its fuzzy butt.
The yard the place I check sensible feeders year-round is awful with the big and protracted rodents, and the squirrel harm I’ve sustained on check feeders has been minor. With the Birdfy Professional Duo, under, the animals chewed off the sides to higher get on the seed provide when it was low, and the FeatherSnap Scout had its mounting bent. Prime of thoughts is the 5-7-9 methodology of siting a chook feeder—no less than 5 ft off the bottom, no less than 7 ft away from any constructions, and no less than 9 ft away from something a squirrel may leap from (branches, fences, roofs).
Another choice is an aftermarket baffle added to feeders hanging on shepherd’s hooks, or a pole with a built-in baffle, like this one supplied by Birdfy. Another choice is utilizing seed handled with capsaicin, or sizzling pepper. Birds don’t have capsaicin receptors like mammals do, in order that they’re not affected by the style. That stated, I’ve discovered capsaicin solely retains squirrels away for a few days, whether or not as a result of they’ve gotten used to it or the pepper loses its efficiency when uncovered to the weather. As a final resort, you would all the time simply study to dwell with the squirrels and dedicate a feeder to them, though my neighbor does this and I am of the thoughts it brings much more squirrels to the world.
What Are We Testing Subsequent?
Finest Total
This cheery blue and white feeder, from safety firm Netvue, is the primary sensible feeder former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano examined, again in 2022. At the moment she gave it a 6/10 ranking for its worth and wonky AI. Each metrics have improved since then—I used to be impressed with the Birdfy app’s AI once I examined the upgraded 2 Duo (see under), and this feeder could be very typically on sale for $200 or much less. In case you pay $20 extra, you get a lifetime subscription of AI identification, which is a stable deal. With out it, it will price you $5 a month. Medea examined each this and the Birdfy bamboo feeder (under) and located the AI recognition did not all the time determine birds appropriately. That is the feeder I purchased my dad and mom for Christmas throughout an Amazon Prime Day sale, and so they’ve had the same expertise. That stated, I’ve examined feeders from a number of manufacturers and, given the huge variability in lighting, shadows, and digital camera cleanliness, no AI goes to carry out flawlessly. In contrast to some manufacturers’, Birdfy’s AI nonetheless works extra typically than it does not.
Medea discovered that the 1080P wide-angle digital camera picks up much more motion from non-birds, so you could find yourself with a ton of notifications relying on the place that is positioned. In case you’re hoping for a bird-feeder/security-camera hybrid, although, this may very well be precisely what you need—particularly because it presents coloration evening imaginative and prescient. The IP65 plastic development additionally makes this feeder sturdy and simpler to scrub, and the 50-ounce seed reservoir is much simpler to fill than the Hen Buddy with its handy flip-up prime. Not all bundles include a photo voltaic panel, however you should purchase it individually. In contrast to different feeders, the photo voltaic panel shouldn’t be in-built and must be mounted and linked individually with the included 9.8-foot charging cable. (The Birdfy comes with a pole mount, wall mount, and tree strap.)
Finest-Trying
Birdfy has a number of feeders we advocate. This bamboo one is the very best wanting, however it comes with a little bit of maintenance. It does not have plastic elements like the remainder of the feeders on this record, and with its black and pure wooden hues, it appears to be like prefer it belongs in nature. An extendable perch lets a number of birds collect and examine, and it has two giant bins for both several types of seeds or the identical. The bins mingle within the tray on the backside, nevertheless. The FeatherSnap feeder under makes use of separate bins and trays when you choose that.
Like a lot of the different feeders on this record, it may be mounted on a pole or tree or hung from a hook. It additionally comes with a photo voltaic panel that you would be able to mount as nicely, so that you by no means have to consider charging the digital camera battery.
As stunning because the bamboo feeder is, it does require upkeep. Birdfy notes that the feeder has a water-proof ranking of IP65 and that it is mold- and rot-resistant. Nevertheless, the person guide states that it must be sealed. Through Reddit, Birdfy recommends sealing utilizing a bird-safe wooden sealer. I can not remark immediately on its sturdiness, since once I examined this feeder I used it on a desk on my lined balcony. —Medea Giordano
Finest Good Hummingbird Feeder
Hen Buddy is thought for its user-friendliness and considerate app, and its new Professional Good Hummingbird Feeder is not any exception. Every thing about its use is intuitive and simple. AI identification, 5-MP photographs, HD 2K video with slo-mo, all the pieces you want is included out of the field—no subscription wanted. There’s no auxiliary photo voltaic panel to fret about, because it’s constructed into the roof. Pairing together with your telephone is a cinch, integrating it into the Hen Buddy app with different feeders is a snap, and even filling it’s no downside—in contrast to different feeders which have weirdly cavernous capacities and/or must be stuffed the wrong way up, the Hen Buddy’s backside screws off and holds an inexpensive 1.75 cups of liquid. That is extra vital than you’d suppose, as Cornell Lab of Ornithology factors out that the simpler it’s to scrub a hummingbird feeder, the extra seemingly you might be to do it typically and nicely.
{Photograph}: Kat Merck
It additionally comes with additional plastic flowers and a brush, and the app sends reminders as to when it is time to clear. As with the Hen Buddy Professional seed feeder (7/10, WIRED Recommends), the sensor doesn’t all the time decide up each chook that visits, which might undoubtedly be a bummer whenever you see one thing fascinating out the window however it doesn’t present up within the app. Hopefully that is one thing that may be remedied on subsequent app updates.
Finest-Trying Good Birdhouse
Birdfy’s new Polygon Good Birdhouse (7/10, WIRED Recommends) isn’t the primary sensible birdhouse in the marketplace, however it’s the most interesting-looking. The parallelogram-esque, turquoise-paneled form received a Gold award at 2024’s French Design Awards, and it’s simple sufficient to mount on a pole, fence, or tree. All of the digital camera gear is situated in an easy-to-open rear hatch, and there’s even a distant management on the finish of a 10-foot twine to have the ability to cost (although it has a built-in photo voltaic panel, so that you seemingly received’t must) or reset the 1080p digital camera.
{Photograph}: Kat Merck
It is easy to combine with the easy-to-use Birdfy app, which is prepared and ready to assemble a chook’s shareable “story,” from meeting of the nest to hatching to fledgling, and eventually “the tip,” when the nest is deserted for the season. Be aware that the digital camera does emit an audible click on every time it is triggered by motion or the app, and the within is a bit of bigger than most birds would naturally gravitate to. Our check home hasn’t had any chook guests but this 12 months, however a mission director for Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch stated it ought to solely be a matter of time.
Finest App
Hen Buddy’s latest improve (7/10, WIRED Recommends) appears to be like a lot the identical as its soon-to-be-phased-out authentic feeder, save for a snazzy new HDR digital camera that may additionally shoot 2K HD video with slow-motion functionality. It has been going sturdy in my yard for over 4 months now. Along with having a visibly bigger, extra superior lens, the digital camera’s now obtained a bigger focus vary, wider subject of view, and high-fidelity microphone. (A subscription to Premium for $7.50 a month unlocks 2K Extremely with a better video bitrate, permitting for richer colours, sharper photographs, and fewer background noise, however it’s completely usable with out this. )
The photographs aren’t almost as spectacular because the Birdfy Duo’s, and the digital camera, frustratingly, solely captures a handful of the birds that go to. (The non-solar model is at the moment flagged as a ceaselessly returned merchandise on Amazon because of each this and charging points, so I like to recommend the photo voltaic model.) However the app is a standout, with a user-friendly design and loads of useful alerts, like if a cat is detected close by, or if it is time to clear the feeder. It additionally serves you insights gathered over time, like what time sure species appear to choose to go to. (Finches apparently like to go to my yard day-after-day at 10 am). The Hen Buddy additionally “sleeps” at evening and doesn’t appear to emphasise capturing photographs of individuals, so it would not make a sensible choice to double as a safety digital camera. Each Hen Buddys work with 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi solely.
Screenshot courtesy of Kat Merck
Set up choices embrace a hanger or common mount for a standard-size pole (not included). In case you dwell in an space frequented by squirrels, I extremely advocate abiding by Hen Buddy’s “5-7-9” rule for siting your feeder: 5 ft off the bottom, 7 ft away from bushes or constructions, and 9 ft of clearance above it. Squirrels have not proven curiosity in chewing my Hen Buddy Professional, which is hanging from a shepherd’s hook close to a tree, however they may swing on it, spilling a lot of the seed.
One of many largest downsides of each Hen Buddys is the infuriatingly small, hinged opening for filling the 4 cups’ price of seed. The feeder comes with its personal spouted cup, however I’ve but to fill the feeder with out making an infinite mess. I even have the 3-in-1 Vitamin Set ($40), which features a screw-on tray that may variably turn out to be a water fountain, jelly dish, or fruit stake for fruit-loving species like orioles. I’ve used it as a jelly dish and water fountain and located that it blocks sufficient of the perch space that birds are inclined to shift out of digital camera view to keep away from it. Total, this improve over the unique could also be price it when you plan to benefit from a few of the app’s sharing options, particularly Premium’s potential to share your feeder livestream with others.
Advisable With Reservations
Birdfy’s flagship improve for 2025, winner of this 12 months’s CES Innovation Award and an American Good Design Gold Award, has the very best photograph and video high quality of any chook feeder I’ve examined, bar none. There’s one dual-lens front-facing digital camera (2-MP/1080p huge angle and 3-MP/2K portrait) and one 2-MP/1080p facet digital camera, and each seize sharp, extremely detailed video with high-quality sound. The front-facing digital camera will even pan and crop to make sure it is centered on a chook. (Be aware that there is additionally a less expensive, single-camera model of the Feeder 2 that we’ve not examined.) The feeder’s IP66-rated plastic physique, which has held up very nicely to date in Pacific Northwest winter climate, is wall-, pole-, or tree-mountable. An auxiliary photo voltaic panel and lifelong AI chook identification are each included.
The reservoir holds barely much less seed than the unique plastic Birdfy, at 42 ounces vs. Birdfy 1’s 50 ounces, which is simply as nicely, as this feeder appears to be a magnet for squirrels who prefer to chew on it and steal the seed. I had fixed bother with the rodents chewing off the edges and compartment dividers throughout my two months of testing. (I had marginal success mixing Audubon Wild Hen Meals with habanero-based Cole’s Flaming Squirrel Sauce, $16, however the squirrels did come again ultimately.)
