Squirrel Solution200 Squirrel-proof Bird Feeder w/6 Feeding Ports, 3.4-pound Seed Capacity, Free Seed Funnel

Over the 2 years I've been feeding birds in my backyard, I've been through several different "squirrel proof" bird feeders, and the squirrels have managed, eventually, to break into them all.This one is the BEST I've had - well worth the price. Having had this feeder for several months now, and observed the squirrel's behavior, I can now list the PROS of this feeder:1. The spring loaded action PLUS no foothold for squirrels at the bottom:You won't realize how well this feeder is designed if you haven't seen the antics of really smart squirrels and less well designed feeders!My previous spring-loaded feeder had a fatal flaw - it had a foot-hold at the bottom which one particularly smart fox squirrel figured out how to use to his advantage. Using his feet at the bottom, and pressing up with his hands at the top, he was able to hold onto the feeder WITHOUT triggering the spring-loaded action, thereby keeping the feeding windows open!This feeder has NO foothold at the bottom, and the smart fox squirrel can no longer "cheat" the system! He has tried, but failed every time! (He's very disappointed!)2. The spring loaded action design itself:This feeder's spring loaded action works MUCH more cleverly than my previous feeder.Instead of having small flimsy springs on the outside (which kept slipping off after the squirrel's boisterous break-in attempts, and getting weaker and weaker), this feeder has a very sturdy plastic, spring-loaded rod going through the middle of the feeder on the inside! This is totally protected from squirrels, and therefore doesn't slip off or weaken over time.The spring loaded action also keeps larger birds, such as grackles, off the feeders. This is especially useful if, like us, you sometimes get "grack attacks" in the summer, with 20 or more grackles all trying to storm the feeder. One grackle alone can feed unhindered. But 2 or more grackles on this feeder are too heavy and close the feeding windows. This makes the grackles give up after a while and go elsewhere, allowing the smaller birds to get back on.3. Secure metal protection around the feeding windows:I'm very happy with the sturdiness of the metal around the feeding windows.My previous spring-loaded feeder had flimsy, detachable metal bars around the feeding windows. Once the smart squirrel had over-ridden the spring loaded action, he was then able to knock these detachable metal bars off and chew through the plastic, widening the feeding windows for his access!This feeder won't let the smart fox squirrel override the spring-loaded system anyway, but if somehow he did, I have no worries about him knocking off the metal around these feeding windows - they are far more sturdy, securely locked down, not removable, and go around the entire feeding window.4. The securely locking LID:This is perhaps the BEST feature of this feeder!My previous spring-loaded feeder did not have the securely locking lid that this one has. It had a lid with a small spring that loosened every time I had to fill the feeder until the spring eventually broke. Once broken, the squirrels easily managed to prize the lid off, then dive into the feeder! (They were also then able to chew the plastic around the top of the feeder, widening their access!)This locking lid works by having 2 metal buttons, one on each side, that you have to push simultaneously with your hands, to open the lid. These are sturdy and I can't imagine them breaking or loosening. They are also impossible for squirrels or anyone other than a capable human to manage. (They were even a bit tricky for me at first, but after a bit of practice, I've mastered them!)5. Unchewable metal cage:So far, this is definitely holding up. The smart squirrel (that used to override my previous feeder's spring-loaded action) has been trying to chew through the metal on this one. I can see teeth marks and scratches on the surface of the metal, but that's it. He hasn't been able to do more than scratch it. He's very frustrated!6. Unchewable plastic:This hasn't been put to the test yet, (as the squirrels haven't broken through the other features yet), but the plastic on the inside of this feeder, under the metal cage, looks a TON sturdier than my previous feeder. This product does claim that it is chew-proof. Seeing how impressive all the other features are, I'm confident this is true too.I don't think the squirrels will ever be able to prize the securely locking lid off this feeder, or override the spring-loaded feature, or chew through the metal cage.However, let's say I accidentally left the lid unlocked, (which hasn't happened yet, but, hypothetically...) I feel sure that the squirrels wouldn't be able to do what they did to my previous feeder - i.e. chew the plastic around the top of the feeder, widening their access to the food.7. Proper drainage at the bottom, keeping bird food dry:This is a really good added bonus.My previous spring-loaded feeder had a poorly designed bottom. It had inaccessible spaces at the bottom, leaving bird seed to gather there, uneaten. It also had no drainage holes. Inevitably, this bird seed got damp and moldy and was difficult to clean out.This feeder has a very well designed bottom. It has no inaccessible spaces - the birds can get to all the seed at the bottom, leaving no waste. It also has drainage holes at the bottom, allowing moisture to drain out, keeping the bird food drier for longer.8. Well designed slanted roof lid, keeping bird food dry:Another bonus feature.My previous spring-loaded feeder not only didn't have a securely locking lid, it also had a FLAT lid, where rainwater and snow could gather!This feeder has a slanted roof lid, allowing rain to run off, and away from the feeder, keeping the bird food drier for longer. It also has a very small, cone-shaped piece of rubber above the lid, on the wire, which prevents rain water wicking down the wire and dripping onto the lid. Fantastic little detail!9. Funnel for filling the feeder:Another nice bonus.I'm very glad they provided a funnel to go with this feeder. With the secure locking lid, it would be a bit tricky to fill the feeder without the funnel (especially if your feeder is tied to the tree branch as mine is). The funnel is sturdy and specially designed to fit the feeder, keeping the spring loaded rod in the middle out of your way, as you pour the food in. It does what it's supposed to do, i.e. prevents seed spilling out as you pour, and therefore making filling so much easier.I haven't got any "CONS" to list at all for this feeder. Even the slightly more expensive price seems very fair. It's a very good investment, well worth the price. If I hadn't known how much grief the squirrels were going to give me with my previous (cheaper) feeders, I wouldn't have bothered with them, and would have gone straight for this one in the first place!

This feeder is fantastic. It keeps squirrels from stealing all the seed, it's got plenty of feeding ports, and it's fairly easy to clean. We've had ours for about 3 years and I noticed a crack in the plastic feeding tube so I contacted Brome and within 24 hours I received an email stating they were sending a replacement part. We have 4 Brome feeders and I'll never buy any other brand.

Bought this two years ago for my elderly Mom. It's been wonderful -- both for keeping the squirrels away and for her enjoyment of watching the variety of colorful birds who visit the feeder every day.The feeder developed a crack at the bottom of the tube after a windstorm knocked it down. I called Brome, explained the situation, and they unhesitatingly sent her a replacement tube free of charge!So, shout-out to Brome for their excellent customer service and honoring the warranty.

We have some incredibly crafty squirrels near our home and have been looking for a feeder that keeps the squirrels away but still attracts the birds. This feeder is it! While it looks like several other feeders available for a lower cost, this feeder has certain details that make it worth the extra money you will spend.1) The "shroud" system (which several other feeders also have) does indeed work to close the ports off every time a squirrel jumps onto the feeder. BUT squirrels are very clever and find other ways to access seed.2) The cap on the Squirrel Solution 200 feeder has a button lock/release. Similar feeders that we had tried without this feature were easily accessed by squirrels. They simply keep at that cap until they manage to push it off....and there goes all of your bird seed. Squirrels will also begin to chew through the plastic at this point, and your feeder will be worthless in a short time. Eventually, we made a lock/release of our own drilling a hole and using a screw, but...3) The ports on most feeders are not protected all around by metal. Even when we solved the problem of squirrels getting in by removing the cap, they were able to hang onto the the feeder and chew around the plastic of the ports until gaining access to the seeds. They would make the hole bigger and bigger until the feeder was just pouring seed out for them. The Squirrel Solution 200 feeder has metal protection all around the ports that squirrels cannot chew through.THIS FEEDER IS TRULY SQUIRREL PROOF....as long as you hang it so it as shown in directions. This is the important part!! It MUST be at least 18 inches away from any surface the squirrels can use to reach it. We have it hung as in the picture below (sorry, haven't planted spring flowers in the planter yet.) We did have to move the planter away from the feeder so as to maintain that 18 inch distance. The squirrels CAN get onto the feeder, jump or crawl up the Shepard's hook, but then if they jump onto it, the shroud closes. Once the shroud closes, they cannot access the seed. Oh they try--again and again--but eventually give up.What is important is that--by hanging it at least 18 inches from their access-- they cannot reach the feeder by staying on the rail or plantar, stretching to the feeder. They would then access WITHOUT closing the shroud and possibly eat through the small area underneath that is made of plastic, or shake seed out of the feeder.Up until now, there was one other feeder we tried that satisfied most of these conditions -- the Roamwild Squirrel Proof Wild Bird Feeder. The problem with the Roamwild is that, even though it kept the squirrels away, it did not attract the birds. The perches on the Roamwild feeder were just too small and birds did not come. We waited weeks --- and nothing. Birds just didn't come to this feeder.4) The birds DO come to the Squirrel Solution 200 feeder. (If I had ONE improvement to make on it, I would like to see perches that were slightly larger. Cardinals seem to find feeding from the perch inconvenient. They will sit nearby the feeder and wait until other birds come, dropping seed--and then go to the ground to eat that seed. We have just added an attachment to extend one of the perches and the cardinals seem to be able to feed more comfortably with that extra little bit of perch.)5) In fact, birds that usually would visit other feeder we have hung (goldfinches that would go to the nigel thistle feeder, woodpeckers that would go to the suet feeder, etc) come to this feeder frequently. We believe it is because of the yellow center stem allows for air flow, keeping the seed dryer/fresher than in other feeders. Just more yummy!6) The funnel that comes with it is very helpful when filling with seed, as it fits the feeder tube exactly and has openings to accommodate the wires that hold the top. Much less seed spilling out when filling the feeder.In summary...even though this feeder is more costly than the others, it gets the job done!

I have several items now from Brome and everything works well. This product is new and to the yard, so it actually took the birds about a week to figure out how to get the food. The woodpeckers and probably others are or seem to be confused because they can see the food, but they can't peck through the see through part. They'll figure it out eventually. I have yet to see how Brome stands up to their warranty because it is supposed to be lifetime, but so far everything is still good. I had a racoon knock one of the squirrel busters out of the tree and the feeder fell on the hanger first. Bent the hanger but the feeder is still functional. Good quality materials these Brome feeders. A couple of my feeders are in full sun, so they have sun fade, kinda tough to see if the feeder is empty from a distance, but no complaints about the feeders. They definitely keep the squirrels out. Thanks Brome.

So far the squirrels haven’t got into this one! Not sure how well it cleans but it is very sturdy , easy to refill and well built.

All brome products are excellent. I have different feeders for all kinds of bird seeds, all are great. Easy to clean. Squirrel managed to unscrew a nut bolt. I lost it. The company sent me another one free .

No mess of seeds dropping from it. We have had a decline of birds since installing it, but hope they will return when they become more familiar with it. NO SQUIRRELS!!! The culprit has given up!!!

Works great! Mine arrived in mid June. Looks well constructed. The supplied funnel is a nice touch. When I filled it the first time, I noticed that a handful of seeds spilled out the opening. Will have to figure out a workaround for the next fill.It took a few days for the birds to discover the feeder. I first noticed them around 5 am today. About six song birds were crowded around, busily feeding without any difficulty. No squirrels to speak of yet...I will update the review at the end of the summer if there are any issues.