TechGearLab

The high-capacity Brome Squirrel Solution200 feeder keeps the birds happy and the squirrels sad. Its integrated ventilation system and small protective ports seem to keep your seeds drier longer, keeping dangerous bacterial and fungal colonies at bay. This protection is especially important for feeders, like this one, that hold larger amounts of seed. And, if a squirrel jumps onto the feeder, its weight drags the metal frame down while the internal plastic sleeve remains in place. The frame's decorative leaves are placed strategically to block the feeding ports and protect the seeds. The outer mesh is metal, which prevents squirrels from chewing their way through it. It also has an added bonus — birds like clinging to it as they wait in line for their chance at the seeds. The squirrel deterring system worked well in our tests, and we saw titmice, chickadees, and finches enjoying this feeder.
On the downside, the Solution200 is higher maintenance than most. We had to consult its manual several times during assembly, and it takes more time to clean. That's a big deal since experts recommend washing feeders with soap and water every two weeks to avoid breeding bacteria or spreading disease. Scrubbing bird droppings off the metal cage is not our favorite step in the process. None of it is arduous, just more so than the competition. If you need a feeder that will appeal to a range of wild birds with a larger seed capacity and squirrel-stumping skills, we find that the challenges are worth the benefits. 

The Brome Squirrel Solution200 feeder was a favorite among our neighborhood flocks. Six seed ports serve several birds at once, and the outer metal cage offers others places to perch while they wait for an opening. When a hungry squirrel leaps onto the feeder, its weight drags the metal frame down, blocking the feeding ports. And they can't chew their way in. The system works brilliantly, foiling the squirrels that tried to bedevil our tests. The inner seed-containing tube also allows minimal moisture to sneak in during a rainstorm and promotes airflow thanks to perforations in the base. This helps protect the seeds from dangerous bacteria and fungus growth. It also holds a reasonable amount of seed &mdash; enough to last a day or two. During testing, we saw titmice, chickadees, and finches enjoying this feeder.
On the downside, the Solution200 is higher maintenance than most. We had to consult its manual several times during assembly, and it takes time to clean. Experts recommend washing feeders with soap and water every two weeks to avoid breeding bacteria or spreading disease. Scrubbing bird droppings off the metal cage is not our favorite step in the process. That said, if you need a feeder that will appeal to a range of wild birds while stumping squirrels, we think the challenges are worth the benefits. If you want a squirrel-proof feeder with more seed capacity, the BestNest Heritage Farms Absolute is another good option.

amazon.com

bazaarvoice

expert-review

Brome SquirrelSolution 200 Bird Feeder Review

If you have enough bird traffic in your yard to fly through your seed supply and have a strategy to keep the squirrels at bay &#40;like dogs in the yard or a separate protection cone&#41;, then the More Birds Giant Combo Feeder could be a great option for you. It's a huge metal mesh tube with a divider down the middle. We used nyjer seeds on one side for the finches and filled the other with black oil sunflower seeds, a favorite of most species. The combination made this feeder a popular one. The mesh sides, perches at each of six ports, and small platform at the bottom provide comfortable feeding opportunities for a range of species. This attractive brown feeder was covered in feathers for much of our testing period.
The downside of this feeder's massive capacity is that it takes a while for the birds to eat it. Since the small awning does very little to keep the seed dry when it rains, this feeder is at higher risk for bacteria and fungus growth. This is less of an issue if you live in a dry climate or don't mind clearing and cleaning your feeder more frequently. Another downside is that squirrels love this feeder too. While they can't chew through the metal-lined ports to ruin your feeder, you will need to find another deterrent. If we didn't have to worry about rain or fluffy-tailed tree pirates, this feeder would be a clear favorite. 

walmart

Wirecutter

The Onyx was the sturdiest and best-built feeder we tested, yet it’s easy to take apart and clean.

shopify

yotpo

This Droll Yankees feeder works just as well as the Onyx, but it doesn’t hold as much seed and lacks the removable base of our top pick.

Bird Feeder Comparison