Suet feeder
A plain cage for downy woodpeckers and nuthatches, a tail-prop feeder for big woodpeckers, an upside-down one against starlings.
How we compared: manufacturer specifications and maker prices (30 Sep 2026), plus the placement and safety guidance of Audubon, the RSPB and other sources linked below. We have not tested these products ourselves.
Quick picks
Specs
| Model | Price | Type | Key specs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle Moraine Woodworking Cedar Suet Feeder with Tail Prop | see Amazon | tail-prop | capacity: 1 cake (single) / 2 cakes (double); material: solid cedar, stainless screws, 1 x 1/2 in vinyl-coated mesh; dimensions (in): 13 x 8 x 3.5 (Bob Vila, single) | Woodpeckers that need tail support |
| WildYard Cedar Suet Feeder with Tail Prop | see Amazon | tail-prop | capacity: 1 cake; dimensions (in): 7.875 x 12 (Duncraft); Bob Vila 11.75 x 8 x 3; material: cedar, two-sided wire mesh | Budget tail-prop feeder for pileated and other large woodpeckers |
| C&S Products EZ Fill Suet Basket | – | cage | capacity: 1 cake; dimensions (in): 5 x 5 x 2; material: vinyl-coated wire | Cheapest way to offer suet cakes |
| Kettle Moraine Large Cedar Suet Log Feeder | see Amazon | plug log | holes: 4 x 1.25 in; diameter (in): 3.5; length (in): 16 (also 8 and 24) | Suet plugs, Bark Butter or peanut butter for clinging birds |
| Birds Choice Pileated 2-Cake Suet Feeder with Tail Prop | see Amazon | tail-prop | capacity: 2 cakes; tail prop (in): 9.5; dimensions (in): 8 x 3 x 22.5 (29 with cable) | Largest woodpeckers; longest tail prop in the set |
| Birds Choice Suet Feeder with Tail Prop and Roof | see Amazon | tail-prop | capacity: 1 cake; tail prop (in): 5.5; dimensions (in): 8 x 3 x 12 (19.5 with cable) | Rot-free tail-prop feeder |
| Brome Squirrel Buster Suet | see Amazon | weight-activated | capacity: 2 cakes; squirrel mechanism: weight-activated shroud closes ports; adjustable spring; extras: crumb port, grease-free loading, UV-resistant | Suet where squirrels empty open cages |
| More Birds (Woodstream) Squirrel-X Double Suet Caged Feeder | – | caged | capacity: 2 cakes; material: steel and aluminum; squirrel mechanism: outer cage | Caged suet for small birds |
| Nature's Way Bird Products Cedar Suet Upside-Down Feeder | see Amazon | upside-down | capacity: 1 cake; dimensions (in): 3 x 6.75 x 7.25; material: cedar, rust-free coated hardware | Clingers (woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees) over starlings |
| Birds Choice Upside Down Suet Feeder, Two Cakes | see Amazon | upside-down | capacity: 2–4 cakes; dimensions (in): 12.5 x 9 x 4.25; weight (lb): 3 | Yards with starling pressure |
| JCS Wildlife Recycled Poly Upside Down Double Suet Feeder | see Amazon | upside-down | capacity: 4 cakes; dimensions (in): 12.25 x 7.5 x 4.25; material: recycled poly lumber | Highest cake capacity for fewer refills |
| Gold Crest (Backyard Essentials) Squirrel Defeater Double Suet Cage | see Amazon | caged | capacity: 2 cakes; cage openings (in): 1.5; dimensions (in): 10 x 10 x 11.5 | Keeps gray squirrels and large birds off suet without moving parts |
Manufacturer data and maker prices (30 Sep 2026); Amazon prices are not shown. “–” = not stated.
Buying criteria
Questions
A tail-prop feeder lets larger woodpeckers such as the red-bellied and pileated lean on their tail while they feed.
Use an upside-down suet feeder – woodpeckers and nuthatches cling underneath, starlings struggle.
Only with no-melt suet; raw suet softens and goes rancid in heat.