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What are the best bird feeders under $80?

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Brome 1024 Squirrel Buster Plus vs Woodlink Absolute II vs Desert Steel Bird Feeder

Specs

Weight

3.7 pounds

Dimensions

6x6x28 inches

Dishwasher safe

Yes

Materials used

Metal, chew proof plastic

Food capacity

6.2 pounds

Weight

9.8 lbs

Dimensions

11.25 x 16 x 13.5 inches

Dishwasher safe

No

Materials used

Powder coated steel

Food capacity

12 lbs.

Weight

Varies

Dimensions

Varies

Dishwasher safe

No

Materials used

Powder coated metal

Food capacity

Varies

Pros + Cons

Pro
 Squirrel proof

When a squirrel tries to get food out of the bird feeder all the seed ports close from the squirrels weight, restricting access to the seeds, but the moment the squirrel gets off the feeder the birds can eat again. On top of that, the materials used for the bird feeder are chew proof.
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Pro
 Easy to clean

The feeder can be easily taken apart and safely washed in a dishwasher.
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Pro
 Keeps the seeds fresh longer

The feeder has a ventilation system that allows the warm air to rise and escape from the top, being replaced with cooler air at the bottom. In this way there’s no moist air trapped that can cause decay.
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Pro
 Lifetime warranty

This bird feeder is covered by a limited lifetime warranty so if something goes wrong, Brome customer service will assist you and send replacement parts if needed.
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Con
 Expensive

Costing around 80 dollars it’s on the expensive side of bird feeders. Also the three quart capacity means that you can put a lot of seeds in it and does cost quite a lot to refill.
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Con
 Not suited for small birds

Since small birds tend to eat together they will create a lot of weight all together so it can trip the anti-squirrel system preventing all of the smaller birds from eating.
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Pro
 Cardinal friendly

A specially designed ring provides a comfortable perch for Cardinals. Cardinals won’t turn their heads to feed but the perch allows these birds to eat from the feeder while facing forward.
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Pro
 Need to refill rarely

Thanks to the large capacity you don’t need to refill the feeder as often as other smaller alternatives. Depending on the region and how many birds are there, expect to refill it anywhere from each week to once a month.
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Pro
 Needs to be filled up rarely

This feeder features one of the largest seed capacities in the market. You can fill it up with 12 pounds of seeds so you will need to fill it up very rarely.
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Pro
 Weight adjustable perches

You can set how sensitive the perch needs to be against weight. to prevent or allow large birds and squirrels accessing the food.
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Pro
 Can feed many birds at once

The large dimensions and high food capacity allows approximately 8 to 12 birds to eat simultaneously without the birds fighting each other for the space on the bird feeder.
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Con
 Squirrels can learn how to beat the system

While the bird feeder will hold off the vast majority of squirrels, there can be a few that can learn to balance on the perch in a way that it doesn't trigger the metal shield.
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Pro
 Little wasted seeds

The sloped floor helps seed flow toward the seed baffle that is designed in a way that minimizes seed spills saving you money in a long term.
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Pro
 Squirrel proof design

The perches are designed in a way that if a squirrel steps on it, a metal tray immediately covers the seeds.
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Con
 Poor quality pole system

The included pole system feels flimsy and insecure especially considering the weight when the bird feeder is full. It's better to buy a sturdier flange and pole or just hang it with the included steel hanger.
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Pro
 Many designs to choose from

Desert steel makes 6 different form and color bird feeders allowing you to choose what suits you best. They all look very attractive and work as look like decorative objects in the garden .
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Con
 Aren't squirrel proof

Although some of the feeders are made to be squirrel proof, in reality, none of them are a challenge for squirrels as sooner or later they figure out how to get the seeds.
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Pro
 Doesn't collect water

All of the feeder designs are equipped with a water drainage system so the seeds are not floating in water after the rain has stopped.
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Pro
 Weather resistant

The bird feeders are made of durable steel so they withstand all weather elements without the risk of rusting.
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Con
 Not all seeds will work

You have to check what seeds best suit the bird feeder, particularly for the coneflower design. If the seeds are too small,they will fall through the mesh, if they are too big birds will not be able to get them out.
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