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Customer Reviews for Perky-Pet Fortress Squirrel Proof Feeder

Internet #202073494

Model #5140-2

Customer Reviews

  • 2.8
    out of 11 reviews
  • 36% recommend this product
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Showing 1-11 of 11 reviews
I can't give this feeder high marks, I'm afraid... the quality isn't there..
Oh, I was looking forward to having a really nice new substantial bird feeder, one that the squirrels can't get into, especially, but as soon as I got it out of its packaging, I could tell that it was a lot of material used, but poorly put together, even poorly designed. The mechanism is very fussy, it wouldn't go back together correctly until my husband, ex-mechanic, applied his superior mind to fixing it... the instructions did not explain the way it works very well.. it's rather heavy, and not user friendly, the parts that are for keeping the squirrels out also complicates the birds from using it... I have it hanging still, but the birds need do gymnastics to acquire a seed, and the squirrels have been deterred only as long as it takes them to secure a few seeds. Guess it isn't worth it to them. The birds noticed it right away, but a lot of them go off to one of my other feeders after scratching their little heads.... oh well.
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Response from PerkyPet Consumer SupportMar 27, 2017
Hello Linda,

Thank you for sharing this experience. The seed ports can be adjusted to close for different weights, depending on the size of squirrel being deterred.

The weatherproof covers are designed to be used when inclement weather is pending in order to keep the seed dry. They do not need to be installed permanently to the feeder.

We hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to contact our Consumer Relations Team at 1-855-PERKYPET (1-855-737-5973) for additional assistance.

Best regards,

Lauren
Consumer Relations Representative
Woodstream Corporation
Perky-Pet®
3 found this review helpful
More of a squirrel deterrent
The feeder is on the larger size, holding 6 pounds of feed. The design is for a squirrel to perch on the bar and their weight will close the seed door. However, they can sit above the door and still get to the seeds. As they reach down, the feeder will swing, they lose their balance and fall. Despite having Cardinals and Blue Jays, I've only seen sparrows on the feeder. The other birds do clean up the seed on the ground from the squirrel antics. The instructions are very poor. Set it on the lightest tension, not the middle as suggested. You have to figure it out because nothing tells you which is the least tension. Also, I still don't know which horizontal bar to install the weatherproof panel. On the lower one, even sparrows can't get to the seed. Top or bottom, squirrels knock them off almost every day.
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Response from PerkyPet Consumer SupportMar 15, 2017
Hello Becky,

Thank you for sharing this feedback. If the squirrels land on the metal on the lower half of the feeder, this will cause the feed ports to close off. Squirrels can be extremely clever when attempting to gain access to seed. If they are sitting on the lid and reaching down, we recommend using a baffler above the feeder to deter them further.

The optional weather guards are ideal for keeping the seed dry during a hard rain or snow. They do not need to be kept on the feeder the entire time it is in use. When placing the weather guards, clip the guard on the horizontal bar below the circle design on the feeder. The vertical side clips on the guard should go on the outside of the vertical bars on the feeder.

We hope this information is helpful. Please contact our Consumer Relations Team at 1-855-PERKYPET (1-855-737-5973) for additional assistance.

Best regards,

Lauren
Consumer Relations Representative
Woodstream Corporation
Perky-Pet®
3 found this review helpful
Birds Confused
The FORTRESS SQUIRREL PROOF FEEDER may be too much of a fortress. I have had it hanging for about a week, with very little interest. This may be because it is new. The feeder has three holes on each side that birds have to insert their heads into to obtain seeds. I watched a small bird twist it's head different ways and insert most of it's head into a hole, only to get one seed. It seemed to give up and flew to a different feeder with the same type of seeds. Larger wrens appeared to be too tall to sit on the perch and get their head into a hole. They gave up also. This feeder is easy to fill, but could weigh almost 10 pounds when completely full. I do not recommend this product
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3 found this review helpful
Fortress Squirrel Proof Feeder
Feeder came with one trap door disengaged. Had to disassemble and fix door and reassemble. Unit now worked as advertised.. Birds love it, but squirrels do as well they sit on it. I can't tell I they get any food out of it but they sit there so I assume they do. Holds lots of seed so there are long intervals between refills. Good bird feeder. Not so good at keeping squirrels away.
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Response from PerkyPet Consumer SupportApr 18, 2017
Hello Jim,

We appreciate the time taken to provide this feedback and apologize for the condition in which the feeder arrived.

The weight-activated base of this feeder is adjustable and should prevent squirrels from accessing the seed. We can recommend adding cayenne pepper or safflower seed to the mix in order to repel squirrels.

Feel free to contact our Consumer Relations Team at 1-855-PERKYPET (1-855-737-5973) with any additional questions.

Best Regards,

Patty
Consumer Relations Representative
Woodstream Corporation
Perky-Pet®
1 found this review helpful
It is a good feeder but not great. Could easily be great
So I guess the perfect squirrel proof feeder is still eluding me. This one is so close and I will continue to use it but with modifications. Likes. I do think the taller rather than wider design is a better one for squirrel proofing. The weight is more centered in this way. The whole outside of the feeder, and anything on it, counts toward closing the openings. Too many feeders, not this one, only use the perch/bar to close the feeder and as we know, the squirrels will simply sit on sides or roofs and lean over to eat. It is very attractive to boot. Needs improvement. First, when I opened the box one of the levers that you use to adjust the tension spring had been disconnected from spring itself. I was able to carefully disassemble, reattach and assemble the feeder. I would assume this unit was bounced around in transit a bit to much. The levers, one on each side, have three position stops to set the tensions to different weights. Good idea but two problems. 1) the levers themselves are difficult to grab, lift and slide to the next slot. A slight larger or deeper know would be a huge and simple improvement. just use a small pair of needle nose pliers to hold the know and move to the slot you wish and you are all set. 2) the birds and squirrels in by area get the feeder moving around pretty good. This bouncing did dislodge the knobs twice now. I put a stop to it by inserting a screw in the empty slot next to the knob so it can't move away from my desired setting. a simple manufacturing change by putting the slots on an angle would easily fix this. The "hoods" to protect the feed from rain are the next problem. They go on easy enough but also come off easy enough. they do protect from rain and are needed in my opinion. If they installed them at the factory and crimped them in place that would be great. I have found the hoods on the ground as well as simply tipped down covering the feed holes. Since there are two hoods I tried two modifications. 1) on one side I simply put the ears inside the vertical wires and then bent the ears out. That has worked. 2) I installed as directed but bent the ears inside and that has worked. The problem with both of these procedures is that the paint is now missing on the bends and it will rust. After doing this I thought a simple small screw on each side would work as well but to late. All in all it is good. I hope the manufacture is listening and will make a couple simple modifications so future consumers will rate this the 5 stars it could easily have.
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Almost Bird Proof Too
I like this feeder and it holds a generous amount of seed. However, the hopper is very deep and my little birds have to wait for the big guys to throw seed to the ground. The Jays and Woodpeckers have no trouble and it frustrates the squirrels. They see and smell the seed, and have resorted to trying to get through the plastic hopper, which they have not done. The hopper is adjustable so even heavy birds will close off the seed if you set it on it's lightest setting. This feeder comes with a creative design, with little metal awnings that are supposed to protect the seed, but all they really do is pour water directly into the seed hopper. If they were only a "silly millimeter longer" they'd work perfectly.
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  • Recommended
Nice feeder!
I received this birdfeeder to test for Home Depot and like it! It holds a large volume of seeds so it doesn't require frequent restocking. Although it claims to be "squirrel proof" but I don't that there is anything that can keep out a determined squirrel! It does seem to certainly slow them down though. Only have had it a short time and the birds seem to be warming up to it. Good value.
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Response from PerkyPet Consumer SupportMar 15, 2017
Hello Randy,

We apologize for the experience and appreciate the time taken to share this feedback. Birds can be creatures of habit and may take a while to grow accustomed to a new feeder. Placing a shiny pie pan with some seed in it below the feeder can help attract birds to it. We also recommend using black-oil sunflower seed, which is preferred by a wide variety of birds.

Please feel free to call our Consumer Relations Team at 1-855-PERKYPET (1-855-737-5973) for additional assistance.

Regards,

Anthony
Consumer Relations Representative
Woodstream Corporation
Perky-Pet®
  • Recommended
Bird Proof feeder
Looks like a good unit but the feed tray is too low for birds to get to except some long beaked ones. The feed doesn't refill the tray through the the small square holes in the hopper very well. The birds just don't go for it
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Response from THD customer supportSep 29, 2015
Dear Valued Home Depot Customer, We reached out to MFG for more information and below is their response. This feeder is designed to accommodate many types of birds. When introducing a new feeder to the area it may take a few days for the birds to adjust to it. Once the seed in the base is empty more should automatically fill into the ports. We apologize that this was not your experience and would like to learn more about what is occurring. Our Consumer Relations Team can be reached at 1-855-PERKYPET (1-855-737-5973) with any questions. Sincerely, Kelly Consumer Care Representative Woodstream Corporation Perky Pet® Thanks, The Home Depot User Generated Content Team
    I like this birdfeeder
    The squirrels in my neighborhood are pretty tenacious. This feeder does a pretty good job keeping them out of the seed, while providing me with fun entertainment watching the squirrels try.
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    • Verified Purchase
    • Recommended
    Almost Squirell proof, but they still get some. The foul weather clip on covers are weak at best. One side works ok,
    The feeder works the best thus far in the anti-squirrel category. The weather protectors work ok on one side, while the other side doesn't stay on. Out of the other 3 similar feeders, this one works the best thus far.
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    • DIY
    • Verified Purchase
    • Recommended
    2 found this review helpful
    If to many birds sit on it the feeder thinks there is a squirrel on it and closes up.
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    • Verified Purchase
    5 found this review helpful
    Showing 1-11 of 11 reviews