Tom Chambers Squirrel Proof Fatball Feeder

Birds 1 Squirrels 0. Finally a squirrel proof bird feeder that is actually squirrel proof. I have used three of this style of bird feeder for months now and the squirrels have stopped invading our garden because they can't get at the food contained.The food holder sits inside a cage which is secured at the base. To re-fill the food holder, undo three clips and drop the holder. Re-fill as required and then replace it into the cage. The clips are a little fiddly at first but frequent use makes it easier.The cage / feeder unit are of high quality. A sufficiently high gauge metal that squirrels cant bite through and that will withstand many a winter. I have also seen that some ground feeding birds (Robins) are able to use these feeders despite them being suspended many feet high. Good for them and it also means they are more likely to remain near to my garden through winter.The price was also excellent being much cheaper than less well made feeders I have seen in garden centre's. I highly recommend this bird feeder and all others made by Tom Chambers using this style.

I would say this fat ball feeder is mostly squirrel proof but one determined character has decided if he can't bite he will but a foot in and scrape until enough of the fat ball falls to the ground where he can easily pick it up. I am wondering how long it will be before the other squirrels follow his example!

Very well made looks fool proof,but I am watching the top of the fat ball holder as it is plastic and the last on had the top plastic torn to pieces by squirrels!!!

I hung my feeder on a long wire from a tree branch and this plus the dificulty for the squirrel in getting to the fatballs has cased them to cease and desist leaving the food for the birds. The gaps are large enough for tits and finches to feed and blue tits/long tailed tits get right inside. Woodpeckers can still access the food and that's fine with me but obviously they cut larger bits out but this feeds the ground feeding blackbirds, thrushes, sparrows and robins. A great solution to the squirrel problem and because of the success I also bought the Tom Chambers squirrel proof nut feeder.

Second one I've bought. Good at stopping squirrels getting at the food, but less effective with magpies!

Nice feeder, but completely not squirrel proof. Not is it jackdaw proof, magpie proof or starling proof.It took one day before the local squirrels just pushed their heads through the outer bars. Likewise the corvids. They can easily reach the inside to get the suet balls. It barely slows them down emptying the feeder. I even saw one squirrel investigating the bottom catches and nibbling at them, trying to figure out how to open the thing.The outer bars need to be 5cm further away from the middle to stop everything just shoving its head through and reaching the food.

The squirrels and magpies haven't succeeded in undoing the 3 clips at the bottom of the cage to get at the fat balls even when they have managed to knock it off the stand onto the lawn.It is not as heavy as my previous fat ball cage which didn't have the excellent clip feature. It had served well even though it and had gone very rusty and become unusable but it didn't have any bottom clips. The lighter weight hasn't been a problem and the clips are excellent.

The squirrels manage to demolish the fat balls before the birds can get to them as the holes are too big! They hang upside down and nibble away at the fat balls until they're small enough to pull through the holes. Not fit for purpose and certainly not worth the money! I'd like a refund please.