Anyone who has ever put out some bird seed will know that birds can be really messy eaters. Unfortunately, this is just the way that they feed and it’s just something we have to accept. There are some important reasons to keep the area below your bird feeders clean, however.
Seeds messed below your feeders can sprout as unwanted weeds or attract pests like rodents. Seed catchers for bird feeders are a great solution to this problem. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best bird seed catchers available, and a couple of easy ways to keep your bird feeding areas cleaner.
6 Best Bird Seed Catchers Comparison
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How to Select the Right Bird Seed Catcher?
You already know that a good bird seed catcher is a great method to maintain the health of your garden and yard while also luring more birds.
Certainly, there are many kinds of bird seed catchers on the market. Some are cost-effective, while others might break after a few weeks.
The perfect bird seed collector ought to be strong enough to resist environmental conditions. Most importantly, it needs to be wide enough to catch seeds and other debris that may fall, keeping your floor clean.
To select the right bird seed catcher, check for the following characteristics.
Shapes and sizes
Have in mind that both seed catchers and bird feeders come in a variety of designs and sizes. And the most typical shape is a circle, with a few rectangles. However, birds can perch beautifully on circle trays while they dine and unwind with their bottoms outside.
The size of the bird feed catcher plays a key role when you want to pick the right bird feed catcher. The reason is that the amount of seed a bird seed catcher can catch decreases with size.
If the amount of seed you wish to catch is large, it is advisable to use a tray with a broader diameter. And if you are trying to entice bigger birds, a larger bird seed catcher is what you need.
Therefore, ensure you take your time to check the shape and size before you purchase it.
Easy to Clean
Birds are delicate creatures and because of that, they are prone to illnesses and digestive problems. When the bird seed catcher is not properly cleaned, most of these seeds tend to sprout, accumulate as mold and cause bacteria or fungal infections.
These infections in turn make the birds sick. As such, it is best to select a bird seed catcher that can be easily disassembled for cleaning. If that is not done, your feathered friends will frequently become ill while visiting your seed tray. As a result, they may come to distrust it and stop visiting.
Durability
Bird seed catchers come in a variety of various designs. For instance, some are strong and pricey, whereas others are less pricey but may shatter easily.
On that note, it is wise to invest in durable materials whether you have migrating birds or year-round residents in your yard or garden.
The reason is that although being absurdly inexpensive, these low-quality bird seed catchers will make you need to visit the store more frequently.
So ensure to get a bird seed catcher that is durable and can stand the winter season. This is because most bird seed catchers tend to break or shatter during winter.
The Best Bird Seed Catchers Of 2022
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Top picks
Best hanging bird seed catcher: Songbird Essentials 30″ SeedHoop Seed Catcher & Platform Feeder
Best pole mounted bird seed catcher: Brome Buster Tray Feeder and Seed Catcher
Best Budget bird seed catcher: Songbird Essentials SeedHoop Seed Catcher & Platform Feeder
1. YUYUSO 16″ Seed Hoop Catcher
The Yuyuso seed hoop catcher has an innovative design that allows it to be hung from the bottom of a bird feeder, while also being anchored to the ground below. With a diameter of 16 inches, this product will work great for small to medium-sized bird feeders.
Seeds collected on the platform of this seed catcher are still available to feeding birds but are naturally difficult to protect from squirrels.
Pros:
- Can be stabilized by ground attachment
- Adjustable length straps
Cons:
- Easily accessed by squirrels
- SEED HOOP &PLATFORM FEEDER: Bird feeder seed hoop, hanging the tray below a bird feeder and catches most falling seed and husk (bird feeder...
- LESS MESS &LESS WASTE: Keep a generous supply of seed in a clean and organized style feeder tray, help to reduce seed waste, allow clean...
- THOUGHTFUL DETAILS: Bottom is made of canvas that not easy to leak bird seeds. Hanging ropes and nails are added to the bottom to fix the...
- UNIQUE HANGING DESIGN: Open hanging platform feeders allow you to check seed level at glance; Canvas tray allows the water to easily drain...
- FOR GARDEN LOVERS: It is a great addition to your backyard bird feeding hobby. Easy to hang and fill with bird food. Simply fill the bird...
2. Songbird Essentials SeedHoop Seed Catcher & Platform Feeder
The Songbird Essentials Seedhoop seed catcher has a wide, 24-inch diameter to catch most of the seeds and hulls that fall out from your bird feeders. The hoop is made from mesh which drains freely. This handy device simply clips onto your bird feeder using the 6 supplied straps and hooks.
Pros:
- Adjustable length straps
- Free draining material keeps seeds fresh
Cons:
- Unstable in strong wind
- Seed Hoop Seed Catcher and Platform Feeder 008075. Wild Bird Feeders And Accessories
- Manufacturer: SONGBIRD ESSENTIALS
- Manufacturer part number: SEIA30024
- 24 Inch (Diameter) Seed Hoop
- Bird Feeder Not Included
3. Songbird Essentials 30″ SeedHoop Seed Catcher & Platform Feeder
The Songbird Essentials Seedhoop seed catcher has a wide, 30-inch diameter to catch most of the seeds and hulls that fall out from your bird feeders. The hoop is made from mesh which drains freely. This handy device simply clips onto your bird feeder using the 6 supplied straps and hooks.
Pros:
- Adjustable length straps
- Free draining material keeps seeds fresh
Cons:
- Unstable in strong wind
- Seed Hoop Seed Catcher & Platform Feeder. Wild Bird Feeders And Accessories
- Catches spilled seed.
- Protects Lawn and Garden
- Hangs from bird feeder.
4. Pranovo bird Seed Catcher Tray (12 3/4″)
For small bird feeders, this durable plastic outdoor bird seed catcher tray is a great help. The tray has a diameter of 12 ¾ inches and is attached with 4 chains with hooks. Each chain is 7 ½ inches long, which means the tray is not held far below the feeder.
The product has a subtle matte finish that does not disturb birds and 3 drainage holes to keep the seeds from spoiling in wet weather.
Pros:
- Durable plastic tray is easy to clean
- Drainage holes to keep seed fresh
Cons:
- Small diameter
- BIRD SEED CATCHER TRAY: Bird Feeder Hanging Tray, hanging the tray below a small bird feeder and catches most falling seed and husk (bird...
- LESS MESS AND MINIMIZING THE WASTE: Keep a generous supply of seed in a clean and organized feeder tray, help reduce seed waste, allow clean...
- CONSIDERATE DESIGN WITH NO GLISTENING EFFECT CHAINS: Different from other Zinc plated chains seed tray, our bird seed catcher tray design...
- ALSO A PLATFORM FEEDER: Open hanging platform feeders let you check seed level at glance; three drain holes in base allows the water to...
- NOT DESIGN FOR BIG FEEDERS: Our Small bird seed tray fits for small sized bird feeders. Please check the size before you buy it. Internal...
5. Vomvomp Bird Seed Catcher Tray (16 3/4″)
Like the previous seed catcher, this durable plastic bird feeder catch tray will catch seed when hung below your bird feeder with the 4 supplied chains and hooks. Each chain is 7 ½ inches long, and with a 16 ¾ inch diameter tray, this product will work on slightly larger bird feeders.
The tray itself has a matte finish that does not disturb birds and has 3 drainage holes that keep the fallen seed dry and fresh.
Pros:
- Durable plastic tray is easy to clean
- Drainage holes to keep seed fresh
Cons:
- Too small for large feeders
6. Brome Buster Tray Feeder and Seed Catcher
The Brome buster tray feeder and seed catcher is a great solution for pole-mounted bird feeders. This 21-inch diameter tray works to catch seed while providing a great feeding source for ground feeders.
This seed catcher for bird feeders is specifically designed to fit a 1-inch pole and installation requires no tools. Furthermore. The Industry-leading customer care and after-sales service provided by Brome makes another great reason to choose their products.
Pros:
- Easy to mount without tools
- Large size catches most falling seed
Cons:
- Does not fit larger or smaller diameter poles
- CATCHES DROPPED SEED TO FEED MORE BIRDS AND TO REDUCE THE GROUND MESS
- Reduces the ground mess.
- REQUIRES and FITS exclusively a 1-inch pole (outside diameter).
- The Tray diameter: 21 inches.
- NO TOOLS REQUIRED: designed to be dismantled by hand into individual components without the use of tools.
7. Droll Yankees UN Universal Seed Tray
This 13-inch platform is made from a UV stabilized polycarbonate which is not damaged by exposure to sunlight. This bird food catcher is designed to be mounted on a 1-inch pole or attached to “A” or “B” style Droll Yankees bird feeders, including the Wicked Tall feeders with the B-tray connecter, B72, B7F, and Elite feeders.
Pros:
- The tray is UV stabilized to resist sun damage
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Small tray diameter
- 13″ platform –
- UV-stabilized polycarbonate
- Mounts on a 1″ diameter pole with the included Complete Clamp (#17 CC1), or attaches to Droll Yankees’ B-72, B-7F, Elite (EL) and Wicked...
8. Woodlink NATUBETRAY Audubon Tube Feeder Tray
This feeder tray fits Audubon tube feeders and catches seeds that would normally fall to the ground. Although the diameter of the tray is just 10 ½ inches across, it mounts directly below the feeders it works with to catch most of the seed that would otherwise end up on the ground below.
Pros:
- Fits most tube feeders
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Small diameter
- Audubon tube feeder tray
- Fits audubon tube feeders
- Saves seed
- Provides a suitable landing area for cardinals
- Plug adapter included for fitting
Why Use Wild Bird Seed Catchers?
Bird seed catchers have a bunch of great benefits for home bird watchers. These are just a few good reasons to use a bird seed catcher:
- Bird seed catchers act as lawn protectors by keeping falling seeds from sprouting as weeds.
- Bird seed catchers keep bird seed off the ground where unwelcome visitors like rats can reach them.
- Collecting fallen seed from a bird seed catcher is so much easier than trying to remove it from the lawn or dirt below.
- Bird seed catchers act a little bit like platform bird feeders. The seeds that have fallen into bird feeder seed catchers can still be eaten and enjoyed by songbirds, instead of being wasted, which keeps the birds well fed and saves you money at the end of the day.
How To Use A Hanging Bird Seed Catcher
Many bird seed catchers are designed to be hung below bird seed feeders and come with straps and hooks for attachment. Finding the best way to attach a bird seed catcher to your feeder may need a little creativity and will be easier with some designs of bird feeders than with others. Be sure to select a bird seed catcher that has a larger diameter than the bird feeder above it.
Other ways to keep bird feeding areas clean
If you don’t have a bird seed catcher yet, there are a few things you can do to help keep your bird feeding area cleaner.
- Hang your bird feeders over a hard surface and sweep and hose the area down regularly to keep the area clean and hygienic.
- Put out a piece of material or outdoor carpet below your bird feeders to collect fallen seeds. Unfortunately, this will kill the grass below if your bird feeders are set up above a lawn because most materials block out sunlight.
- Switching to no waste foods, like this great waste-free mix from Wagner’s, will leave a lot less waste.
- Avoid putting out seed mixes with a lot of filler like red milo, that many birds don’t enjoy.
- Putting out only a little seed each day should remove the amount of food wasted, but will require a little more effort.
Final Thoughts
Birds messing seeds below our bird feeders is just a fact of life. Maintaining a safe and hygienic environment for our feathered friends is a responsibility that goes hand in hand with the enjoyment we get from these little visitors. Using bird seed catchers for outdoor bird feeders offers a simple and effective solution that will save you money in the long run.
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Last update on 2023-09-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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