Erva Starling-Proof Barrier Guard Feeder with Double Suet Cake Holder - Premium Copper Finish - Made in USA (SUET1C)

I've had my Erva double suet cake feeder for over 5-years and absolutely could not offer suet without it. It's out year-round and I love it. It is the best.I have a tremendous volume of birds every day of the year at my under-tree feeding area and this caged suet feeder is vital. Without it I could not keep suet out due to the starlings who normally are quick to clean out the other two suet feeders, one a traditional tail perch and the other an upside down version.This copper feeder is well-made, easy to maintain and clean, looks great and the birds love it. The only downside is that red-bellied woodpeckers and other larger birds that I want around cannot get through the cage. But neither can the starlings and that's the point. Besides, I've watched larger woodpeckers cling to the the cage and use their long beaks to eat the suet crumbs near the edges that are always available.As for the person complaining about dead birds, just put a lid on the inner suet holder and you'll never have a dead bird again. Configure something that will work - it's easy and intuitive if one will just stop and think about it for a minute rather than always complaining and giving up. I used a 3/4" thick piece of solid rubber the size of a suet cake with a thin piece of plastic attached on top. It serves two purposes, not only keeping birds from falling into the suet holder but also keeping the two suet cakes at the sides of the holder so that the birds have better access to the suet cakes.Regarding the complaint about cleaning, well that's also a breeze to solve. Use a wooden paint stirring stick to occasionally push the crumbs from underneath the suet holder. Beyond that, put the hose to it every now and then to wash out the bottom and the area underneath the suet holder. Couldn't be easier. Yes, you should take it apart a couple of times or more per year for a thorough cleaning, but that's a breeze too.It's an outstanding feeder if you want to feed desirable birds while keeping away starlings. Don't let the detractors posting negative reviews deter you from reality.

I loved this feeder until one morning (about one week after putting it up), I woke up to find the bottom snapped off and the suet gone. I’m not sure how they did it, but the raccoons unlatched the bottom panel. I was able to latch it back on, but the same thing kept happening night after night. I use baffles and everything. Now, I just take it into the garage at night.Other than that, I wish the suet cage hung from the top of the lid instead of situated at the bottom.. it seems uncomfortable for the downies to feed from it being so close to the bottom. I also wish it was easier to keep the two suet blocks from falling into the center, but I put a piece of wood in there and that basically solves the problem.It is the best at keeping large birds and squirrels out though :)

I have had this feeder for several months now. I already had the bluebird feeder for mealworms from this company and it is the best caged feeders design that I have found. It is truly squirrel, raccoon & startling proof. Unfortunately it also keeps out the larger woodpeckers but I keep a separate feeder for them. I wanted something the smaller birds could use. Mine is an updated design and they have addressed the issues mentioned in some of the other reviews. The cage now has a lid, and it is raised off the bottom. My only complaint with the feeder is that the cage is a little larger than 2 suet blocks and as the birds feed the have a harder and harder time reaching the suet. 2 separate cages vs 1 cage would be better, or some sort of spacer in the middle.It did take my birds a very long time to learn to use the feeder and I already had birds familiar with caged feeders. All I can suggest is to be patient and only start with a small amount so it doesn’t spoil. I scattered seed and suet dust around the bottom of the feeder to entice birds to enter. But what probably helped the best was having a small perch at the edge to give birds a chance to figure out the cage. Now that they know how to use it, it has regular visitors and the birds are teaching their young how to use it. It will probably never get as much traffic as my regular non-caged feeder but this is a great addition and does an excellent job of preventing pests.

Several reviews had complained about the top of the suet holder being open and small birds could get in it or stuck. The one I just received has a retrofitted hinged top so that problem has been eliminated. After two days I have discovered that the cage would be better for me if the bottom was not solid but cage material. Seed and suet get "loose" and collect on the outer edges. My problem birds hang on the cage, stick their head through the cage and eat what has collected. Other than that, I am so far very pleased with the cage.