How to fill a tube bird feeder
When filling a seed tube feeder in particular there isn't any kind of bird feeder that is easier to both open and fill, and will be compatible with all levels of experience.
How to fill a tube seed bird feeder will rely on pulling up the lid on top of the feeder where it will always remain attached to a metal hanging bar or length of wire, that is both used to hang/open the feeder. When the tube feeder deteriorates it can get harder to open, and so you can fill the tube via the bottom.
What is a essentially a tube bird feeder primarily made to hold wild bird seed mixes, all designs are made to open the same way, which is how you will fill the seed bird feeder.
Be it a small classic clear tubular seed feeder or a panoramic/hexagon style seed bird feeder, the lid must always be opened to fill.
Lid on a suspended classic seed feeder will either need to be unscrewed, popped off or simply lifted up.
When the lid is lifted up on a seed feeder - with most classic seed feeders utilizing this method of opening - the lid will stay attached to the metal bar. Metal bar is used to hang the bird feeder of which, the lid can never get lost as its always attached to the feeder.
To open a much larger tube bird feeder in what is referred to as a panoramic or hexagon seed feeder, the lid/roof lifts up while still attached to rope or wire, fixed in the center.
Filling a tube bird feeder of any kind isn't all that difficult to learn, with only a few short seconds to figure it out for most of us all on our own.
Remember in a tube seed feeder the lid will mostly stay attached, all in an effort to be sure the lid can't get lost, while at the same time its a convenience to the user.
Pull seed feeder lid up, over
As many seed bird feeders there are available to buy at this time, how you fill a tube bird feeder is practically the same way across all brands and manufacturers.
When referring to classic tubular seed feeders, these devices are among the easiest to use out of the box.
To fill this kind of tube bird feeder the access point to the interior will always be with a lid.
Obviously of course, yet you'll be surprised how few traditional bird feeders don't utilize a lid, and if they do it can be undone multiple ways - which will depend on both the brand and what kind of tube bird feeder that is currently in use.
I believe there's three ways to open the lid of a tube seed feeder, that is done so on the top side of the feeder.
To open to fill a tube feeder you will either screw, pop off or lift up the lid up only which will bring the lid completely off the tube feeder - or the lid will remain still attached to the hanging bar.
Metal hanging bar is a hook attached to the tube feeder that is designed to hook over a bird feeder pole bracket or tree branch. Hanger isn't removed at all but it can if you disassemble the tube feeder for cleaning and maintenance once or twice a month.
Tube bird feeder lid still attached to the hanger would ensure it can't get lost, while conveniently remaining on the tube feeder as its swung over to one side, out of the way.
Bottom-fill if stuck lid
How you fill a tube bird feeder will absolutely be via the top where the lid is fixed.
On the occasion this isn't so you would need to tip the tube bird feeder upside down - which is true with bottom-fill Hummingbird feeder or Oriole nectar feeders - where the bottom base can be unscrewed to detach fully.
Why you would do this on a classic tubular seed bird feeder is to bypass what may be a stuck lid that refuses to unscrew.
To fill a tube bird feeder via the bottom, you may need to unscrew or pull out a single perch that is threaded through the seed feeder - and as a result of removing it - the bottom section can be pulled off.
Permanent assembly or glue isn't part of a tube bird feeder of which, it can all be taken apart, just as it was when assembled in the factory.
When forced to fill a tube bird feeder at the bottom end, do so with few seeds, because when you face the tube feeder back up the right way - seeds will spill out of any available part wells cut out of the clear tube.
Best practice
When filling a tube bird feeder its vitally important to follow best practices in order to keep the seed feeder in particular, in good health with no faults or damage caused - due to a poorly handled tube bird feeder.
What you must know is that clear tubular seed bird feeders will feel cheap and light to handle which will see the tube a bit on the flimsy side.
Never squeeze the tube bird feeder too hard while handling as a crack will appear.
In the process of filling a tube bird feeder its important its held at a 0° or 90° angle at all times, because a leaning tube seed feeder will see the seed mixes spill via the open part wells.
Returning the seed feeder back up on a pole or tree branch will introduce some tilting, which will see some seeds spill.
With that, fill a tube bird feeder with wild bird seed mixes that include tasty ingredients attractive to a variety of birds, who will visit your seed feeder daily.
Summary
How you fill a tube bird feeder of the wild seed feeder variety, will depend on unscrewing, popping off or lifting the lid so the seed feeder can be replenished regularly.
Many tube bird seed feeders will utilize a lid that is attached to the handle/hanger that is used to hook over a bracket or tree branch. Said tube seed feeder lid will lift up on the metal hanging bar still, which will be swung over to the side so its out of the way.
When the screw or lift up lid isn't functioning as it should do any more - perhaps because the seed feeder is a little too old - then rely on the bottom access.
No simple unscrewing here yet it will only take removing the perches at the port wells in most seed feeder designs - in order to completely pull out the bottom section of the feeder.
What you will be doing here is actually replenishing the seed feeder via the bottom, rather than the traditional top side.
Best practice involves keeping the seed tube feeder at a near 90° angle as to prevent seeds pouring out of the opening - which all seed feeders will do if it isn't kept upright.
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