How to protect bird feeder from rain
I will say to keep bird feeders out of the rain isn't all that important, birds will continue to feed in the rain while bird feeders and the food deals with rain with few issues.
In light or vertical rainfall only we can protect a bird feeder from rain by suspending it under a squirrel baffle, on a pole or branch. We can't avoid sideways rain but we can utilize natural shelter like trees or hedges as back up. In addition, bird feeders can be hung under porch or deck cover.
Certainly it does help to protect bird feeders in the rain because it can extend the life of the bird feeder food, which can rapidly rot in continuous damp weather.
I will also add while bird feeders can get wet with little damage done - other than rust developing sometime down the road - so to can bird feeder food get wet, which is perfectly fine if you use small bird feed batches at a time to avoid waste.
To protect bird feeders from the rain it won't guarantee complete stay dry feeders, as rain always has a way of getting into bird feeders.
While rain drops will be seen on the bird feeder exterior, certainly water will eventually get inside all types of bird feeders suspended on a bird feeder pole.
What we can do is at least keep the rain to a minimum, by applying different techniques in hope of keeping the bird feeder interior bone dry.
To do that we will primarily rely on a device in what is called a squirrel baffle, which is what we will use to suspend bird feeders under.
Suspend this dome-like baffle on a bird feeder pole or branch, then hang any bird feeder directly underneath this dome, which will create a bonus shelter cover. Rather than deter squirrels this time then, we will be re-purposing the baffle as a rain guard.
Unfortunately, torrential rain will still find its way into the bird feeders and so will horizontal rain; we can always keep the rain protected bird feeders under review for now, as we make changes as unexpected issues arise later.
As a bonus, the method set forth is an effective way for keeping snow off bird feeders, where snow can obstruct birds attempting to eat at feeders.
Suspend under squirrel dome
One way to keep bird feeders out of the rain would rely mostly on any type of suspended-only, squirrel baffle dome.
What is a downward facing, probably clear plastic baffle, will first be hung where you plan to suspend the bird feeder on; said bird feeder will then be hung off the baffles own hook, discreetly mounted on the underside, at center of the baffle.
What happens now is the rain will hit the top of this clear dome and splash out over to the sides.
Meanwhile, the bird feeder hanging directly below it - and a little inside the dome - would be kept dry. Admittedly, not all of the feeder will be kept dry as the bottom end of the bird feeder may still be exposed to the wet weather.
That is especially an issue when it comes to keeping rain out of Oriole or Hummingbird feeder port wells, as we don't want rain flooding these port wells - as the nectar can be diluted with too much rain water filling it up.
To avoid that we can think about utilizing a deeper and wider suspended squirrel baffle, which would appear more like an umbrella, rather than a baffle.
And with that, let's not forget you can also mount any umbrella to a bird feeder pole, of which all bird feeders will be closely grouped beneath it.
Hang under shelter
Obviously its all about suspending bird feeders in some kind of shelter when protecting bird feeders in the rain, but that doesn't necessary rely on any kind of additional expense.
All that may be needed is to unfasten your suspended bird feeders, to then hang them under what can be natural, dense vegetation or to hang bird feeders under any structures within your yard, like the deck or porch roof.
Remember though, you must still hang bird feeders in the best place to attract birds to this food source, without bird feeders becoming both invisible and inaccessible.
Don't hang bird feeders fully under cover, whereby suspended bird feeders on the boundary of a porch/deck roof would help keep them visible.
With that, let's not forget, any trees or dense foliage can provide effective natural rain shelter, which would be ideal as wild birds tend to occupy areas like this in our yards.
We can continue to feed wild birds in wet weather in fully exposed to the rain bird feeders, whilst also adding a mix of bird feed out of feeders to keep feed accessible to less able bird feeder birds, like Blue Jays.
Don't be too concerned about keeping bird feeders and its food absolutely dry, because birds will come to feeders in the rain nevertheless.
Site pole to avoid horizontal rain
Let's assume you are currently hanging your bird feeders off a multi-bracket bird feeding station pole, or similarly a Shepherd's Hook pole in your yard.
Said bird feeder pole would probably positioned out in the elements as to provide a way for wild birds to find it as they pass by daily. And let me tell you now, this will continue to be the best place to position a bird feeder in our yards.
Unfortunately, such location is not only exposed to the wet weather, the wind naturally picks up in a wide open clearing like this, thus we would have to deal with what is called sideways or horizontal rain, which will soak the bird feeder from the side.
In fact, when bird feeders are kept under shelter, it would be the horizontal rain that will eventually floor the bird feeder interior.
Is there anything we can do about it and what would it be?
Well, that's easy, simply re-position the bird feeder pole, and therefore the bird feeders themselves, close to natural vegetation or a building in the yard, as a way to avoid the direction of which the wind is forcing rain on your bird feeders.
Again, I will remind you bird feeders can be left in the rain 24/7, whilst blistering wind can cause a mess under bird feeders, so there's more reasons than one to protect bird feeders in wind, and torrential rain that blows at all angles.
Which is just as well because who wants to bring bird feeders in every time its rains, and for one thing, it wouldn't be all that hygienic.
Conclusion
I can say with absolute certainty, all bird feeders are generally made to be kept outdoors, come rain and shine.
Bird feeders are waterproof themselves and while rain can flood the bird feed, there is an easier way to sustain bird feed that would rot quickly when its allowed to fester in a rain soaked bird feeder.
Rather than thinking of ways to keep bird feeders dry, simply use less bird feed to avoid too much rotting at any one time, to then replenish again when bird feeders are dry.
Still, that wouldn't be the case when you experience long spells of wet weather, so situating suspended bird feeders under cover can help.
First, you will want to buy yourself a deep, wide squirrel baffle that is made to hang above hanging bird feeders.
With each and every bird feeders hung directly below an individual hanging squirrel baffle, we can protect bird feeders from vertical rain only.
Of course when it comes to horizontal rain that's more difficult, because the direction where rain and wind comes from, is the same direction wild birds arrive at bird feeders.
What you can do then is situate the bird feeder pole with the feeders suspended off it, closer to natural vegetation or a structure like the shed and garage - to protect the feeders from windy weather, which can develop from one side only.
Finally, I would ask you to fully utilize any porch or deck cover you have, where bird feeders would have to be taken off the bird feeder pole all together, so they can instead be hung individually on the boundary to your yard, porch or deck roof.
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